Checking a financial adviser means verifying the legal firm, official contact details, regulatory status, permissions and the individual’s connection to the business. A matching name alone is not enough because clone firms can copy genuine details.
Quick answer
Ask for the firm’s legal name and Firm Reference Number. Search the FCA Firm Checker, then use the Financial Services Register for detailed permissions and individuals. Compare the website, address and telephone number with the official record and contact the firm through those official details.
Key points
- Use the FCA’s own tools rather than a link supplied by an unsolicited contact.
- Search the legal firm as well as the trading name.
- Check permission for the exact service, not merely authorised status.
- Verify the individual’s connection to the firm.
- Compare contact details to protect against clone firms.
- Look at status, restrictions, warnings and appointed-representative relationships.
Information to obtain before searching
Ask the adviser for the legal name of the regulated firm, Firm Reference Number, trading name and the name of the person who will provide the advice.
Also ask whether the business is directly authorised or an appointed representative. If it is an AR, obtain the principal firm’s name.
Do not rely on a logo or footer statement. Record the details independently.
Using the FCA Firm Checker
The Firm Checker is designed for consumers. It helps establish whether a firm is authorised and has permission to provide the selected product or service.
Search the firm name and select the relevant service. Review the result carefully. If the firm is not found, do not assume a spelling issue is the only explanation.
The Firm Checker does not display every item held by the FCA. For historic status, individuals or fuller permissions, move to the Financial Services Register.
Using the Financial Services Register
The Register is the official public record of firms, individuals and other bodies that are or have been authorised by the FCA or PRA.
Search by firm name or reference number. Open the correct legal entity and review status, address, trading names, permissions, individuals and regulatory notices.
Similar names can belong to different businesses. Confirm the company number and location where available.
The Register includes historical firms, so finding an entry does not prove the firm is currently authorised.
Checking permissions for the proposed service
Permissions describe the regulated activities a firm may carry on. Select the activity most closely connected to the service, such as advising on investments or pensions.
Read limitations and requirements. A firm may serve only certain client types or product areas.
Ask the adviser to explain which permission applies. If the explanation and Register do not align, contact the FCA or the firm using official details.
Checking the individual adviser
Search the Register or Directory where relevant. Confirm that the individual is associated with the legal firm.
Not every staff member appears in the same way. If you cannot locate the person, call the firm using the official telephone number and ask it to verify employment and role.
For investment advice, ask for a current Statement of Professional Standing and relevant qualifications. For specialist work, confirm specialist competence.
Do not use a mobile number or email supplied by the person to perform the independent verification.
Comparing official contact details
Compare the website domain, postal address, telephone number and email pattern with the official record.
A small difference can be significant. Clone firms may use an almost identical web address or a free email account while copying the genuine firm’s name and reference number.
Call the official number and ask for the adviser by name. If the firm does not recognise the person or contact, stop.
Understanding common status labels
Authorised: the firm currently holds FCA authorisation, subject to its permissions and restrictions.
Appointed representative: the business acts under an authorised principal for specified activities.
No longer authorised: the firm previously held authorisation but cannot continue regulated activities requiring that permission.
Revoked or cancelled: permission has ended. Review notices and dates.
A status does not by itself explain whether the firm is fraudulent, solvent or responsible for an old complaint. Read the record and related notices.
Avoiding clone firms
Clone firms impersonate authorised businesses. They may copy the real firm’s name, address, website content and Firm Reference Number.
The FCA Warning List can identify known scams, but it is not complete. A new clone may not yet appear.
Protect yourself by initiating contact through the official record, not by replying to an approach. Never send money because a caller can quote a genuine reference number.
Be especially cautious with cold calls, social-media messages, remote-access requests and promises of guaranteed returns.
What to do if something does not match
Pause the transaction and do not send documents or money. Contact the genuine firm through official details and ask whether the approach is theirs.
Report suspected unauthorised or clone activity to the FCA. If money has been sent, contact the bank immediately and report the fraud through the appropriate police reporting route.
Keep messages, telephone numbers, account details and website screenshots. They may help an investigation.
FCA verification checklist
- Legal firm name recorded
- Firm Reference Number recorded
- Firm Checker result reviewed
- Full Register entry reviewed
- Current status confirmed
- Relevant permission confirmed
- AR and principal relationship confirmed
- Trading name confirmed
- Individual connection confirmed
- Website and phone compared
- Warning List checked
- Official number used for contact
Frequently asked questions
Is the FCA Firm Checker the same as the Register?
No. The Firm Checker is a simpler consumer tool. The Register contains the fuller regulatory record.
Can I search by an adviser’s personal name?
The Register or Directory may show individuals. If not, verify them through the firm’s official contact details.
Does a matching Firm Reference Number prove the contact is genuine?
No. Clone firms copy genuine numbers. Compare all contact details and call the real firm independently.
What if the firm says the Register is out of date?
Do not proceed until the discrepancy is resolved through official FCA or firm channels.
Does authorised status guarantee FSCS protection?
No. Protection depends on the activity, product and circumstances.
Should I check the firm again later?
Yes, especially before a new service or transfer. Regulatory status and permissions can change.
Checking a firm before a second service
A previous legitimate relationship does not remove the need to check a new proposal. Permissions can change, an adviser can move firms and a fraudster can imitate an existing contact.
Repeat the verification before a substantial transfer, unusual investment or change of bank details. Call the firm through the official number when payment instructions change.
What the Register cannot tell you
The Register does not rank service quality, guarantee suitability or provide a complete history of client outcomes. It is a regulatory status tool, not a recommendation engine.
Combine it with qualification, fee, scope and communication checks.
Reading permissions without becoming a regulatory expert
Register terminology can be technical. Focus on whether the firm can advise on or arrange the kind of product involved and whether any limitation appears inconsistent with the proposal.
Ask the adviser to identify the exact permission in the record. A legitimate firm should be able to explain the connection between the permission and the service.
If uncertainty remains, contact the FCA. Do not allow a transaction deadline to force a guess.
Checking appointed representatives
An AR entry should identify the principal firm and the relationship dates. Confirm that the appointment is current and that the activity is covered.
Call the principal using official details if the service is significant or the AR’s explanation is unclear. The principal is responsible for oversight of the AR’s regulated activities within the appointment.
An introducer appointed representative may have a limited role. The fact that it appears on the Register does not necessarily mean it can give investment advice.
Checking a former firm
The full Register can show firms that were previously authorised. This can be useful for an old complaint or advice report.
Record the status and permissions at the date of the advice, not only today. A firm may have cancelled authorisation later.
If the firm has failed, search FSCS and FCA notices. If it has merged or transferred business, identify the successor responsible for complaints.
Digital identity and payment checks
Before paying a fee or transferring assets, verify bank details through a known official channel. Do not rely solely on an email, even if previous messages appear genuine.
Check the full website domain. A clone may add or remove a letter, use a different ending or create a convincing subdomain.
Do not install remote-access software at the request of an investment contact. A genuine adviser should not need uncontrolled access to your device.
Keeping evidence of your checks
Save a PDF or screenshot of the Register entry, note the date and record the official number used. Keep copies of the adviser’s disclosure documents.
This evidence does not guarantee the service, but it can help if the firm later changes status or a clone dispute arises.
Repeat checks when there is a major new recommendation, a new legal entity or altered payment instruction.
Worked verification example
Suppose a consumer is contacted by “Oak Tree Wealth Planning” and receives an FCA reference number. The Firm Checker shows a similarly named authorised firm, but the official website and telephone number differ from the email and mobile number used by the contact.
The consumer should not conclude that the contact is genuine because the number matches. They should call the authorised firm through the official number and ask whether the named adviser and proposal are theirs. If not, the approach is likely a clone.
Now suppose the contact is genuine, but the Firm Checker does not show permission for pension transfer advice. The consumer should ask which legal entity and permission cover the proposed work. A group company’s permission cannot simply be assumed to cover another entity.
Checking trading names and group companies
A brand may be used by several companies. The agreement should identify the legal entity providing the regulated service.
Search the exact entity, not only the group brand. Compare company numbers and addresses where available.
If advice and investment management are provided by different group companies, check both.
Checking after an adviser changes employer
An adviser may move from one firm to another. Old documents, email addresses and biographies can remain online.
Before following the adviser to a new firm, verify the new legal entity, permissions and service terms. The new firm may have a different independent or restricted status, platform range and charging model.
Do not assume the old firm remains responsible for new advice.
Using FCA warnings correctly
A warning may identify a specific unauthorised or clone contact. Read the names, websites, telephone numbers and dates carefully.
A warning about a clone does not mean the genuine authorised firm has done something wrong. It means someone is impersonating it.
Absence from the Warning List is not proof of safety because the FCA may not yet know about the contact.
When to contact the FCA
Contact the FCA if the firm cannot be found, permissions are unclear, contact details conflict or an adviser discourages verification.
The FCA can explain regulatory records and receive scam reports. It cannot recommend whether a particular adviser is best for you.
Sources and further reading
Important: This guide provides general educational information. It is not personal financial or legal advice and does not determine whether a complaint or compensation claim will succeed.
Reviewed by: Financial Adviser Hub Editorial Team. Last reviewed: June 2026.