Check the free FCA Register at register.fca.org.uk: search the firm and the adviser, confirm they are authorised with the right permissions, and match the contact details to guard against clones. Then verify qualifications, be wary of unsolicited contact and pressure, and never send money before you are satisfied.
The short answer
- Start with the free FCA Register at register.fca.org.uk, search firm and individual.
- Confirm authorisation and match every contact detail to guard against clone firms.
- A legitimate adviser holds at least the Level 4 Diploma, verify qualifications too.
Checking that an adviser is legitimate is quick, free and entirely within your control, and it is the single most valuable habit a saver can build. The foundation is the FCA Register at register.fca.org.uk, the official public record of every firm and individual authorised to give regulated advice in the UK. If someone is not on it with the right permissions, they cannot legally advise you, and you should go no further. This is general information, not personal advice.
But legitimacy is more than a single lookup. A truly legitimate adviser stands up to a handful of checks, regulatory, professional and behavioural, and a scammer typically fails at least one of them. Running through all of them takes only a few minutes and protects you from the small minority who are not what they claim.
The step-by-step legitimacy check
- 1
Confirm FCA authorisation
Search the firm and the individual on the FCA Register. They should be listed as authorised with permission to advise on investments. Type the web address yourself, never follow a link the adviser sends.
- 2
Match every detail
Check the phone number, email, address and trading name against the Register. Fraudsters clone real firms but swap in their own contact details, mismatches are a major red flag.
- 3
Verify qualifications
A legitimate adviser holds at least the Level 4 Diploma. Ask, and cross-check professional status where you can: our answer on adviser qualifications explains what to look for.
- 4
Watch how they behave
Genuine advisers do not cold-call with urgent “opportunities”, promise guaranteed returns, or pressure you. Calm, transparent and patient is what legitimate looks like.
Pass all four and you can be highly confident the adviser is legitimate. Fail any one, especially a name absent from the Register or contact details that do not match, and you should stop and investigate before parting with a penny or a personal detail. The related discipline of confirming an adviser is properly authorised is covered in our answer on finding a regulated adviser.
The red flags of a scam
Legitimate adviser vs likely scam
| Sign | Legitimate adviser | Likely scam |
|---|---|---|
| First contact | You approach them, or a trusted referral | Unsolicited call, email or message |
| On the FCA Register | Listed, authorised, details match | Absent, or details do not match |
| Returns promised | Realistic, with risk explained | Guaranteed or unusually high |
| Pressure | None, take your time | Act now, limited-time offer |
| Payment | Regulated firm account, clear invoice | Personal or overseas account |
The pattern that unites almost every scam is urgency plus opacity: a pressure to act quickly, wrapped around vague or unverifiable details. A legitimate adviser does the opposite, they slow things down, encourage you to check them out, and explain the risks. If your gut says something is off, trust it and verify before acting. Pension scams in particular can be sophisticated, which is why the checks above matter most when your retirement savings are involved.
Beware the clone firm
The most convincing scams impersonate genuine, authorised firms, copying the name and even the FCA reference number, but supplying their own phone number and bank details. This is exactly why matching the contact details on the Register matters as much as finding the name. If in doubt, call the firm back on the number the FCA Register lists, never the one you were given.
If something does not add up
If an adviser fails any check, the safest course is simple: stop, and do not send money or share further details. Report suspected fraud to the FCA and to Action Fraud, doing so protects others as well as yourself. If you have already paid, contact your bank immediately, because speed matters for any chance of recovery. There is no embarrassment in checking; the people most often caught out are those who felt it would be rude to verify. A genuine professional will respect you for it.
Building verification into how you choose an adviser is not paranoia: it is ordinary prudence with something as important as your financial future. The good news is that the checks are quick, free and repeatable, and the vast majority of UK advisers pass them easily. Once you have satisfied yourself that a firm is authorised, qualified and behaving properly, you can get on with the more interesting question of whether they are the right fit for you, which our answer on choosing an adviser explores.
The free Vetted Wealth service is built around exactly this diligence: every firm we introduce is independently vetted and FCA-regulated, through financial advisers and local hubs across Devon and Cornwall. You should still confirm any firm on the FCA Register yourself, but you begin from a shortlist that has already cleared the checks. This is information and a matching service, not personal advice; investments can fall as well as rise.
In summary
- Start with the free FCA Register at register.fca.org.uk, search firm and individual.
- Confirm authorisation and match every contact detail to guard against clone firms.
- A legitimate adviser holds at least the Level 4 Diploma, verify qualifications too.
- Red flags: unsolicited contact, pressure, guaranteed returns, odd payment requests.
- Urgency plus opacity is the signature of a scam, legitimate advisers slow things down.
- If in doubt, stop, verify and report: this is information, not personal advice.
Sources and further reading
- Check the Financial Services Register Financial Conduct Authority
- Choosing a financial adviser MoneyHelper
- Financial Ombudsman Service FOS
Read the full guide
For the complete picture, see our in-depth guide: How to Check an Adviser on the FCA Register.
Speak to a vetted financial advisers specialist
This is free information, not personal advice. When you’re ready, we’ll match you with an independently vetted, FCA-regulated specialist, free, and with no obligation.
