Choosing advice
IFA vs financial adviser: what is the difference?
Compare IFA, financial adviser and restricted adviser: what each label means, what to check and how to compare the same service and fee.
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Practical explanations for the decisions ahead. Search by question or explore a topic.
Choosing advice
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Choosing advice
Financial advisor or financial adviser?
Understand the two spellings and what matters when checking a professional's service.
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A Statement of Professional Standing
Find out what an SPS confirms and what to ask an adviser to show you.
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What does DipPFS mean after a financial adviser's name?
DipPFS means a financial adviser holds a qualifying diploma-level financial planning credential and meets the PFS requirements for using the designation.
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What does APFS mean after a financial adviser's name?
APFS is the professional designation associated with the CII Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning. Learn what it shows and what it does not prove.
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Choosing advice
Can you get financial advice for free in the UK?
The difference between free financial guidance and regulated personal advice, including MoneyHelper and Pension Wise.
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Choosing advice
Financial adviser vs mortgage broker: who do you need?
The difference between broader financial planning and regulated mortgage advice when buying or remortgaging a home.
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Financial coach vs financial adviser: what is the difference?
How financial coaching differs from regulated financial advice and why the distinction matters before paying for help.
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Choosing advice
Robo-adviser vs financial adviser: which is right for you?
How automated investment services differ from personalised regulated financial advice in the UK.
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Financial planner vs investment manager: what is the difference?
The difference between planning your wider finances and managing an investment portfolio.
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Choosing advice
Level 4 vs Level 6 financial adviser qualifications
What Level 4 and Level 6 financial planning qualifications can indicate, and why consumers should not treat the level as a league table.
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Choosing advice
What is cashflow modelling in financial advice?
How financial advisers use cashflow modelling to connect assets, income, spending and future goals.
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