Financial Advisors Cost in London (2026)
Quick Answer
Estimated rangeIn London, financial adviser costs are usually charged as a percentage of the money invested, a fixed project fee, or an hourly rate. A common market estimate is roughly £150-£300 per hour, about £500-£1,500 for a one-off advice project, and around 0.5%-1.0% a year for ongoing advice, though some firms charge more for complex planning or large portfolios. The FCA confirms advisers must disclose their charges clearly, but prices vary by firm and service.
Overview
Financial advice in London is typically priced in one of three ways: hourly billing, a fixed fee for a defined piece of work, or percentage-based fees linked to investments and ongoing portfolio management. For consumers, the key UK rule is that advisers must explain charges upfront, including the cost of the advice itself and any product or platform charges. In practice, London pricing is often at the upper end of UK ranges because firms may handle more complex tax, pension and investment planning, and because overheads are higher than elsewhere. For one-off advice, many clients pay for retirement planning, pension transfers, inheritance tax planning or a financial review as a package rather than purely by the hour. Ongoing advice is commonly charged as an annual percentage of assets under advice, sometimes with a separate initial planning or implementation fee. Total cost can therefore include: the adviser fee, the investment platform fee, and the underlying fund charges. When comparing quotes, it is important to ask whether VAT applies, whether implementation is included, whether meetings are in person or remote, and whether ongoing reviews are optional. In the UK, financial advisers are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and many advisers also belong to the Personal Finance Society or Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment as professional bodies.
What It Costs
| Item | Cost | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly financial advice(per hour) Estimated range based on typical UK market rates for regulated financial advice, with London commonly at the higher end because of higher operating costs and more complex client needs. | ~£150 – £300 | Estimated range |
| One-off financial plan or advice package(per project) Estimated range based on typical charges for a standalone review or planning engagement in the UK; London firms often sit toward the upper half of the range. | ~£500 – £1,500 | Estimated range |
| Initial advice / implementation fee(percent of assets) Estimated percentage range commonly used for setting up investments or implementing a plan; exact charging structures vary by adviser and asset size. | ~£1 – £3 | Estimated range |
| Ongoing adviser charge(percent of assets per year) Estimated annual range based on common UK wealth and financial planning fee models for ongoing reviews, access and portfolio monitoring. | ~£0.5 – £1 | Estimated range |
| Requirement to disclose adviser charges FCA states advisers must clearly explain how much their services cost and how you pay. | Not yet verified | Awaiting verified source |
What’s Typically Included
- Initial fact-find and goals discussion
- Suitability report or financial plan
- Product or provider recommendations
- Implementation support if agreed
- Periodic reviews for ongoing service clients
Common Jobs & Typical Prices
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Regulator / licensing: Financial Conduct Authority
Variants & Configurations
Duration
A first meeting is often 30-90 minutes; a full advice project commonly takes a few days to a few weeks depending on complexity.
How Fees Work
Typical structures are hourly rates, fixed project fees, initial percentage-based implementation fees, and ongoing annual charges as a percentage of assets. Advisers should explain all costs upfront, including platform and product charges where relevant.
Factors Affecting Price
- Whether you want one-off advice or an ongoing annual service
- Complexity of the case, such as pensions, tax planning, business assets or inheritance issues
- How much money is being invested or managed
- Whether charges also include implementation, reviews and contact during the year
- London firm positioning, including adviser seniority and office overheads
Local Context
In London, adviser fees are often above the UK average, especially for holistic planning and high-net-worth clients. VAT treatment depends on the nature of the service, so clients should ask whether quoted fees are VAT-inclusive. Tipping is not relevant. If advice leads to investment products, compare the full annual cost, not just the adviser's headline fee.
These are data-informed estimate ranges, not confirmed prices.
Costs like this vary widely by job, location, timing and provider, so there is no single fixed price. The ranges here are based on typical market rates to give you a realistic ballpark. For an exact figure for your situation, get a quote or check the official source below.
All figures are in pounds sterling (GBP). Percentage-based charges are usually quoted as a share of assets invested or managed.
Sources & References
Every price on this page is traced to a documented source. Last checked 24 September 2026.
- Personal Finance Society · industry
Relevant professional body for financial advisers and planners in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do financial advisers in London charge for the first meeting?+
Some do and some do not. An introductory meeting is sometimes free, but you should confirm in writing whether any discovery, cash-flow modelling or follow-up work is chargeable.
Is ongoing advice compulsory?+
Usually no. Many firms offer one-off advice, while others focus on ongoing service. Ask whether you can take standalone advice without signing up to an annual percentage fee.
Are investment platform and fund charges included in the adviser fee?+
Often they are not. Your total cost may include the adviser's fee, the investment platform charge and the underlying fund costs, so compare the full all-in cost.
What's the difference between an independent and a restricted adviser?+
An independent adviser can consider a broad range of retail investment products across the market, while a restricted adviser works within limits set by their business model or panel. The FCA explains this distinction.
Why can London financial advice cost more than elsewhere in the UK?+
London firms often have higher overheads and may deal with more complex cases involving larger portfolios, property wealth, business ownership or cross-border tax considerations.
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