Guide · Retirement
Questions to ask a retirement adviser
A retirement adviser should be able to explain how they plan income, risk and ongoing decisions, not simply which pension product they use.
Ask about retirement experience
How much of your work is retirement planning?Look for repeated experience rather than a broad services list.
What client sizes do you normally work with?Check whether your pension value fits the service.
Do you advise on retirement income?Understand whether the service covers drawdown and income planning.
Do you offer one-off and ongoing options?The right model depends on how much continuing help you want.
Ask how income is planned
A retirement plan needs to consider spending, cash reserves, investment risk and how different pensions or accounts work together. Ask how the adviser approaches those trade-offs.
Ask for costs in pounds
Request the initial fee, normal ongoing annual fee and any other platform or investment costs separately.
Ask what happens after the first year
If you are paying for ongoing advice, understand what changes, reviews and decisions the adviser remains responsible for each year.
Sources & further reading