6 Things You Should Know BEFORE You See A Financial Adviser

Whether you're planning your next home redesign project, saving for a future you’re building, or growing your landscaping or architectural business, understanding your financial options is key. But before you book that first meeting with a financial adviser, it's essential to walk in prepared. Knowing what to expect and what to bring can help you get the most out of the experience—and avoid costly missteps down the line.

This article highlights six crucial things to consider before meeting a financial adviser. Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast setting up a home office, a young professional investing in a first property, or a designer trying to grow your business—the right financial advice can help, but only if you approach it correctly.

1. Understand Your Financial Goals

Before seeking professional advice, take time to define your personal financial goals. Are you saving for a major home renovation? Looking to grow your interior design practice? Or maybe you're building a retirement plan that includes finally creating that dream garden room.

Being specific about what you want helps your financial adviser tailor their strategies. Without clear goals, a meeting can become vague and less productive. Instead of just saying “I want to save money,” be more precise: “I want to save £10,000 in the next 18 months to redo my kitchen.”

Residential property owners, especially if you're planning any remodelling or investing in garden studios or loft conversions, should share these plans during the meeting. It could affect advice around tax reliefs or financing options.

Architects, designers or professional tradesmen working on self-employed or freelance income structures should think about whether expansion, hiring, or VAT registration is on the horizon. These affect financial planning significantly.

2. Know the Difference Between Types of Advisers

Financial advisers aren’t one-size-fits-all. In the UK, some are "independent financial advisers" (IFAs) who can recommend products from the whole market. Others are “restricted” advisers who only offer a limited range of products or providers.

IFAs can give more impartial recommendations, which can be key if you're looking at niche investment opportunities or tailored retirement strategies for self-employed professionals.

There are also different specialisms. Some advisers focus on mortgages, while others specialise in pensions, tax planning, or investment portfolios. If you’re a young professional focused on buying your first home, a mortgage adviser might be more relevant than a pensions expert—at least for now.

Make sure to ask how the adviser is regulated. Legitimate advisers in the UK must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). You can check their credentials easily on the FCA register.

3. Be Aware of the Costs and How Advisers Get Paid

Seeing a financial adviser isn’t always free—and understanding how you’ll be charged can prevent surprises later.

Some financial advisers operate on a fee-only basis. They might charge hourly rates, a flat fee for a financial review, or ongoing charges based on portfolio size. Others may earn commissions from products they recommend—something important to ask about, as it could influence their advice.

Here's a simple breakdown:

Payment Method	Description	Best For
Hourly Fee	Pay by the hour for consultation and planning.	Short-term advice or one-time financial reviews.
Fixed Fee	A set price for services, like creating a budget or investment plan.	Budget-conscious DIYers or young professionals.
Percentage of Assets	Ongoing management fee (typically 0.5-1%) based on portfolio size.	Individuals with larger investments or busy professionals.
Commission	Paid by product providers when you take out a plan or policy.	Can be suitable, but watch for conflict of interest.

Always ensure you receive a written breakdown of fees, often provided in the adviser’s ‘key facts document.’ This way, you can compare costs and see if the service matches your expectations and budget.

4. Review Your Finances Before the Meeting

To get tailored advice, your adviser needs to understand where you currently stand. That means arriving prepared with an accurate snapshot of your finances.

Start by pulling together your income details, regular expenses, existing debts, savings, investments, property valuations, and pension plans. If you're self-employed as a decorator or tradesperson, bring in recent tax returns and statements of accounts.

Looking to invest in a new tool van, buy studio space, or set up a garden office? These are big decisions that affect cash flow and insurance—so bring those plans to the table as well.

Having a clear idea of your financial picture allows the adviser to give advice that fits, rather than speculative or generic plans.

5. Know What a Good Financial Adviser Can (and Can’t) Do

Financial advisers are not magicians. They are professionals trained to guide you toward smarter money decisions, but they can’t predict markets or guarantee high investment returns.

A good adviser will ask a lot of questions about your goals, risk tolerance, timeline, and values. They’ll help you understand options like pension contributions, tax-free savings, mortgage types, or how to set up a limited company or umbrella structure if you're a freelance architect or contractor.

But beware of red flags. If a financial adviser promises unusually high returns or pushes products you don't understand, step back and seek a second opinion. Their role is to educate as much as to advise.

Your meetings should leave you feeling clearer—not confused. A healthy client-adviser relationship is based on trust, transparency and open communication. If you feel pressured or patronised, keep looking.

6. Prepare Questions to Maximise Your Meeting

To get the most from your session, come ready with a list of questions. This puts you in control and ensures you leave with answers to what matters most.

Consider asking:

• Are you independent or restricted in the advice you provide?
• How long have you been advising clients in my profession or circumstances?
• What are the total charges I’ll pay if I follow your advice?
• How can I make my savings or investments work harder?
• Do you understand the tax implications of self-employed professionals?
• What do I need to be aware of if I’m planning to build, design or sell a property?

By being proactive, you avoid wasting time, gain clarity faster, and walk away with a plan tailored to your needs—whether that’s funding your next interior transformation, or scaling up your landscaping business.

Final Thoughts

Meeting with a financial adviser can be a game-changer—helping you gain financial confidence, protect your assets, and fund your dreams. But preparation is key.

From understanding your goals and knowing what to bring, to understanding how fees work and asking the right questions, the more you bring to the table, the more you’ll walk away with.

Whether your future includes a Victorian conversion, an eco-friendly garden office, or expanding your builder’s toolkit, the right advice at the right time can empower you to build with purpose—and with peace of mind.