Larger portfolio
Compare advisers used to working with the asset level and complexity you already have.
Find an adviser who fits the size and shape of your portfolio.
Investment advice can be a one-off recommendation or an ongoing service. It may include reviewing your investments, planning for retirement and choosing how to use accounts such as ISAs and pensions alongside your other finances.
Investment advice is not just for stock picking.
Consider the value of your investments, the types of account you use, whether you need regular reviews and how comfortable you are managing things yourself.
Inherited investments
Understand whether the existing holdings fit your own goals, risk tolerance and time horizon.
Ongoing oversight
Check what the annual service actually does, beyond simply holding the investments in place.
One-off recommendation
If you do not need yearly reviews, compare whether the service can stand alone without an ongoing fee.
Good questions before you commit.
How much of your work is investment advice?
Regular experience can matter more than a generic wealth label.
What is the minimum asset level?
Ask early if the service is designed for larger portfolios.
What do you charge at the start and each year afterwards?
Get the actual pounds, not just the percentage.
What investment and platform charges will I pay as well?
The adviser fee is only part of the total cost.
Investment advice should be easy to compare in pounds.
Advisedly explains whether a fee was confirmed by the adviser, published by the firm or is unavailable. The total cost matters more than any single percentage on its own.
Useful starting point0.75% on £500,000 = £3,750 a year
This is an example, not a quote. When comparing fees, include the initial advice charge and any platform, fund or product charges.
Read the minimum investment guideUse a location that matches your style of service.
Advisers may offer in-person meetings, phone or video calls, or a mix. Think about how you would like to meet and the experience you need.
Choosing an investment adviser
What does this adviser actually do with investments?
Ask whether they focus on planning, portfolio construction, ongoing oversight or a wider investment-management service, and make sure that matches what you want.
Do minimum assets matter?
Yes. Some firms are designed around larger portfolios or a specific client segment. A useful match should reflect the level of complexity and assets involved.
How should I compare investment fees?
Ask for the cash cost in pounds, separate adviser, platform and fund charges, and check whether the service is one-off or ongoing.