An editorial census of FCA-authorised Independent Financial Advisers in the United Kingdom, indexed by region and cross-referenced against the FCA Register.
What this directory covers
- 1,663 firms verified against the Financial Conduct Authority Register at compilation.
- Indexed across 78 UK regions.
- No commission, no referrals, no recommendations. Listings are editorial, not advisory.
- Featured Partner positions are clearly labelled paid placements; the directory is independent.
The UK ifa market in 2026
Independent Financial Advisers in the UK operate under FCA authorisation with permissions to advise across the full retail investment market. Distinct from restricted advisers (who can only recommend from a panel) and tied advisers (single provider), Independents must show whole-of-market access and a fee structure that does not bias advice toward commission. The regime tightened materially after the 2013 Retail Distribution Review.
For consumers, the practical question is whether the advice need justifies the fee. Pension transfers from defined benefit schemes, inheritance tax planning, complex portfolio rebalancing, and protection of multi-asset wealth typically reward independent advice. Single-product purchases (a stocks and shares ISA, a basic life policy) often do not.
Where the UK’s 1,663 independent financial advisers are based
The Kaeltripton index covers 78 UK regions with two or more verified firms. Distribution skews heavily to London and the major regional financial centres; the table below shows the top ten markets by firm count.
Major markets
Other regional centres
+ Show 63 smaller regions (712 firms)
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Compiled from public records
Every firm was identified from the Financial Conduct Authority Register and Companies House. No paid listings.
Register cross-checked
Each firm’s authorisation and permissions verified against the relevant public register at compilation.
Editorial firewall
No commission, no referrals, no lead routing. Featured Partner positions are clearly labelled.
When to use an IFA
IFAs add value when the household faces a transition: retirement planning, drawdown decisions, defined-benefit transfer, business sale, divorce settlement, large inheritance, or trust establishment. For straightforward investment in mainstream products, low-cost platforms with no advice may serve the same purpose at a fraction of the cost.
Fees, commission, and disclosure
Since RDR, commission on investment advice is banned. IFAs charge fees either as a percentage of assets (typically 0.5 to 1 per cent annually), an hourly rate (£150 to £400/hr median), or a fixed fee per engagement. Initial fees for setting up a portfolio commonly run 1 to 3 per cent of assets. All fees must be disclosed in writing before advice is given.
Independent UK ifa analysis, monthly.
Independent UK personal finance and adviser-market analysis, monthly. Pension regulation updates, FCA enforcement on advisers, market commentary, and editorial coverage of the IFA sector. Free, no referrals.
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