Financial Adviser

Not all advisers work the same way. Independent financial advisers can recommend financial products from the whole market without being tied to any provider. Restricted advisers can only advise on a limited range of products or providers. Whichever type of adviser you use, they must tell you which type they are and how they are paid.

At Prescient Wealth & Estate Management, we provide independent financial advice so clients always see the full picture. Restricted advice is a different model. Restricted advisers are tied to a particular area or the financial products of one financial organisation. Some can only sell products from within that organisation.

All financial advisers in the UK must hold a Level 4 qualification as a minimum, set by the Financial Conduct Authority. Qualifications from the chartered insurance institute in particular demonstrate a commitment to development that goes well beyond the minimum. Membership of the chartered institute is a further mark that advisers have met rigorous standards of competence. When you work with our advisers, you can check their qualifications and registration directly on the FCA register.

A certified financial planner qualification carries equivalent weight internationally. All advisers must hold a Statement of Professional Standing, renewed annually, and complete at least 35 hours of CPD each year. Our team also includes financial services administrators who support every stage of the advice process, making sure clients receive joined-up financial advice from start to finish.

All financial advisers must be registered with the Financial Conduct Authority. If something goes wrong, clients have access to the financial ombudsman service and the right to claim compensation through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Being FCA-regulated is the foundation of how trust is built in financial services. Every financial adviser at our firm operates within these rules, and for further information about your rights, the FCA website sets out exactly what to expect from a regulated firm.

We provide financial planning advice across a wide range of areas. Our financial planners help you set financial goals, build a plan to reach them, and review that plan as your life changes. Financial planning is an ongoing process, not a one-off event, and our advisers work with clients from the first conversation right through to retirement and beyond. Every financial adviser on our team is qualified to advise across pensions, investments, tax planning, and protection. Our advisers give clients one joined-up service rather than several disconnected conversations, and every financial adviser keeps their knowledge current through mandatory annual development.

Retirement Advice and Pension Services

Retirement planning is the UK's most common reason for seeking financial advice. Nearly 15 million people in the UK are not saving enough for retirement. Our pension advisers help you understand your pensions, model your retirement income, and make decisions that protect your long-term position. Retirement advice at this level means a thorough review of your pensions, savings, and overall plan, including any existing pensions from previous employers before any recommendation is made.

We also advise on pension transfers, which require specialist expertise and carry real risk without proper guidance. We advise on equity release too, which can work well for some clients in later life but needs a full assessment of your financial situation before being considered.

Investment Advice and Long-Term Planning

Many people hold significant amounts in cash. Whether investing is appropriate depends on your goals, timescale and attitude to risk, and investing carries the risk of loss. Our advisers work out the right way for you to invest based on your goals, timeline, and risk tolerance. Our investment advice begins with understanding your financial goals and your investment options before anything is recommended.

We analyse your tolerance for investment volatility, monitor economic trends, research the market for appropriate financial products, and recommend suitable products that reflect your circumstances. Good financial advice at this stage can make a material difference to where your investments end up over ten or twenty years. We adjust your investments as market conditions and your life change. Investments carry risk and their value can fall as well as rise, you could lose money, which is exactly why experienced advisers matter. We explain this fully at your first meeting so you go in with both eyes open.

Tax Planning, Inheritance, and Protecting What You Pass On

Up to £7 trillion is expected to pass between generations in the UK over the coming decades, and by 2032 alone more than £327 billion is expected to be inherited. Our financial planners help clients preserve family assets and savings through structured tax planning and a clear plan for how assets are distributed. We also help clients who receive a lump sum from a redundancy payment, inheritance, or property sale to understand how best to use those funds.

What Cover You May Need and How Our Advisers Can Help

Our advisers review your financial needs, assess your insurance products, and identify gaps in your cover. Income protection and critical illness cover are among the most overlooked areas of financial planning. Our financial services include advising on protection insurance across the full range of providers. We provide advice based on what you need and recommend suitable products accordingly. We do not sell products for their own sake.

Hourly rates typically range from £75 to £350 with the UK average around £150 per hour. Fees for a full financial planning review can range from a few hundred to over £5,000. If advisers manage your investments on an ongoing basis, an ongoing advice charge of 0.75% and 1.25% per year is common, with initial advice fees typically between 1% and 3.5% of assets. On a £200,000 portfolio, 1% per year is £2,000 annually.

The financial advice cost is worth weighing against what poor decisions could cost you over time. When you pay for ongoing advice, you are also paying for regular reviews, proactive adjustments, and a financial adviser who spots problems before they affect your plan. The value of advice will depend on your circumstances, so we explain our charges and what they include before you commit.

**Please note this is a rough guide and the actual cost will vary based on your financial situation, the complexity of advice required, and the service you choose. We keep an updated price list on our financial planning fees page but you need to contact us for an accurate quote.

Our process starts with an initial meeting, face to face or via video call, whichever works for you. We use the first meeting to understand your finances, your financial goals, and what support you need from us. Your dedicated financial adviser will not push you towards any product at this stage. Our advisers are there to listen, understand, and explain how our services can help.

After the initial meeting, our financial planning team gets to work building a plan that covers your investments, pensions, tax planning, and protection needs together. We present recommendations, explain the reasoning in plain language, and never rush you into a decision. We review your plan regularly and are always available when your circumstances change.

Almost 50% of consumers say they trust professional financial advisers over other sources of financial guidance. That trust is built through consistent, personalised advice from advisers who know your circumstances and keep your plan up to date. It is what our advisers work to deliver every time.

Services like citizens advice and MoneyHelper provide general guidance about your options. They cannot provide advice, recommend financial products, or build a financial plan around your circumstances. That is what regulated financial advisers do.

If you want to know what to do with your pensions, investments and get savings advice given your actual situation, you need a regulated financial adviser, who must meet FCA standards and whose clients may have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service and the FSCS, subject to eligibility and limits. Our advisers can also help clients who have already received guidance elsewhere and want a regulated firm to assess whether it applies to their position. For further information about how our financial services compare, speak with one of our advisers directly.

Our estate and wealth management company does not operate as restricted advisers. We are independent, with no financial organisation ties that limit what we recommend. Our advisers build long-term relationships with every client, and our financial planners believe good financial planning should be accessible. Around 49% of UK adults show at least one sign of financial vulnerability, and nearly one in three may benefit from advice they are not currently receiving.

If you are ready to take your finances seriously, Prescient Wealth & Estate Management is ready to help. Whether you want to plan for retirement, grow your investments, protect your income, or simply understand your options, our qualified financial advisers are here.

Get in touch with Prescient Wealth & Estate Management today to book your free consultation, face to face or via video call, and take the first step towards a financial plan built around your life.

Important: The value of investments can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may change.