Frequently asked questions

When you meet your financial adviser for the first time, it's totally free. You can talk about your money goals and what's happening with your finances. The adviser will explain where they can help and how much it might cost.

You’ll only pay if you decide to take financial advice by signing a charges agreement.

Book a call with our advisory team to get started. During the call, we'll discuss your financial situation to see if our service is right for you. If our service meets your needs, we'll connect you with a financial adviser within three working days for your initial meeting.

Our financial advisers typically charge 1-2% of the assets advised on (+VAT where applicable, minimum charges apply). This is a one-off charge which will depend on the complexity of your situation, the time needed to understand your goals, and to provide personal recommendations. See summary of charges.

Your financial adviser will let you know if they think you'd benefit from ongoing advice. This comes with an extra charge.

Advice on the transfer of any secured benefit, such as a defined benefit pension (a final salary pension), will be subject to a separate charging structure, which your adviser will discuss with you.

You can choose to meet with your adviser by telephone or video call. If you'd prefer in-person meetings, you'll be matched with an adviser local to you.

These options offer flexibility, making it convenient for you to access personalised advice, regardless of your location or communication preferences.

All financial advisers must have a diploma in financial planning (or equivalent) which is recognised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and complete training and development each year to keep their knowledge up to date.

At HL, many of our advisers also have additional qualifications such as advanced diplomas in financial planning, estate planning, and long-term care planning.

The majority of our financial advisers' qualifications are awarded by the Chartered Institute of Insurers (CII) and they're members of the Personal Finance Society (PFS).

Our financial advisers will suggest ways to organise estates smartly, like gifting or setting up trusts, to keep more money for loved ones and less for taxes. However, for complex tax calculations you may need to consult an accountant. More on inheritance tax planning.

We can help you make the most of any cash or investments you inherit, but we aren’t able to advise you about physical assets such as property or other valuable items such as art, antiques, or jewellery.

Inheriting cash or investments can be complex and sometimes the transfer isn’t straightforward. Your adviser will help guide you through the process.

Our advice service can be split into two broad categories: financial planning and investment advice.

Financial planning covers a wide range of topics that often impact each other. This ranges from retirement and tax planning to portfolio consolidation and investment choices. An adviser will look at the full picture and create personalised strategies to help you manage your money effectively and achieve your immediate and future financial goals.

Investment advice is more specific. An adviser will look at factors such as how much risk you're comfortable with and what you want to achieve, then recommend suitable investment strategies to help you get there.