Financial adviser red flags
A good adviser should make the decision clearer, not create pressure, hide the price or make verification difficult.
Pressure to act quickly
MoneyHelper says you should not continue if you feel uncomfortable or rushed. A regulated advice process should give you enough information to understand the recommendation and decide whether you want to proceed.
Fees that are vague or hard to explain
You should know what the advice costs before committing. Be cautious if the adviser will not explain the charging model, the cash cost or what ongoing service you receive.
A 'free pension review' or free investment advice
MoneyHelper warns that pension and investment advice must be charged for. An unsolicited offer of free pension or investment advice can be a scam warning sign. A free initial meeting is different: it may simply be an opportunity to discuss your situation and the later cost of advice.
The FCA details do not match
If the firm name, reference or contact details do not line up with the official FCA record, stop and verify the business independently. Do not rely on a link or phone number supplied by the person contacting you.
No clear written recommendation
MoneyHelper says written advice and recommended actions should be clearly explained. If someone will not explain the recommendation properly or provide the expected written material, treat that as a warning sign.