Choosing a Financial Adviser in Dunston: A Buyer's Checklist

Choosing a financial adviser is a decision that shapes years, sometimes decades, of your financial life, so it's worth approaching with the same care you'd give any major decision. JH Financial Planning, an Associate Partner Practice of St. James's Place Wealth Management based in Dunston, is one of the local options for this kind of advice — and the checklist below applies whoever you're considering.

Check Their Qualifications

A financial adviser giving regulated advice in the UK must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, and it's worth checking the FCA register directly rather than just taking a website's word for it. Beyond baseline authorisation, professional qualifications and ongoing training are a reasonable signal of how seriously an adviser takes their own development.

Understand How They're Paid

Advisers can be paid through upfront fees, ongoing percentage-based charges, or a combination of both, and this structure genuinely affects the advice you receive. Ask for a clear, written breakdown of costs before any commitment, not a vague verbal summary.

Ask What "Independent" or "Restricted" Actually Means

An independent adviser can recommend products from the whole market, while a restricted adviser — including those tied to a particular network — works within a defined range of products or providers. Neither is automatically better, but you should know which you're getting and what it means for the range of options available to you.

Clarify the Ongoing Relationship

Financial planning isn't usually a one-off conversation — ask how often you'll have review meetings, how they handle life changes like a new job or inheritance, and what ongoing support is included in their fee structure.

Ask About Their Typical Client

An adviser who regularly works with clients in a similar life stage or financial situation to yours will likely understand your priorities faster than one whose usual client base looks very different. This is a reasonable, direct question to ask in an initial conversation.

Trust Your First Meeting

Most advisers offer an initial consultation, often at no cost, specifically so you can assess fit before committing. Pay attention to whether they listen more than they talk, and whether they explain things in a way you actually understand rather than in jargon.

Quick Checklist

• Confirm FCA authorisation on the official register
• Get a clear, written fee structure
• Clarify independent vs restricted status
• Ask how often you'll be reviewed going forward
• Use the initial meeting to judge genuine fit

JH Financial Planning operates from Team Valley in Dunston as an Associate Partner Practice of St. James's Place Wealth Management. Working through this checklist before committing gives you a much clearer sense of whether an adviser's approach genuinely matches what you need.