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FTAdviser Top 100 Financial Advisers 2023

Unveiling the top UK financial advice firms of the year

Welcome to the FTAdviser Top 100 2023

The past 12 months have been eventful. We have witnessed the coronation of a new monarch and a catalogue of chancellors and prime ministers.

We have pored through documents as tax decisions were made and repealed; reported on the effect of interest rate rises and how eye-watering inflation has been wreaking havoc on people's finances.

Simultaneously, the advice profession has been through its own changes, not least the significant efforts of every financial services professional to ensure their companies met or surpassed the regulatory expectations laid out under the new Consumer Duty.

Firms that focus on providing a service, that clients value, will continue to attract new clients and retain existing ones Jessica Ayres, Timothy James & Partners

Amid such a busy and oft-times frustrating year, companies have still gone over and above to serve their clients, support staff and reach new potential clients.

In August this year, the Financial Conduct Authority revealed the number of retail investment advisers rose to 37,381 in 2022, compared to 36,674 in 2021. Mortgage adviser posts grew to 36,441, compared to 36,211 in 2021.

But what all advisers have in common is their continued obligations under consumer duty to put the customer first.

And that is what Jessica Ayres, chartered financial planner at Timothy James & Partners, has put down to service - which she believes is the key to continuing to be a successful advice firm.

She said: "Service is everything - and a personalised service is the key differentiator between companies.

"Firms that focus on providing a service, that clients value, will continue to attract new clients and retain existing ones."

True, the FTAdviser Top 100 just represents a slice of the amazing work that financial advisers do, day in and day out, but to be among the names in the frame in 2023 is no mean feat.

This year's list showcases those companies whose data, made available to FTAdviser's Top 100 partners Financial Clarity/ISS Market Intelligence, demonstrates their business-winning abilities in a tough market.

But it also goes further, highlighting those companies who have helped staff through the rigours of becoming chartered or certified despite the busyness of 2023.

It shows how companies progressed with their own chartered status, despite the internecine battles going on earlier this year at one of the UK's largest accrediting bodies.

And it demonstrates how exceptionally valuable financial advice and financial planning is to millions of Britons, whose financial health and wealth has been supported during yet another difficult year by the profession.

Congratulations to all of those named among this year's Top 100.

Simoney Kyriakou is editor of FTAdviser

Image captions

Editor Simoney Kyriakou speaking at the Financial Advice Forum (September 2023). Photo: Em Fitzgerald

1. Johnston Carmichael Wealth Ltd 2. Mazars Financial Planning Ltd 3. Marsh McLennan (Inc. Mercer) 4. Westminster Wealth Management LLP 5. Cullen Wealth Ltd 6. Punter Southall 7. DGS Independent Financial Advisers Ltd 8. Partners Wealth Management LLP 9. Corbel Partners 10. Beckett Investment Management Group 11. Progeny Wealth 12. The Private Office 13. Investment Quorum Ltd 14. Schroders (Schroders Personal Wealth and Schroder & Co Ltd) 15. Pharon Independent Financial Advisers Ltd 16. Fidelius Ltd 17. Argyle Consulting Ltd 18. NatWest 19. Advanta Wealth Ltd 20. Best Practice IFA Group Ltd

A&J Wealth Management Ltd Acumen Financial Planning Ltd Advies Private Clients LLP AFWM Ltd AHSL Group (Sense) Alexander Grace Ltd Altor Wealth Management LLP Amber River Antrams Financial Services LLP (part of Pembroke) Asset Management Financial Advisers Ltd BBT Group Ltd Cantab Asset Management Ltd Charles Stanley & Co Ltd Chase de Vere Cheetham Jackson Ltd Chetwood Wealth Management Ltd Clarity Ltd (Clarity Global) Clayton Holmes Naisbitt Financial Consultancy LLP Close Brothers Continuum (Financial Services) LLP Cox Financial Ltd Craven Street Financial Planning Ltd Douglas Steers & Co Ltd Ellis Bates Wealth Management Ltd Equilibrium Financial Planning Equitas Financial (UK) Ltd Estate Capital Financial Management Ltd

Fairstone Fensham Howes Ltd Financial Advice & Services Ltd Flying Colours Foster Denovo Greystone Financial Services Ltd Hargreaves Lansdown Advisory Services HFMC Wealth Hilltop Finance Ltd Howard Wright Ltd Humboldt Financial Ltd In Partnership Kerr Henderson KMG Independent Ltd Lonsdale Services Ltd Lowes Financial Management Ltd Lowndes Halsden & Partners Ltd Lumin Wealth Martin Aitken Financial Services Ltd Mattioli Woods McHardy Financial Ltd MKC Wealth Ltd Moore & Smalley LLP Morgans Ltd Murdoch Asset Management Ltd

Oculus Wealth Management Ltd Openwork Origen Paradigm Norton Financial Planning Ltd Pareto Financial Planning Ltd Pembroke Financial Services Ltd Pen-Life Associates Ltd Perspective PI Financial Ltd PJG Financial Services Ltd Profile Financial Solutions Ltd Quilter Reeves Independent Ltd Sandringham Financial Partners Ltd Schofield Money Ltd Skerritt Consultants Ltd St James's Place Wealth Management plc Strategic Solutions Financial Services Tavistock Tenet The Fry Group Timothy James & Partners Ltd Validpath Ltd Vintage Wealth Management Vision Independent Financial Planning Ltd Wade Financial Services Ltd Wingate Wren Sterling Financial Planning Ltd

The methodology

The FT Adviser Top 100 is compiled based on Financial Clarity data from ISS Market Intelligence, a leading provider of data, analytics, and insight solutions to the global financial services industry.

The list looks at a variety of factors, including gross inflows throughout the year, client retention, the number of chartered and certified financial planners and length of service.

Financial Clarity receives data directly from fund managers and investment platforms, with a combined coverage of over 90 per cent of the UK’s intermediary fund flows.

Fund manager coverage is made up of over 60 of the UK’s leading fund managers, including coverage from fund managers outside of the Investment Association rankings – such as discretionary fund managers and alternative providers.

The displayed figures have been rounded to two significant figures and include assets invested in retail advisory investments and pensions

The top 100 list is created by first selecting the 150 largest firms by gross sales in the previous 12 months, July 2022 – June 2023 for the 2023 List.

Individual firms that are affiliated with a wider group are included within the figures for the group, and appointed representatives are included within the figures for their principal, regardless of whether they could appear individually. This year firms with gross sales of over £160mn were eligible for inclusion, compared with £175mn in 2022.

Each firm is then scored on six different factors the sum of which produce the ranking:

• AUM Score  – 110% of the Natural Logarithm of June 2023 AUM. • Net % Score  – Last 12 months (July 2022 to June 2023) Net-Sales percentage of June 2022 AUM, broken down into quintiles awarding points as follows: 1, 5, 9, 12 & 14 points for each quintile, respectively. • Years Score  – 1/8 point for each year in service up to a maximum of 10 points. This year, the average years in service for the Top-100 firms is 44 years. • Retention Score  – Pence outflows per each £1 inflows – the lower the better. Broken down to quintiles awarding points as follows: 4, 3, 2, 1 & 0 points for each quintile, respectively. • Estimated Performance Score  – Based on AUM growth over the period once Net-Sales are taken away. Broken down to quintiles awarding points as follows: 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 & 2 for each quintile, respectively. • CII or CISI Chartered/Accredited – Firms that are chartered or accredited by CISI or CII received points based on the percentage of the AUM held by chartered or accredited firms. This factor awards a maximum of 10 points.

The average weight for each of the above factors in this year’s Top 100 firms:

• Assets held accounted for an average of  50.1 per cent  of each adviser’s score. • Net-flow accounted for an average of  23.4 per cent  of each adviser’s score. • Years of service  accounted for an average of  8.6 per cent of each adviser’s score. • Retention  accounted for an average of  6 per cent of each adviser’s score. • Estimated performance  accounted for an average of 2.5 per cent  of each adviser’s score. • CISI or CII Chartered/Accredited accounted for an average of 9.5 per cent  of each adviser’s score.

The displayed figures have been rounded to two significant figures and include assets invested in retail advisory investments and pensions, reported to Financial Clarity by its partners.

Other assets, such as those invested in discretionary funds or model portfolios were included, when submitted to us as such.

We considered whether firms were chartered or accredited Financial Planners as a mark of their professionalism and commitment to their clients. In the case of groups where some members were chartered or accredited and others were not, points were awarded based on the percentage of the AUM held by chartered or accredited firms.

Firms can become chartered by the CII or Accredited by the CISI by meeting the organisations’ respective criteria, details of which can be found on their websites: www.cii.co.uk or www.cisi.org

About ISS Market Intelligence

ISS Market Intelligence is a global provider of data, analytics, insights, media, and events solutions to the global financial services industry.

ISS MI empowers global asset and wealth management firms, insurance companies, distributors, service providers and technology firms by providing market engagement platforms and the intelligence necessary to fully assess their target markets, identify and analyse the best opportunities within those markets, and execute initiatives to grow their business.

www.issmarketintelligence.com

FTAdviser Top 100 Financial Advisers 2022

Our rundown of the top UK financial advice firms

Welcome to the FTAdviser Top 100 2022

The latest FTAdviser Top 100 Financial Advisers lists are out for 2022, showcasing some of the best advice firms in the country.

Over the past year, the financial services sector has been rocked by significant events.

These include Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the rising cost of living, an energy crisis and a swath of tax changes unveiled as part of the new prime minister’s Trussonomics plan for growth, which helped the pound tumble to record lows.

Yet despite this, the list of businesses in the FTAdviser Top 100 2022 presents a snapshot of the remarkable resilience shown by the entire advice sector.

These standards are a decent indication of a firm trying to do the right thing by its customers

2022 marks 10 years since the introduction of the Retail Distribution Review; seven years since pension freedoms came into force and six years since the Financial Advice Market Review highlighted serious issues that needed to be addressed.

And over that time, businesses have adapted to change, whether this be tax policy turning on a pin, dealing with the after-effects of the pandemic or embracing the digital transformation.

Most firms are still feeling their way into what Liz Truss has been calling a ‘new era’. But finding the right balance between face-to-face advice and online services – as well as developing robust succession plans to future-proof the advice industry – could yet result in some significant changes to business models.

We will be keeping a close eye on that, as well as the more familiar challenges facing advisers and their firms, in the months and years ahead.

FTAdviser’s Top 100 Financial Advisers is based on Financial Clarity data, from ISS Market Intelligence. 

In keeping with our policy of revising the methodology to avoid a skew to the largest firms, we also reward businesses that are either chartered by the Chartered Insurance Institute or accredited by the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

Of course, these standards are not a guarantee of good behaviour or good practices, but they remain a decent indication of a firm trying to do the right thing by its customers, and help to ensure our list is not compiled using financial metrics alone.

As a result, seven of our top 10 companies have either chartered or accredited status, as do 17 of the top 20.

The top 20 is where the rankings end this year. As per last year, businesses outside this group are now listed in alphabetical order, rather than based on the data.

We’ve done this so the list emphasises the companies themselves, rather than giving undue focus to a precise position in the rankings or how that position might have shifted year-on-year. Indeed, sometimes firms' positions might change significantly over the year. 

Equally, we consider it important to retain a small group of firms that our metrics rank as the best of the best at the top of the list.

In 2022 we are continuing with the editor’s choice selection, which was introduced in 2021. This is designed to recognise a company whose qualities might otherwise not be captured by our metrics. 

This year, that choice is Clairville York, which only just missed out on entering the Top 100 this year and is a new entrant into the 150 or so firms that make up the long list. 

Simoney Kyriakou is editor of FTAdviser

Image captions

1. Johnston Carmichael Wealth 2. Mazars Financial Planning 3. Punter Southall 4. Partners Wealth Management 5. Marsh McLennan (Inc. Mercer) 6. Corbel Partners Limited 7. Premier Wealth Planning 8. The Penny Group Limited 9. Beckett Investment Management 10. Pharon Independent Financial Advisers 11. Murdoch Asset Management 12. Smith & Pinching Financial Services 13. Schofield Money 14. Strategic Solutions Financial Services 15. Argyle Consulting 16. Westminster Wealth Management 17. Wills & Trusts Independent Financial Planning 18. Skerritt Consultants 19. Cullen Wealth 20. Acumen Financial Planning

A & J Wealth Management Advanta Wealth Advies Private Clients Alan Boswell Alexander Grace Altor Wealth Management Amber River Antrams Financial Services Aspira Corporate Solutions Atomos (Sanlam Financial Services) Balmoral Asset Management Best Practice IFA Carrington Investment Consultants Charles Stanley & Co Chase de Vere Chetwood Wealth Management Clarity Clark Gillone Close Brothers David Williams IFA Douglas Steers & Co Ellis Bates Emery Little Equilibrium Financial Planning Evelyn Partners

Fairstone Financial Advice & Services Foster Denovo Gale & Phillipson Gracechurch Wealth Management HFMC Wealth Hilltop Financial Planning Hoyl HSBC Bank InPartnership Investment Quorum IP Wealth Management LGT Wealth Management UK Lloyds Banking Lomond Financial Management Lonsdale Services Lyncombe Consultants Martin Aitken Financial Services Mattioli Woods Moore & Smalley Mutual Financial Management MWS Financial Advisers

Openwork Origen Pannells Financial Planning Paradigm Norton Financial Planning Pen-Life Associates Penguin Wealth Planners Perspective PI Financial Prism Financial Advice Profile Financial Solutions Progeny Wealth Prosperity Wealth Quilter Reeves Independent Sandringham Financial Partners Schroders Personal Wealth Scrutton Bland Financial Services Sense Network St James's Place Wealth Management plc Tavistock Taylored Advice The Fry Group The Private Office Thomson Tyndall Timothy James & Partners Tom French & Associates Truly Independent Unbiased Financial Unique Financial Planning Validpath Vintage Wealth Management Wade Financial Services Wren Sterling Financial Planning

The methodology

The list is produced using Financial Clarity data from ISS Market Intelligence and looks at a variety of factors, including gross inflows through the year, client retention, the number of chartered or certified financial planners and length of service. 

Financial Clarity receives data directly from fund managers and investment platforms. Their AUM coverage exceeds the Investment Association’s total retail assets under management. 

The top 25 fund managers in the IA account for 83 per cent per cent of retail assets under management and Financial Clarity receives sales and AUM data from 19 of these investment houses, including 17 of the top 20.

Submissions from these fund managers are supplemented by fund managers outside of the IA. Fourteen platforms submit data to Financial Clarity, 13 of which at intermediary and product level. 

The displayed figures have been rounded to two significant figures and include assets invested in retail advisory investments and pensions

The list is created by first selecting the 150 largest firms by gross sales in the previous 12 months, July 2021–June 2022 for the 2022 list. Individual firms affiliated with a wider group are included within the figures for the group, and appointed representatives are included within the figures for their principal, regardless of whether they could appear individually. 

This year, firms with gross sales of more than £175mn were eligible for inclusion compared with £150mn in 2021, £115mn in 2020 and £125mn in 2019.

Each firm is then scored on six different factors, the sum of which produce the ranking:

1. AUM Score – 110 per cent of the natural logarithm of June 2022 AUM. 2. Net % Score – Last 12 months (July 2021 to June 2022) Net-Sales percentage of June 2021 AUM, broken down into quintiles awarding points as follows: 1, 5, 9, 12 & 14 points for each quintile, respectively. 3. Years Score – 1/8 point for each year in service up to a maximum of 10 points. This year, the average years in service for the Top-100 firms is 37 years.  4. Retention Score – Pence outflows per each £1 inflows – the lower the better. Broken down to quintiles awarding points as follows: 4, 3, 2, 1 & 0 points for each quintile, respectively. 5 . Estimated Performance Score – Based on AUM growth over the period once net-sales are taken away. Broken down to quintiles awarding points as follows: 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 & 2 for each quintile, respectively. 6. CII or CISI Chartered/Accredited – Firms that are chartered or accredited by CISI or CII received points based on the percentage of the AUM held by chartered or accredited firms. This factor awards a maximum of 10 points. 

The average weight for each of the above factors in this year’s Top-100 firms:

Assets held accounted for an average of 50.7 per cent of each adviser’s score (49 per cent last year).

Net-flow accounted for an average of 23.5 per cent of each adviser’s score (26 per cent last year).

Years of service accounted for an average of 8.2 per cent of each adviser’s score (9 per cent last year).

Retention accounted for an average of 5.9 per cent of each adviser’s score (5 per cent last year).

Estimated performance accounted for an average of 2.6 per cent of each adviser’s score (2 per cent last year).

CISI or CII Chartered/Accredited accounted for an average of 9.1 per cent of each adviser’s score (9 per cent last year).

The displayed figures have been rounded to two significant figures and include assets invested in retail advisory investments and pensions, reported to Financial Clarity by its partners. Other assets, such as those invested in discretionary funds or model portfolios, were included when submitted.

The analysis looked at firms that were chartered or accredited financial planners as a mark of their professionalism and commitment to their clients. In the case of groups where some members were chartered or accredited and others were not, points were awarded based on the percentage of the AUM held by chartered or accredited firms. 

About ISS Market Intelligence

ISS Market Intelligence provides data, analytics, insights, media and events solutions to the global financial services industry. ISS MI empowers global asset and wealth management firms, insurance companies, distributors, service providers and technology firms by providing market engagement platforms and the intelligence necessary to fully assess their target markets, identify and analyse the best opportunities within those markets, and execute initiatives to grow their business.

Within EMEA, ISS MI data and analytics solutions include intelligence from Financial Clarity, FWW, Mortgage Clarity, and Simfund.

www.issmarketintelligence.com

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A financial plan offers you freedom, security, legacy and a foundation on which to build the future you want. That’s why you need a team who not only understands your ambitions but can be trusted with them too. 

Whether you are just starting on your financial journey, looking to invest for the future or planning your retirement, we aim to guide you to the point where you can enjoy life, happy in the knowledge that you have a structured, tax-efficient financial plan in place.

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We are an award-winning firm of Chartered independent financial advisers united by one vision: to provide personal and tailored  wealth management services to those in search of stability and guidance.

We combine more than 20 years of experience and skills to provide you with the financial advice you need, no matter how unique your situation.

Not all financial advisers are equal

Different types of adviser

Why our clients choose us

Some needs are more complex than others. Whether you're looking for specialist advice or need to meet distinct investment requirements, we treat every client on a case-by-case basis. That means doing whatever is necessary to make sure you get the best results.

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Our clients speak for us:

A client from Wiltshire

Nothing was over-complicated and it was easy to understand the plan. We need flexibility and The Private Office was able to accommodate this and clearly had a good understanding of what would suit us. 

A client from London

TPO have a disciplined and robust approach to investing. They have performed very well for our family over a couple of decades, and hit a sweet spot for our risk/return profile.

The value of advice

Advice pays. Here’s the evidence

Studies show that those who take independent financial advice are better off than those who don't.

Investments

Consumers with advisers save longer and contribute more to investment products, leading to an average of £40,000 more in investment value than those without advisers.

Consumers who seek advice on cash-based saving products save an average of £20,000-£59,000 more than those who did not seek advice.

The average pension pot for consumers with financial advisers is nearly twice the size of those without advisers.

How we can help grow and protect your wealth

Ongoing advice is key to reaching your goals and securing your financial future. We work closely with our clients to provide personalised financial service  that will help them build plans, stay on track, and provide them with peace of mind.

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A diverse team united to assure success

The Private Office provides the perfect balance of specialist expertise and general consultation to give you one experience for your finances.

You’ll work with a team of technicians, administrators, advisers, and specialists and have access to a wide range of investment solutions, from the conventional to the unique.

We’re committed to transparent and fair-value fees for all our services

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Meet our expert team

Our team members have extensive experience in the UK financial and investment industries. From specialists to support members, The Private Office is home to some of the finest Chartered independent financial advisers in the UK. 

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People Block

Financial Adviser - Chartered Financial Planner, FPFS

Rated 4.8 out of 5

Merve is a Chartered Financial Planner and a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society. She creates bespoke financial plans in partnership with her clients to help them secure their financial future and enjoy their desired lifestyle with peace of mind. 

Sarah Beall

Rated 4.9 out of 5

A Fellow of the Personal Finance Society, Sarah has worked in financial services since 2011 and works in partnership with her clients to ensure they understand what they are capable of achieving and how they can get there. In particular, she provides clarity around complex strategies to put her clients at ease.

Daniel Schofield

Partner - dippfs.

Rated 4.7 out of 5

Daniel provides advice focused on the disciplines of personal and corporate financial planning, investment portfolio management, Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning and mitigation, and legacy and succession planning.

Arrange a free initial consultation

We are committed to helping you create, sustain, protect, and grow your wealth.

Reach out to our team of financial advisers near you to learn more about how we can help you preserve your future wealth.

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A short phone call and complimentary initial meeting with a qualified financial adviser to get to know you and your financial position.

How can we help

We explore your needs and design a bespoke service plan with agreed fixed fees.

Sharing solutions and advice

We begin a closer examination of your financial situation and provide a detailed financial plan based on market research and financial modelling.

Working with you long-term

Once our financial plan has been implemented, we provide ongoing portfolio review, valuations, and service assessment regularly to ensure that your wealth is secure.

Contact us today to see how we can help you manage your wealth.

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Who are FTAdviser's top 20 financial advice firms?

The full FTAdviser Top 100 Financial Advisers list is now out, and we can finally reveal who are the top 20 financial advice firms for 2022.

Over the past year, the financial services sector has been rocked by significant events. 

These include Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the rising cost of living, an energy crisis and a swath of tax changes unveiled as part of the new prime minister’s Trussonomics plan for growth, which helped the pound tumble to record lows.

Yet despite this, the list of businesses in the FTAdviser Top 100 2022 presents a snapshot of the remarkable resilience shown by the entire advice sector. 

This year marks 10 years since the introduction of the Retail Distribution Review; seven years since pension freedoms came into force and six years since the Financial Advice Market Review highlighted serious issues that needed to be addressed.

And over that time, businesses have adapted to change, whether this be tax policy turning on a pin, dealing with the after-effects of the pandemic or embracing the digital transformation.

But finding the right balance between face-to-face advice and online services – as well as developing robust succession plans to future-proof the advice industry – could yet result in some significant changes to business models.

We will be keeping a close eye on that, as well as the more familiar challenges facing advisers and their businesses, in the months and years ahead.

And here we can reveal the top 20 - which are ranked, in line with our process of only ranking the top 20 and listing the rest by alphabetical order.

The methodology

You can read the full methodology by clicking on the report above.

FTAdviser’s Top 100 Financial Advisers is based on Financial Clarity data, from ISS Market Intelligence. 

In keeping with our policy of revising the methodology to avoid a skew to the largest firms, we also reward businesses that are either chartered by the Chartered Insurance Institute or accredited by the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

Of course, these standards are not a guarantee of good behaviour or good practices, but they remain a decent indication of a firm trying to do the right thing by its customers, and help to ensure our list is not compiled using financial metrics alone.

As a result, seven of our top 10 companies have either chartered or accredited status, as do 17 of the top 20.

The top 20 is where the rankings end this year. As per last year, businesses outside this group are now listed in alphabetical order, rather than based on the data. 

We’ve done this so the list emphasises the companies themselves, rather than giving undue focus to a precise position in the rankings or how that position might have shifted year-on-year. Indeed, sometimes firms' positions might change significantly over the year. 

Equally, we consider it important to retain a small group of firms that our metrics rank as the best of the best at the top of the list.

In 2022 we are continuing with the editor’s choice selection, which was introduced in 2021. This is designed to recognise a company whose qualities might otherwise not be captured by our metrics. 

This year, that choice is Clairville York, which only just missed out on entering the Top 100 this year and is a new entrant into the 150 or so firms that make up the long list. 

Simoney Kyriakou is editor of FTAdviser

Related articles

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We may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services, which helps to maintain our site. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site. While compensation arrangements may affect the order, position or placement of product information, it doesn't influence our assessment of those products.

We may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services, which helps to maintain our site. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site. While compensation arrangements may affect the order, position or placement of product information, it doesn’t influence our assessment of those products.

Best Financial Advisers

By Antonia Medlicott

Edited by Clare West

Fact Checked

Thinking about taking financial advice from a financial adviser is crucial when you’re looking at major financial decisions. My guide to finding a financial adviser near you should help you to better understand what a financial adviser is and if you need to use one.

Some of the best independent financial advisers are not necessarily the cheapest, so I’ll detail what you need to look out for and how much it is likely to cost you.

Also consider: Talk to an independent financial advisor

If you enquiry is regarding transferring a UK pension overseas, contact Dan Ward for advice .

Top financial advisors UK at a glance

Hargreaves Lansdown

• True Potential

St. James’s Place

How to find a financial adviser – 7 steps, how to choose a financial adviser, how much does a financial adviser cost, questions to ask a financial adviser, is it worth getting a financial adviser or should you do it yourself, can you access financial advice for free, faqs about financial advisers.

• Advisory help desk to speak to you about financial advice
• Book a call back at a time that suits you
• Lines open from 8.30am – 5pm Monday to Friday

Hargreaves Lansdown offer new and existing clients financial advice through their advisory Helpdesk. Their approach is aimed at getting you the right advice and how this might benefit you, with a view on their charging structure and which advisory services they can offer.

Hargreaves Reviews

Capital at risk.

• Talk through your goals with a financial coach
• A coach will talk through your investment strategy and investment goals
• Benefit from Bestinvest Coaches’ expert knowledge on what’s happening in the markets

Investment coaching from Bestinvest provide qualified financial planners who can help with your investment goals, with no additional charges.

Bestinvest Reviews

True Potential Investor

• Access to over 14,000 experts in over 200 locations around the world
• Fully-managed investment portfolios
• ISAs, SIPPs and general investment accounts available

With financial advisors all over the UK, True Potential Wealth Management are a fully modernised financial advisory service that harnesses technology in order to provide both private and corporate clients with a transparent service with the sole aim of helping them realise their financial goals.

True Potential provide their clients with a user-friendly, award-winning app from where you can track all your investments and bank accounts in one place for complete peace of mind.

True Potential Review

• Over 4,000 qualified advisers available nationwide
• Investment and retirement planning
• Wealth management and private clients

At St James’s Place, they have taken a different approach to investment advice. Rather than be tied down to in-house investment managers, at St James’s Place they source external fund managers so you can gain access to leading investment managers from across the globe. You can access face-to-face advice from their highly skilled financial advisers across the UK.

St James’s Place Reviews

By using our postcode search tool above, you can find a list of reputable financial advisers and financial planning firms near you. However, finding the best adviser for your unique circumstances requires more consideration than simply picking a name from a list. Below I have listed five steps to take in order to find the best financial advisor for your circumstances:

1. Identify if you actually need financial advice

Simple financial transactions such as saving for your retirement, building your savings, and paying off your mortgage can often be achieved without incurring the cost associated with financial advice. However, individuals with more substantial savings and investments, and those experiencing potentially life-changing events such as an inheritance or the birth of a child, can often benefit from the expertise of financial advice.

2. Identify the level of service you require

Often financial advisers will be keen to lock clients into an ongoing service, however, this isn’t always suited to your circumstances and identifying what could be a one-off issue could help save you ongoing monitoring charges. Another way to avoid being overcharged for the level of service you require is to ascertain whether you require face-to-face advice with a local adviser, or whether remote advice or online services will suffice. The latter can work out cheaper, especially if you are seeking advice in an affluent location such as London.

3. Do you require independent financial advice?

There is a difference in price between restricted advice and independent advice, the latter presenting a greater upfront cost. Restricted advisers will often recommend their own products or those from a limited number of providers which could end up matching you with a product that could cost you more in the long run, whereas independent advisers can access products from across the entire market.

4. Choose which areas of your finances could benefit from advice

I mentioned in my introduction that successful financial advice requires more than just picking the right investments and a more holistic approach will set you on the path to success. That being said, keeping costs down is a consideration so you don’t want to pay for services you don’t need. Long-term and potentially life-changing events such as planning your retirement, or managing an inheritance can often benefit from financial advice, however, if you are simply saving into a SIPP or opening a stocks and shares ISA, you could potentially save yourself the cost of advice.

5. Understand the costs

In my experience, getting the charges laid out from the outset can have a massive effect on your ongoing relationship with your adviser. Therefore I have gone into how advisers charge for their time and what you should be aware of in greater detail below.

6. Seek recommendations from family and friends

The experience of friends and family can provide you with an invaluable insight as to the practices of the adviser they have used. Whilst this can be a useful guide, no two financial circumstances are the same, and therefore you should do your due diligence with the adviser in question before you act on their recommendation.

7. Comparison Websites

A quick google search will turn up a good selection of comparison websites and directories, which, much like Investing Reviews , you can use to search for a financial advisor local to you.

If you have decided that now is the time for you to seek financial advice, then choosing the right independent financial adviser for your unique circumstances will be an important financial decision. Here in the UK, the choices are endless, however, when making your selection there are a few key elements to take into consideration.

1. Is the Financial Adviser Authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority?

Being authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority can guarantee that the financial adviser you are considering will always act ethically and on your behalf.

2. Check the Adviser has Professional Indemnity Insurance

Whilst this is not crucial in order to provide excellent advice, Professional Indemnity Insurance does offer peace of mind.

3. Check for Historical Complaints

Checking first with the Financial Ombudsman Service as well as the FCA for any historical complaints regarding bad advice made against the financial adviser or firm you are considering can be invaluable. If a past client has had to claim compensation this can be a red flag.

4. Ensure the Adviser is Independent

Obtain confirmation from the financial adviser or firm that they can access products and financial services from the whole of the market and have no affiliation to any particular provider.

5. Understand the Process

Most financial advisers and firms will offer an initial meeting free of charge so you can understand how they can bring value to your current circumstances. It is always useful to see an example of their financial planning so you know what to expect. Understand whether this is an end to end user journey with ongoing reviews and support and whether reviews will be on a monthly or annual basis, as well as whether this level of service is necessary for your requirements.

If you have decided that now is the time for you to seek financial advice, then choosing the right independent financial advisor for your unique financial situation will be an important financial decision. Here in the UK, the choices are endless, however, when making your selection there are a few key elements to take into consideration.

1. Is the Adviser Authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority?

Being authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority can offer some guarantee that the adviser you are considering will always act ethically and on your behalf.

Obtain confirmation from the adviser or firm that they can access complex financial products and financial services from the whole of the market and have no affiliation to any particular product providers.

Most financial advisers and firms will offer an initial meeting free of charge so you can understand how they can bring value to your current circumstances. It is always useful to see an example of their financial planning so you know what to expect. Understand whether this is an end-to-end user journey with ongoing advice and support and whether reviews will be on a monthly or annual basis, as well as whether this level of service is necessary for your requirements.

It is compulsory for an independent financial adviser to declare all costs upfront to any person who is a prospective client. This gives you the opportunity to compare and negotiate with financial advisers and also provides you with reassurance that the adviser in question has no conflicting interests such as a commission from a product that they recommend.

Pricing structures vary between different financial advisers and the money you pay will largely depend on the scope of advice and support you need as well as the level of qualification your adviser holds. For simple one-off jobs, it may be more cost-effective to engage the services of a chartered financial planner. The three main methods that advisers will charge for their time are:

• Percentage fee: this will usually be worked out as a percentage of the amount of money you wish an adviser to manage on your behalf. This percentage can range anywhere between 0.5% to 5%, which may depend on the sum of money you are looking to invest.
• Fixed fee per service: With this payment structure you will be charged a fixed cost for each solution you require, i.e. mortgage advice, pensions freedom, or putting protection in place. This may be the most cost-effective method of paying should you require once only advice for a specific area of your finances and is useful if you require an upfront cost.
• Hourly rate: As always with an hourly rate, ensure you get an idea from your adviser of how long this kind of job has taken them previously so can know what cost to expect. This rate can vary between £50 and £250 an hour, depending on what you need and the level of credentials your adviser is in possession of.

Financial advisers often get asked a series of questions from potential clients which can help ascertain whether or not you are a good match. Don’t be afraid to dig into the level of service they are offering and make sure you have the answers to the following questions:

• Are they independent or restricted advisers?
• What adviser qualifications are they in possession of?
• Do they give advice face to face or over the phone?
• How often will they review your portfolio?
• Will you deal with one adviser or get passed around the firm?

Due to the associated costs when receiving professional financial advice, many people will consider whether they can actually manage their own finances efficiently. Whilst it is possible before you consider embarking down this route you should ask yourself some key questions:

• Do you have the time to evaluate your options, study the market, and find the most appropriate products to suit your circumstances?
• Do you have the appropriate level of knowledge or will you be reliant on Google?
• Are your finances currently organised and do you have a fair idea of your financial health?
• Are the changes you are looking to make potentially life-changing?
• Have you got large amounts of savings and or investments or are you experiencing a significant event such as inheriting money, becoming a parent, divorcing, or retiring?

The emergence of robo-advice platforms such as eToro and Nutmeg have given investors a low-cost way to invest that requires minimal investment knowledge using Exchange Traded Funds with high, medium and low-risk options. Whilst these do make an appealing option, they are in no way tailored to your personal circumstances and should you fail to make the right decisions, you will only have yourself to blame.

Help with Equity Release

Whilst it is possible to obtain professional advice on equity release, this can only be given by an adviser who is in possession of a specialist qualification in equity release. For free information regarding equity release as well as helpful alternatives, head to the debt charity Step Change .

The difference between independent financial advisers and restricted financial advisers

A financial adviser, sometimes referred to as a restricted adviser, can only give restricted advice on a limited number of products and therefore they don’t always have access to the best products to suit your unique circumstances.

Conversely, an independent financial adviser has access to the entire financial market and can therefore match the best product for your situation as well as provide you with completely unbiased advice to suit your needs.

Yes, you can. There are a number of options that come without any personal cost to you, however, these are limited in the range of advice they can provide. The Money Advice Service is a good place to start with free impartial advice that is run by the government. The Money Advice Service covers a range of financial advice including debt, mortgages, savings, benefits, pensions and protection.

Mortgage Advisers

L&C are a mortgage broker who can offer expert advice free of any charge as well as compare all the latest mortgage deals in real-time.

Pension Advice

For people looking to retire and requiring advice on the most efficient way to draw their pension and for pension transfers, AgeUK , Pension Wise and TaxHelp for Older People are both solid options.

Debt Advice

For free advice on managing debt, Citizens Advice Bureau and StepChange Debt Charity are two of several organisations that can offer support and advice.

Taxaid and Low Incomes Tax Reform Group are two avenues for obtaining free advice to help you achieve greater tax efficiency.

I see adverts for Financial Advisers and Financial Planners, what is the difference?

A financial advisor has the primary ambition of helping you to manage your money including Investment management, estate planning, retirement planning, protection insurance including income protection, debt repayment, critical illness, and tax planning.

Financial planners however are one type of adviser who specialises in creating a financial plan to help companies and individuals achieve their long-term financial goals and can include entities such as general financial planning, retirement planning, and education funding planning.

It is important to note that whilst a financial adviser will possess qualifications and credentials to help them achieve their purpose, just about anyone can call themselves a financial planner and offer financial planning advice, without possession of any qualifications.

Is the advice I receive always in my best interest?

• FTSE 100 More Learn how to invest in the FTSE100
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whatever your financial goals

Financial Planning

Invest in your future and be prepared for every scenario. We offer independent, straightforward, financial planning advice. Our team of experts can advise on pensions, retirement, insurance, wealth management, estate planning and more.

We provide completely independent financial advice. We have no ties to any providers of financial products or investment services. Our fees are straightforward and transparent. All our financial planners are employed by us and our fees are structured to avoid any conflict of interest in the advice we give.

As your priorities in life change your financial plans should adapt around you. Your financial health and security can depend on choosing the right financial planner for your needs.

Our Chartered title is the gold standard of excellence among financial planning firms. With increasing complexity in the financial world and constant scrutiny by the media, genuine professionalism has never been in such high demand. As Chartered Financial Planners you can be assured that the advice, service and ongoing support that we provide is of the highest quality.

In conjunction with Westcotts Chartered Accountants, we provide an integrated service to mutual clients, delivering combined advice under one roof which is efficient and cost effective.

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Work place pensions, care fees advice, equity release, estate planning and inheritance tax mitigation, pensions schemes, retirement planning, services for business owners, services for charities, services for trustees, specialist advisers.

Get in touch with one of our specialist advisers to see how we can help your business.

Iain Andrews

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The Financial Planning Process

Our process is designed to enable our clients to identify their financial and lifestyle objectives, and to achieve these objectives as far and as efficiently as possible.

Our aim is to be adaptable around your needs and our process is flexible enough to suit the different requirements of a range of private and business clients. Typically our advice process will include the following five steps:

• Initial Meeting An initial meeting with you to discuss your requirements and to explore how we may help you. This comes with no obligation and is at our expense.
• Research and Analysis Should you choose to instruct us, we will carry out research and analysis to advise as to the suitability of your existing financial arrangements. We research financial solutions, products and services across the whole of the market.
• Advice We provide a written report confirming your personal financial objectives and detailing our specific recommendations. We offer a further meeting with you to present our recommendations, to discuss how these will help to achieve your goals and to answer your questions.
• Implementation Once we have agreed a course of action, we will implement our recommendations on your behalf; undertaking the necessary administration to establish any new financial products or services.
• Ongoing Service Our aim is to work with you, reviewing your financial arrangements periodically to ensure they continue to provide value for money and remain suitable for your needs.

Should you choose our ongoing financial planning services, we will agree a programme of reviews with you, aimed at the following:

• Measurement of ongoing performance and risk management.
• Keeping you up to date with changes in markets and financial product development.
• Keeping you up to date with changes in personal taxation.
• Reviewing your personal financial situation and objectives and adapting your plans to meet your needs.

As your priorities in life change, your financial health and security depend on adapting your financial plans around you. Choosing our ongoing service gives you the peace of mind that whatever life brings, we are on hand to help.

Chartered Financial Planners Advice You Can Trust

Westcotts Chartered Financial Planners is a trading style of Westcotts Financial Management Ltd, registered in England and Wales, Company No. 04342122. Westcotts Financial Management Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

“The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) is an agency for arbitrating on unresolved complaints between regulated firms and their clients. Full details of the FOS can be found on its website at www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk .”

This website is designed solely for the use of UK resident clients and should not be relied upon by others.

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10 Best Wealth Management Firms & Financial Advisers in London, UK | 2022-2023 Ranking

Ranking the Top London Financial Advisers in 2022-2023

London is an internationally renowned city as well as the largest city in the UK. It’s also a leading investment centre, boasting one of the world’s largest financial hubs and more ultra-high-net-worth individuals than any other city.

A benefit of having a concentration of financial expertise is that London is also home to some of the world’s top financial advisors.

You don’t have to be a millionaire to benefit from expert financial management from one of the best financial planning firms in London. Advisors can assist individuals and businesses at all asset levels with sound advice and strategies to reach their goals.

However, trying to find the right financial adviser in London that will be a good fit for your financial situation and future objectives can take some time. You want to ensure their firm has expertise with your distinct needs.

The following ranking and review of the top 10 best wealth management companies in London gives you an excellent place to begin your search. AdvisoryHQ has reviewed the best of the best when it comes to financial guidance and investment management in London and provides you with highlights for each firm.

You’ll also find some tips coming up that will help you hone your search for a good wealth management firm in London so you can narrow down your choices and find the firm that is a perfect match for your financial management needs.

Award Emblem: Top 10 Best Financial Advisors in London

Top 10 Best London Financial Advisers | Brief Comparison & Ranking

Table: Top 10 Best London Financial Advisors | Above list is sorted by rating

How to Select the Best Financial Adviser in London, UK

There are a lot of good options when it comes to choosing among wealth management London firms but how do you choose who to work with? How do you narrow down your choices with so many wealth management companies in London?

Here are several questions you can ask as you’re reading the summaries for each of these best London financial planners that will help you zero in on the firm that’s going to be the best match for your financial style and situation.

What Type 0f Customers Do Wealth Management London Firms Work With?

One of the initial differentiators you can use with London financial advisers is to consider the types of customers they work with and see if you fit into those groups.

For example, some financial planners in London will work with only high-net-worth individuals, others work with all wealth levels. Some will also have a specialty in working with non-profits and institutions.

Top-Rated London Financial Advisors 2022-2023

Which Solutions Does This London Financial Advisor Specialise In?

If retirement is a main financial concern of yours, then you’ll want to make sure the London financial advisor you choose displays retirement planning prominently on its website as a specialty.

Likewise, if you have generational wealth with more complex expertise needed, look for financial planners in London that advertise family office services. Match their solutions to your most concerning financial needs.

How Many Wealth Management Services in London Do Firms Offer?

While reviewing the top-rated London wealth management firms, you’ll run across some varying services offered. Some will offer tax and accounting services along with investment management. Others will offer expat financial services for those that split their time between countries.

You’ll want to ensure any financial advisory London firm that you’re considering working with can support you with all the services you’re going to require on your financial journey.

If you’re looking for the best wealth management firms in the UK, make sure to check out our 2022-2023 Ranking of the Top Wealth Management Firms in the UK .

2022-2023 AdvisoryHQ’s Selection Methodology

What methodology does AdvisoryHQ use in selecting and finalizing the credit cards, financial products, firms, services, and products that are ranked on its various top-rated lists?

Please click here “ AdvisoryHQ’s Ranking Methodologies ” for a detailed review of AdvisoryHQ’s selection methodologies for ranking top-rated credit cards, financial accounts, firms, products, and services.

Detailed Review of the Best London, UK Wealth Management Firms

Below, please find a detailed review of 2022-2023 top financial advisors in London. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed each best wealth management London firm to score so highly in our selection ranking.

Click on any of the names below to go directly to the review section for that London advisory and wealth management firm.

• AFH Wealth Management
• Attivo Financial Planning
• Burlington Associates Limited
• Devonshire Wealth Management
• Foster Denovo
• Holden & Partners
• Serenity Financial Planning
• Strabens Hall
• The Private Office (TPO) 

Westminster Wealth Management

Click below for previous years’ rankings:

• 2019 Review: Top 1o Best Wealth Management Firms & Financial Advisers in London, UK
• 2018 Review: 9 Best Wealth Management Firms & Financial Advisers in London, UK

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AFH Wealth Management Review

Taking an inclusive and holistic approach to wealth management, AFH Wealth Management is one of the top wealth management firms in London that has over 200 independent financial advisors (IFAs) in 13 offices throughout the country.

With over 30 years of experience, this wealth management company in London is committed to using its position as one of the largest wealth management firms in the UK to provide the best possible service to its clients.

Key Factors That Enabled AFH Wealth Management to Rank as One of the Top Wealth Management Companies London, UK

Broad Range of Wealth Management Services

If you’re looking for a financial planner in London that can handle multiple financial planning services, then AFH Wealth Management will be a good option for you.

This financial planner in London offers multiple financial services and provides them all in an unbiased and unrestricted fashion, based on in-depth research and years of experience.

Services that you’ll find at this top-rated wealth management firm in London include:

• Financial Planning
• Investment Management
• Retirement Planning
• Inheritance Tax
• Protection Planning
• Tax Planning
• Mortgage Planning

Inheritance Tax Planning Guide

One of the specialties of AFH is in helping clients with inheritance tax planning so they’re not suffering an unnecessary tax burden. This financial adviser in London offers a free guide that helps educate people on the best ways to handle passing on money after death.

As one of the top wealth management firms in London, AFH offers the following detailed advice in its Inheritance Tax Planning guide:

• Explanation of what inheritance tax is and how it impacts an estate
• Taking advantage of the transferable nil-rate band
• Practical examples of estate planning in action
• How to set up a will to ensure it benefits those you care about

The experts at AFH also offer detailed information on their website on how inheritance tax is calculated and an explanation of both the nil-rate threshold and residence nil-rate threshold.

Best Wealth Management Firms London, UK

Rating Summary

AFH Wealth Management takes a comprehensive approach to the financial advisory process, which begins with a no-obligation, no-cost initial meeting. Their straightforward process makes them an excellent London financial advisor for those new to investing.

With a broad array of services, a large footprint that covers areas across the UK, and a dedication to giving unbiased advice, AFH Wealth Management scores 5-stars as one of the top wealth management firms in London to consider partnering with in 2022-2023.

See Also: Top Financial Advisers (IFAs) in Manchester and Cheshire, United Kingdom

Attivo Review

With a corporate structure and specialist skillset, Attivo is a top-rated Chartered financial planner and Pension Transfer Specialist with offices in Cheltenham, London, Cardiff, Darlington, Leeds, Liverpool, Sutton, and Havant.

Attivo does not note specifically whether it is a fee-only or fee-based financial advisory in London. As always, we recommend verifying the compensation structure before partnering with any wealth management companies in London.

Key Factors That Enabled Attivo Financial Planning to Rank as One of the Best Financial Advisors in London

Wide Range of Financial Services

The more services a client can obtain from the same top wealth management London firm, the more convenient it is for them and the better integrated all facets of their financial life will be.

As a top-rated financial advisor in London, Attivo works to provide clients with a wide array of financial planning services that can meet both short-term and long-term financial needs and goals.

Attivo’s services include:

• Independent Financial Planning
• Cash Flow Modelling
• Occupational Pension Specialist
• Investments
• Estate Planning
• Corporate Services

The London financial advisers at Attivo are financial specialists with a strong commitment to delivering clear independent financial advice.

  Top Wealth Management Firms London

Commitment to Independence

Part of what makes Attivo one of the top wealth management companies in London is its dedicated commitment to remaining independent and not under the influence of larger financial institutions.

As an independent firm, these London financial advisers are not under pressure to promote any specific financial products over others, meaning that its clients receive truly unbiased financial guidance and advice.

For Attivo, this independence is what truly allows each of its London financial advisors to offer the best possible recommendations—and one of the primary reasons why clients choose to partner with this best financial advisor in London.

As one of the top wealth management firms in London, Attivo strives to create long-term relationships with its clients, working in partnership with clients to foster confidence and control of their financial future and help them achieve their unique financial goals.

With a wide array of financial services to offer and a focus on continuing education and financial leadership, Attivo scores 5-stars as one of the best financial advisors in London to consider partnering with in 2022-2023.

Burlington Associates Limited Review

Providing “whole of the market” recommendations for nearly two decades, Burlington Associates Limited is a top-rated independent financial advisor in London. Founded in 2003, Burlington offers holistic financial and wealth management services in London that are designed to provide unique financial solutions.

This fee-based wealth management London firm offers flexible financial planning services to meet every client’s needs and goals.

Key Factors That Enabled Burlington Associates Limited to Rank as One of the Top Wealth Management Companies London

Comprehensive Financial Planning

Individuals searching for an independent financial advisor in London will significantly benefit from Burlington Associate’s holistic financial planning approach, covering the broad spectrum of a client’s financial well-being.

This includes:

• Analyzing your current financial position
• Preparing for retirement
• Protection for death, disability, and long-term illness
• Education fees
• Inheritance tax
• General tax mitigation considerations

As one of the top wealth management firms in London, Burlington also offers corporate advice and mortgage assistance, offering clients a wide variety of wealth management services in London to choose from.

2022-2023 Ranking of Top Wealth Manager in London

Experienced Financial Advisory London Team

Clients of Burlington can rest assured that they’ll be working with an experienced and well-credentialed team when they partner up with this financial advisor

Staff and advisers serving clients at Burlington Associates have relevant industry experience ranging between ten to thirty years. The staff brings an array of professional backgrounds and industry certifications to the table, including:

• Chartered Insurance Institute G60 Pension qualification
• Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute
• Chartered Financial Planner
• Mortgage Advice Qualification
• Financial Planning Certificate

As a leading financial planner in London, the company offers clients not only dedicated advisers but also alternate contacts within the firm so that their needs are always addressed in a timely manner.

Burlington Associates Limited offers clients an approach that integrates several areas of their financial life for a stronger overall strategy. This financial planner in London only recommends products that are backed by intensive research and offered in a transparent and comprehensive way.

As one of the best financial planning firms in London, Burlington provides comprehensive yet clear and transparent financial services to its clients.

Thus, we have scored the firm with a 5-star rating on our 2022-2023 ranking of top financial planning firms in London, UK.

Don’t Miss: Top Financial Advisors in Montréal & Ottawa, Québec, Canada

Devonshire Wealth Management Review

Dedicated to helping clients realise their hopes and aspirations, Devonshire Wealth Management  is a boutique financial planner in London that believes that personal relationships matter, thus advisors take time to really get to know each and every client.

Devonshire doesn’t specify whether it is a fee-based or fee-only London financial advisor. As always, we recommend verifying the fee structure before partnering with any financial advisor in London.

Key Factors That Enabled Devonshire Wealth Management to Rank as One of the Top Financial Planners in London

Bespoke or Transactional Services

Based on an individual client’s needs, Devonshire Wealth Management offers a variety of bespoke and transactional wealth management services in London.

Bespoke services offered by DWM include:

• Access to a dedicated account team
• Access to associated legal and accounting practices
• Valuation reports every quarter or every six months
• Cash flow modelling of future income and capital positions
• Regular and unlimited contact with your account team and adviser
• Investment review meetings
• Tax and estate planning
• Retirement planning

Transactional services include:

• Mortgage advice
• Release of equity from your home
• Commercial finance
• Bridging loans
• Life assurance protection
• Annuity purchases
• Health insurance

While the former model works for clients that are seeking a comprehensive wealth management and financial planning relationship with London financial advisers, the latter approach is often matched to the needs of clients who need advice on specific aspects of their financial lives.

Best Boutique Wealth Management Firms in London, UK

Assessing Investment Risk Tolerance

For new and experienced investors alike, assessing risk is a vital part of the portfolio management process to ensure your investments are selected appropriately.

As one of the top wealth management firms in London, Devonshire recognizes the importance of risk and takes a straightforward approach to ensure that risk preferences are matched to each client. This process includes:

• The suitability of different tax wrappers
• The use of different asset types
• Diversification across countries, currencies, industries, stocks, and commodities
• An independent fund selection process
• Consistent re-balancing

For clients looking for a boutique approach that emphasises personal relationships, Devonshire is an excellent example of how one of the best boutique wealth management firms in London should operate. Coupled with its client-centric style is a focus on state-of-the-art technology that offers flexibility for clients to keep up with all aspects of their financial plans.

Devonshire excels at offering clients a strong value proposition and a diverse range of services making it one of the top boutique wealth management firms in London to partner with.

For those reasons, we have awarded Devonshire Wealth Management a 5-star rating on our 2022-2023 ranking of the best London financial advisers.

Foster Denovo Review

Foster Denovo is a top financial advisor in London that serves individuals and their families, businesses, and charities. Founded in 2005, the firm works to make the financial management process as comprehensive and rewarding as possible for its clients.

This financial advisor in the UK  provides bespoke financial advice to individuals and their families, charities, and employers. As always, we recommend verifying the compensation structure before partnering with a financial advisor in London.

Key Factors That Enabled Foster Denovo to Rank as a Top Wealth Management Firm in London

Tailored Wealth Management Services London

As one of the top London wealth management firms, Foster Denovo is well-equipped to handle a wide range of financial challenges through tailored financial planning services. This gives the client peace of mind that no matter what comes up, their Foster Denovo wealth advisor in London can handle it.

The services offered by Foster Denovo include:

• Financial planning with cash flow modelling
• Preserving established wealth through trusts and inheritance planning
• Optimising tax allowances
• Pension advice and retirement planning
• At-retirement advice and assistance with pensions
• Independent mortgage support and advice
• Protection for clients and their families against unforeseen circumstances
• Comprehensive personal insurance

With a range of comprehensive services, the London financial advisers at Foster Denovo can work alongside clients to help them achieve both long-term and short-term goals.

2022-2023 Top Wealth Management Firms London

Large, Talented Team

For many clients, finding the best financial advisor in London means finding a firm with an accredited, talented team. Industry accreditations demonstrate a commitment to excellence, but they also show that an advisor is staying apprised of best industry practices.

The team of London financial advisers at Foster Denovo brings a broad range of professional experiences and certifications, including:

• Diploma for Financial Advisers (DipFA)
• Advanced Financial Planning Certificate in Savings
• Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning
• Advanced Diploma with the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)
• Certified Financial Planner

Foster Denovo has garnered several financial industry awards over the years and when asked how easy the firm is to do business with, 80% of its clients say working with these wealth managers in London is “effortless”.

With detailed biographies of Foster Denovo’s advisors, and nine offices throughout the UK serving clients with expert financial advice, Foster Denevo earns 5-stars as one of the best wealth management companies in London to consider working with in 2022-2023.

Related: Best Independent Financial Advisers in the UK (Top IFAs)

Holden & Partners Review

One of the choice firms to achieve Chartered status, Holden & Partners is a top-rated wealth management company in London dedicated to delivering first-class service to its clients while also building enduring partnerships.

Holden & Partners is a fee-based wealth management company in London. These wealth managers in London typically receive commissions on protection and annuities products, but this can be switched to a fixed fee if preferred.

Key Factors That Enabled Holden & Partners to Rank as a Top Wealth Management Firm in London

Wide Range of Financial Planning Services

As one of the top-rated financial planning firms in London, Holden & Partners offers clients an impressive range of bespoke, comprehensive financial services.

Holden & Partners financial services include:

• Pensions and Retirement
• School Fees Planning
• Lifetime Cashflow Analysis
• Protecting What Matters
• Long Term Care
• Divorce and Separation
• Equity Release
• Company Benefits

Financial goals and life situations are subject to fluctuate over time, and this wide range of services makes Holden & Partners a wealth advisor in London that clients can count on in the long term to have the ability to meet any number of financial needs throughout life.

Additionally, working with a wealth management firm in London that can handle multiple areas of financial management, means you’ll have a more integrated approach where all life areas are working together towards the same financial goals.

Ethical, Sustainable, and Thematic Investments

Holden & Partners is one of the top investment management firms in London that takes a unique approach to investments specialising in EST (Ethical, Sustainable, and Thematic) investment options. This gives investors the opportunity to align their portfolios with their personal values, while still promoting long-term growth.

These wealth managers in London take a research-driven approach to locate companies that are both profitable and are also making valuable contributions to society and the environment.

Uniquely, this dedication to ethical and environmental responsibility does not stop with EST investments. Holden & Partners has an Environmental Policy that includes external company promotions, professional memberships, sustainable practices, and more.

2022-2023 Ranking of Best Investment Management Firms in London

If you’re looking for a more personal, one-on-one approach from your financial advisor in London, UK, you’ll appreciate that Holden & Partners purposely maintains a smaller footprint and limits the number of clients each advisor works with. This allows its advisors to really get to know you and better serve your needs.

With a specialty in ethical investments, a personable, experienced, and talented team, and a custom-tailored approach, Holden & Partners scores 5-stars as one of the top investment management companies in London to consider partnering with in 2022-2023.

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Serenity Financial Planning Review

Taking an approach that emphasises financial life planning, Serenity Financial Planning is a top-rated independent financial advisor in London. Founded in 2006, Serenity has a registered office in Barnet, Herts, and services clients “from all four corners of the UK.”

Serenity does not specifically state on its website whether it works with a fee-only or fee-based structure. We always advise readers to confirm the compensation structure before starting a working relationship with any London wealth management firms.

Key Factors That Enabled Serenity Financial to Rank as One of the Best Wealth Management Firms in London

Structured Financial Life Planning Processes

As one of the best wealth management London based firms, Serenity Financial follows a comprehensive process to address unique client financial planning needs.

This wealth management London based company will make sure that your financial journey follows a carefully crafted route designed to give vision to your finances and clarity to your dreams.

The journey is divided into two major stages:

During the Creation stage, this team of London financial advisers will spend some time getting to know you and work you through:

• Income & Expenditure
• Financial Forecasting
• Suitable Tax Strategies
• Assets & Liabilities
• Risk Profiling
• Strategy Recommendation
• Maintenance

This financial advisor in London UK provides the following ongoing support activities:

• A dedicated financial life planner
• An annual review with your wealth advisor London
• Regular access to your advisor
• Detailed progress report and action plan
• Ongoing wealth management advice
• Online access to your information
• Access to educational seminars, workshops, and networking events

Best Wealth Management London Firms

Unlike many wealth managers in London, Serenity Financial takes a hands-on approach, not just giving you a financial plan, but putting time into ongoing financial coaching and ongoing reporting to ensure you have all the support you need for a successful financial future.

With an emphasis on custom financial planning and a talented and attentive team, Serenity Financial solidifies a 5-star rating on our 2022-2023 ranking of top London financial advisers.

Popular Article: Top Financial Advisers in Leeds, UK

Strabens Hall Review

Helping individuals, companies, and families enhance and secure their wealth, Strabens Hall is an independent financial planner in London, UK, and Nice, France. This best financial advisor in London specialises in private wealth management, investment advice, financial planning, and wealth structuring.

Founded in 2007, the firm is a fee-based London wealth management firm that works with clients both on an “as needed” basis and through ongoing, long-term financial advisory relationships.

Key Factors That Enabled Strabens Hall to Rank as a Top Financial Advisor in London

Strategic Financial Planning London

To be successful over the long term, financial planning should be both comprehensive and tailored, fitting each client’s needs as they change over time.

As a top-rated independent financial adviser in London, Strabens Hall starts each financial planning relationship by getting to know each client’s unique circumstances, tailoring its services accordingly to address financial challenges such as:

• Tax-Efficient Planning
• Multi-Jurisdictional Planning
• Pension Planning
• Inheritance Tax Planning
• Life Insurance and Ill-Health Protection
• Cash-Flow Modelling
• Liquidity Management
• Trusts and Foundations

2022-2023 Best London Wealth Management Firms

International Financial Planning

For clients that must navigate global and UK tax systems, partnering with experienced London financial advisers like Strabens Hall can help remove the confusion and complexity of creating efficient planning solutions across a range of jurisdictions.

As a global firm, Strabens Hall stands out among other top financial advisors in London because it has the ability to assist clients with the following international financial planning challenges:

• Multi-Currency Investment Advice
• Resident Non-Domiciled Tax Environment
• Offshore Pension Planning
• Holding Structures for UK Property

Strabens Hall offers clients both flexibility and expertise when it comes to a wide variety of financial needs. This financial advisor in London, UK uses sophisticated cash flow modelling software that informs clients of potential financial outcomes so they can make insightful decisions.

With global expertise, a focus on integrated financial planning, and a client-focused approach, Strabens Hall earns 5-stars as one of the best financial advisors in London for individuals or businesses to consider partnering with in 2022-2023.

The Private Office (TPO) Review

Founded in 2008, The Private Office (TPO) is an award-winning chartered independent wealth management London firm that provides personal and tailored wealth management services.

This wealth management company in London is of any third-party influence thus providing truly independent and unbiased advice to its clients across the UK.

Key Factors That Enabled The Private Office to Rank as a Top London Wealth Management Firm

Tailored Financial Planning Approach

The Private Office offers bespoke personalized advice to individuals, families, and business owners that are looking to grow and preserve their wealth.

TPO’s financial services are rooted in 6 core approaches:

• To stay independent from any bias
• To provide tailored advice
• To work with transparent fixed fees
• To work as a chartered firm – the highest standard in the industry
• To provide professional cash management
• To deliver professional services to every client

These wealth managers in London use a process that’s built on integrity, confidence, and partnership which should be the ultimate goal of all the best wealth management firms in London.

Best Financial Planning Firms London

Wide Range of Wealth Management Services London

If you’re looking for a financial planner in London that can cater to all your needs regardless of what stage of your financial journey you’re at, you’ll be happy to hear that TPO will be able to meet you there.

These services include:

• Personal financial planning
• Structural financial planning
• Investment portfolio management
• UK & specialist pension planning
• Tax, estate, and inheritance tax (IHT) planning
• Legacy and succession planning
• Long-term care planning
• Expert / professional witness cases
• Clinical negligence / catastrophic personal injury planning
• Corporate financial planning
• Entrepreneurial planning
• Media, music, & entertainment solutions
• Alternative and esoteric investment advice
• Charity investment management

The Private Office is an excellent option for individuals, families, and busy business owners. This best financial advisor in London offers an extensive range of solutions that are rooted in integrity, confidence, and partnership.

With a dedication to customised financial solutions and a very diverse and talented team, TPO earns 5-stars as one of the best wealth management London firms to consider partnering with in 2022-2023.

Founded in 2000, Westminster Wealth Management is one of the best private wealth management firms in London that provides a wide range of financial services to a diverse clientele.

Apart from being one of the best wealth management companies in London, Westminster Wealth Management is also one of the largest independent, chartered firms in the UK that’s committed to retaining its independent status.

As an Independent Financial Advisory firm, Westminster Wealth Management prides itself on having some of the best financial advisors in London and the UK.

Key Factors That Enabled Westminster Wealth Management to Rank as One of the Best Wealth Management Firms London

Westminster Wealth Management Services

With experts in every field, this financial adviser in London is well-positioned to cater to just about any and every financial need that any individual, family, charity, or company may need.

These services are:

• Tax Efficient Investing
• Cashflow Forecasting
• Mortgages and Lending
• Financial Protection Insurance
• Corporate services
• Estate & IHT

2022-2023 Best Financial Advisory Firms London

Corporate Chartered Status

In 2015, this wealth management firm in London was awarded Corporate Chartered status by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). As explained on Westminster’s website, “ Corporate Chartered status is an exclusive standard only awarded to firms which meet strict criteria relating to professionalism and capability.”

On top of that, this independent financial advisor in London prides itself on over 25 years of experience in providing its services in the UK while gathering a team of true experts who have over the years specialised in many fields.

By always striving to provide top-notch service and customer care, Westminster Wealth Management secured its spot on two of our biannual rankings: 2022-2023 Ranking of Top Wealth Management Firms in the UK and 2022-2023 Ranking of Best Financial Planning Firms in London.

These wealth managers in London always strive to provide extraordinary products and services that are clear and easy to understand thus securing Westminster Wealth Management a 5-star rating as one of the best financial planning firms in London to partner with in 2022-2023.

Read More: Top Financial Advisors in Kansas City, Leawood, and North Kansas City

Conclusion – 2022-2023 Best Wealth Management Firms & Financial Advisors in London

These top-ranked financial advisory firms in London share a few common qualities, such as a commitment to transparency, custom-tailored solutions, and a wide range of service offerings.

On top of that, these financial advisory London firms also offer areas of distinction, such as specialties in international services, sustainable investing, and pension services. These areas can help you narrow your search for the best wealth management company in London that fits your distinct needs like a glove.

Many London financial advisers on our list offer complimentary introductory meetings to see if they’re a good fit for your needs and goals. This gives you an opportunity to gain more insight into the financial planning process as well as the firm itself.

Whichever advisor you ultimately choose, you can’t go wrong with one of the best London financial advisers that exemplify the best that the city has to offer when it comes to trusted, unbiased, financial advice. Good luck with your journey!

Image sources:

• https://www.pexels.com/photo/big-ben-bridge-castle-city-460672/
• https://www.afhwm.co.uk/
• https://attivo.co.uk/
• https://www.burlingtonfs.com/
• https://devonwm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/DWM-BROCHURE_web.pdf
• https://www.holden-partners.co.uk/
• https://serenityfp.com/
• https://strabenshall.co.uk/
• https://www.theprivateoffice.com/
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/westminster-wealth-management/

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Reasonable efforts have been made by AdvisoryHQ to present accurate information, however all info is presented without warranty. Review AdvisoryHQ’s Terms  for details. Also review each firm’s site for the most updated data, rates and info.

Note: Firms and products, including the one(s) reviewed above, may be AdvisoryHQ's affiliates. Click to view AdvisoryHQ's advertiser disclosures .

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Albion Strategic Consulting

Albion is an investment-focused team working exclusively with leading financial planning firms in the UK, and overseas, who want to maintain control of the inhouse investment proposition they offer to their clients, rather than pass off this responsibility to a discretionary fund manager (DFM).

In essence, we do the heavy lifting on the investment process, which frees up our clients to get on with the great financial planning work they do with their clients.

We help them to understand and feel comfortable with the portfolios we build together, based on their preferences. We ensure that a robust ongoing governance process is put in place to monitor and maintain this programme over time. Helping our clients to communicate their approach to their clients with plain-speaking collateral and regular educative notes is an integral part of our service.

The result is a deep understanding and conviction in the investment portfolios our client firms recommend to their clients, a high likelihood that their clients will have a successful investment experience, and an efficient in-house solution that they can easily monitor and control.

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More about what we do

We are unashamedly focused on implementing an investment process that puts the latest investment theory and evidence at its core. Doing a few things exceptionally well - with discipline and focus - works, as the Albion Community track record testifies.

Albion – working with a small group of forward-thinking UK financial planning firms – pioneered the use of disciplined, market risk factor-based, low-cost model portfolios way back in the mid- 2000s, long before they became more mainstream. We call this Systematic Investing.

It’s all about service

At Albion we like to keep things as simple as possible. We offer a single comprehensive start-to-finish investment proposition service - smartersuccess™ - rather than a matrix of options.

• Define the philosophy
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• Back/forward testing
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• Map to risk profiler used
• Record the process

• Robust governance framework
• Insightful process inputs
• Challenging agenda -Philosophy -Portfolio structure -Asset class menu -Fund review

• Available to help: a. Phone/Zoom/e-mail b. Basecamp
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• Branded investment story
• Portfolio education
• Regular educational notes: a. Jargon free b. Accessible c. Short d. Insightful

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We love having Albion on our side. Offering a service called smartersuccess™ sets a certain bar of expectation… but we are constantly pleased by their input. I recommend them without hesitation.

We have been engaged with Albion since 2014, who now form an integral part of our Investment Committee. We have been thrilled with the service.

Tim and his team have been a real support to our governance and selection processes and we have worked with Albion for over a decade. We have always enjoyed a very productive and professional relationship that we see continuing for many years to come.

I genuinely believe that our firm’s investment proposition is world class and competes with the very best offerings available to private clients. That would simply not be possible without the ideas, structure, research and ongoing governance support provided by Tim and the talented group of individuals at Albion.

Albion’s contribution to our proposition has been immensely valuable – far and away the best partner relationship that we have, and a truly exceptional service. We feel proud to be part of the Albion community.

Put simply Albion are the best consultants we have ever engaged in any field and are an essential component in building and more importantly maintaining a robust Centralised Investment Proposition.

They are exceptional. It is as simple as that.

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US fintech Marygold & Co acquires its second UK financial planning firm

By Mark Battersby , 2 May 24

SBS has approximately £27m in assets under advice

Marygold & Co (UK)  has completed its acquisition of chartered financial planning firm Step-By-Step Financial Planners as part of a bigger strategic goal to roll out a digital savings products to individuals and businesses.

Based in Rugeley, Staffordshire, England, SBS has approximately £27m in assets under advice. The firm’s core business is managing clients’ financial wealth across a diverse product range.

Matthew Parden, CEO of Marygold & Co. (UK) said, “The acquisition of SBS is a very important deal for Marygold & Co. in the UK, in line with our strategy of building and developing digital channels for savings and investments. We see here, an opportunity to leverage our highly transformative fintech capabilities within the UK and help address the recognised advice gap faced by too many consumers. SBS brings a client base, a valuable infrastructure, and additional staff to help us grow and expand our traditional advice services to new clients.”

“The acquisition of SBS is in keeping with our corporate strategy of expanding and growing our presence in the global financial services and fintech sector under the Marygold & Co. brand, which was established in 2019,” said Nicholas Gerber, TMC’s chief executive officer. “It represents the second acquisition completed by Marygold & Co. (UK), following the purchase in 2022 of UK-based financial advisory firm Tiger Financial & Asset Management Limited.

“We look forward to providing multi-channel financial services to our growing base of existing and new clients, both through traditional business advisory and our new fintech app that we plan to introduce in the UK later this year, following a successful U.S. launch in 2023.”

Kevin Pratt, founder of Step-By-Step, who with his team will continue to work with the company, said: “I am delighted that Step-By-Step Financial Planners Ltd has become an integral part of the Marygold Companies’ family and I look forward to maintaining my relationship with our existing and very much valued clients by continuing to advise them and to maintain the high standards of service they have come to appreciate.”

Marygold & Co (UK) Limited was formed in August 2021 to make acquisitions in the UK for its parent company in the U.S., The Marygold Companies, Inc. MGUK intends to leverage the proprietary fintech capabilities of its affiliate,

Marygold & Co, a U.S. fintech company which itself went live in 2023, and will provide wealth management and savings services to UK clients through a combination of App-based functionality enriched by access to qualified financial advisors where appropriate.

MGUK intends to launch the first phase of this digital strategy in 2024 offering instant access savings products to individuals and small businesses. It also intends to offer tools to radically simplify and enhance the clients’ experience from account opening to management and administration of their accounts.

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Privacy overview.

• Best for a detailed budget
• Best for tracking investment accounts
• Best for taxes
• Best for a hands-on approach
• Other apps that didn't make the cut and why
• Methodology

Frequently asked questions

Best personal finance management software of 2024.

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The Best Personal Finance Software

• Best for a detailed budget: Quicken Deluxe
• Best for tracking investment accounts: Empower Personal Dashboard
• Best if you like filing your taxes independently: TaxAct
• Best for a hands-on approach: Google Spreadsheets

Ready to get a better understanding of your finances? Personal finance software can be a great tool for building better money habits and learning how to budget in the long term.

If you'd like more guidance when making a budget, consider also downloading a budgeting app .

Here are four excellent options you might consider if you're searching for personal finance software.

Best for a Detailed Budget

Cost: Regular pricing is $5.99 per month

Why it stands out:  Quicken Deluxe is a desktop software program. It's available for download for Mac and Windows computers. 

With the program, you'll be able to connect and keep track of bank accounts, investment accounts, loans, and credit cards . You'll also be able to create a 12-month budget. Usually personal finance software programs only have monthly budget plans.

Quicken Deluxe also has a "what-if" tool that lets you see potential scenarios when you make certain investments or loan decisions to help you build a financial plan .

What to look out for:  Quicken Deluxe primarily focuses on basic finances and investments. If you have a business or prefer more robust features, like priority customer support, you may fare better with Quicken Premier or Quicken Home & Business.

Regular pricing for Quicken software plans varies from $3.99 per month to $10.99 per month.

Best for Tracking Investment Accounts

0.49% to 0.89%

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Free financial and wealth management tools; fees top that of traditional brick-and mortar-firms
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Investment selection includes stocks, ETFs, bonds, and private equities; portfolio management for employer-sponsored plans (e.g., 401(k)s or 403(b)s)
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Socially responsible investment strategies and tax optimization strategies
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. One-on-one financial advisor guidance
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. High management fees
• Promotion: None at this time.

Cost:  Free

Why it stands out: The Empower Personal Dashboard is another software tool that's available through a mobile app or website. You might find the Empower Personal Dashboard appealing if you want to use a well-rounded platform that also helps monitor investment accounts and retirement plans .

With the Investment Checkup feature, you can check your current portfolio allocation alongside an ideal target allocation to minimize risk and reduce volatility. It also has a fee analyzer tool that reviews hidden fees for mutual funds , investment accounts, and retirement accounts.

What to look out for:  Some tools are exclusively for Empower advisory clients. For example, clients will have access to a financial roadmap tool that can help them stick with major financial goals.

Sign up for Empower Personal Dashboard

Best for taxes.

$0.00 - $99.99 (+$39.99 or $59.99 for state return, depending on package)

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Expert help is available with every filing package
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Free federal and state filing covers student and child tax credits
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Pay less than H&R Block and TurboTax and get a comparable experience
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Efficient and streamlined interface
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Tax document upload and import for easy data entry
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Handy "double check" tool flags common errors
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. State returns aren't free, even when you qualify for free federal filing
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Middle-of-the road option when it comes to cost

TaxAct gets the job done with fewer bells and whistles than H&R Block or TurboTax, though costs can still add up. It's best for someone who appreciates a simple, streamlined interface.

• 4 plans, including a free federal option
• Simple, intuitive interface
• Free, instant access to a tax expert at all plan levels
• Good middle-of-the road option on price and efficiency
• Option to have a professional file your taxes at an additional cost

Cost:  $0.00 - $99.99 (+$39.99 or $59.99 for state return, depending on package)

Why it stands out: TaxAct is one of our best tax software picks. TaxAct has four DIY online options: Free, Deluxe, Premier, and Self-Employed plans. You'll pay one price for a federal tax return, and if you have to file a state tax return you'll pay an additional fee. 

TaxAct stands out from other tax software companies because it offers free expert support, regardless of which DIY plan you have. If you have questions while filing your tax returns, all you'll need to do is submit questions, and an expert will reach out to you over the phone.

What to look out for: Other tax software companies do not charge a fee for state returns, and they have lower fees for filing federal tax returns (although, their features may not be as robust). 

File with TaxAct

Best for a hands-on approach, google sheets.

Why it stands out: Perhaps you don't want to link all of your bank accounts or credit cards, and you don't mind taking a more active approach to money management. Then, you might consider using Google Sheets for a straightforward way of analyzing your spending and savings goals . 

Even those who aren't as tech-savvy will find that Google Sheets has a simple, no-fuss setup process. All you need to do is set up a Google account and open the Google Spreadsheets tab. Then, you can select a general template for budgets or investment tracking and follow the steps listed on the spreadsheet.

Keep in mind that you'll have to update your spreadsheet regularly to have an effective spreadsheet.

What to look out for: Creating and maintaining your budget fully depends on whether you're willing to manually input all your data. Some may like having a closer, more hands-on approach to tallying expenses or tracking changes. But if you're worried that it might become too overwhelming to make updates every month, consider one of our other options. 

Other Personal Finance Software We Considered That Didn't Make the Cut and Why

• Tiller: Tiller might be worthwhile if you prefer tracking money in a spreadsheet, but don't want to update it manually. It links your bank accounts and credit cards to Google Sheets or Microsoft sheets so your transaction and balance information automatically update. It wasn't a top pick because Tiller only has a 30-day free trial, then costs $79 per year.
• YNAB App : You may use YNAB App through the web or on an app. While it could be a good choice if you struggle with your spending in specific categories, Quicken Deluxe have more robust features. It also has a 34-day free trial, then you'll have to pay $14.99 per month or $99 annually.
• Monarch Money : Monarch Money is a personal finance app and online platform. The plan costs $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year and allows you to track investment accounts or use customizable budget categories.
• GNU Cash : This is a free accounting software for personal and small business finances. You may download the program for Windows and Mac devices. With GNU Cash, you manage your finances through a traditional checkbook system. It could be worth considering if you have a business, but for those who don't, it likely won't be an easy-to-use interface.
• Quicken Simplifi : Simplifi by Quicken is a cloud-based software program, which means you'll need to have an internet connection to use its services. In comparison, other Quicken programs can be downloaded onto your computer. Simplifi by Quicken also isn't as robust as Quicken's desktop programs.
• Quicken Starter: Quicken Starter could be worthwhile if you want a basic overview of your finances. But if you want to be able to create a 12-month budget or keep track of investment accounts, Quicken Deluxe will be a more compelling option. 
• Rocket Money : Rocket Money has an app and online platform. Its premium plan has concierge services to review bills, premium customer support, unlimited budgets, and customizable budget categories. 
• TaxSlayer : TaxSlayer was featured as the best budget pick in our best tax software guide. However, to qualify for the Simply Free Plan, you must have taxable income under $100,000, and you won't be able to claim dependents. TaxAct's free plan allows you to claim dependents. It also offers expert help with all filing packages.
• H&R Block Tax Software : H&R Block is also featured in our best tax software guide. If you want to choose a more affordable option, you may prefer TaxAct, though.
• TurboTax : TurboTax is featured in our best tax software guide and might be worth considering if you have a complex tax situation. However, TurboTax Premium plan cost more than TaxAct options. 

Methodology: How did we choose the best personal finance software?

Research is an important part of choosing a personal finance software program that fits your needs. First, we compiled a list of 13 personal finance software programs. Then, we compared each program by analyzing the following criteria: platform accessibility, pricing, money management features, and user experience. With tax software programs, we only considered the DIY online filing options. We did not consider full-service packages where an expert helps with taxes.

The best personal finance software for you depends on your financial goals and habits. Someone new to money management will likely want different features than someone who is seasoned in making budgets or prefers filing their taxes.To help you figure out which personal finance software program could be a good option for you, we highlighted the benefits and limitations of each product. 

There are free personal finance tools that you may use online. For example, Empower, GNU Cash, and Google Spreadsheets are free. Rocket Money also has free option.

What personal finance software is easiest for you will largely depend on your needs and level of comfort with technology and finance. Google Sheets is by far the easiest to set up, but it won't help you with the finance side of things. Conversely, something like Quicken Deluxe might not be as easy to set up, but it is far more helpful for your finance needs.

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