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Revealed: 7 directories you might not know exist

EDIT: This blog was updated on 15 November 2022.

Thousands of consumers use directories to find a financial adviser or planner each year. That makes them a really useful way for firms to find new clients.

Everyone knows about the ā€˜big threeā€™; VouchedFor, Unbiased and AdviserBook, but there are several smaller directories which not all advisers and planners are aware of. So, being helpful souls, we thought weā€™d create a comprehensive list. A directory of directories if you will!

If weā€™ve missed any off, please let me know. Hopefully, this will become a useful resource to ensure you and your business is included in the right directories.

ā€˜The big threeā€™

Unbiased

Public link: https://www.unbiased.co.uk/

Adviser/planner link: https://www.unbiased.co.uk/pro/

A directory of financial advice and planning firms. Consumers can search the directory or answer a series of questions to be matched by Unbiased to a financial adviser or planner.

Independent financial advisers and Restricted (whole-of-market advisers) can be listed. Restricted (whole-of-market) means that advisers/planners can provide whole-of-market advice only on certain types of products.

Advisers/planners who are restricted by provider, and are unable to go off-panel, cannot be listed.

Unbiased offers several different membership levels:

Free: No charge, however you wonā€™t automatically appear in the search results

Simple: Ā£32 plus VAT per month

Essential:Ā Ā£65 plus VAT per month

Growth: Ā£87 plus VAT per month

For the Simple, Essential and Growth memberships enquiries are charged from Ā£43 plus VAT each, depending on likely value.

Click here for more details on the pricing plans.

VouchedFor

Public link: https://www.vouchedfor.co.uk/

Adviser/planner link: https://accounts.vouchedfor.co.uk/register

VouchedFor is a directory of individual financial advisers and planners. Consumers can search the directory for professional advice and rate their financial adviser/planner. For advisers and planners, it offers a suite of tools to help them manage their reputation and generate referrals from existing clients.

Both independent and restricted advisers can be listed.

VouchedFor offers two levels of membership:

Verified: Ā£54 plus VAT per month with varying enquiry limits based on the minimum level of wealth of the enquirer. Click here for more details.

Unlimited: Ā£54 plus VAT per month plus a variable fee, dependent on the enquirerā€™s level of wealth. Click here for more details.

AdviserBook

Public link: https://adviserbook.co.uk/

Adviser/planner link: https://adviserbook.co.uk/advisers

AdviserBook is a directory of individual financial advisers, planners as well as firms themselves. Consumers can search the directory and then contact the adviser, planner or firm of their choosing.

Both independent and restricted advisers are listed.

There are two levels of membership, free and a paid-for subscription at Ā£10 per month.

The others

The smaller directories might not have the clout or market share of the ā€˜big threeā€™ however they could still prove extremely useful for many consumers, advisers and planners.

Less information is known about many of these. Weā€™ve asked, but currently it isnā€™t that easy to get answers. So, hereā€™s the list, weā€™ll update it as and when we know more.

The PFS Find an Adviser

Public link: https://www.thepfs.org/yourmoney/find-an-adviser/

Adviser/planner link: https://www.thepfs.org/about-us/initiatives/find-an-advisor/adviser-guide/guide-to-enhancing-your-profile/

A directory of PFS members which consumers can search based on location.

CII Chartered Firm Directory

https://www.cii.co.uk/membership/join-us/chartered/chartered-firm-search/

A directory of Chartered firms which consumers can search based on their location and the type of advice they require.

Both restricted and independent firms can be listed. There are no direct costs for being listed. However, there are costs associated with becoming a Chartered firm.

CISI Way Finder

Public link: https://www.financialplanning.org.uk/wayfinder/find-planner

Adviser/planner link: Email wayfinder@cisi.org to claim and update profiles

A directory of Accredited Financial Planning firms and individual Certified Financial Planners. Consumers can search by postcode and distance.

Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA)

Public link: https://societyoflaterlifeadvisers.co.uk/Find-an-adviser/Find-an-adviser

Adviser/planner link: https://societyoflaterlifeadvisers.co.uk/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fMembers-area

The SOLLA directory lists financial advisers and planners who specialise in advising clients about the issues they face in later life. To be listed in the directory advisers/planners must have voluntarily undertaken a very robust assessment that underpins the Later Life Adviser Accreditation qualification.

Both independent and restricted advisers can be listed and consumers are given a choice of which to search for.

Resolution

Public link: https://resolution.org.uk/

Adviser/planner link: https://resolution.org.uk/membership/making-the-most-of-your-membership/

A directory of Resolution members who provide advice to people going through divorce or separation.

There are no explicit costs to be included, however Resolution membership attracts an annual fee.

SIFA

Public link: https://www.sifa-directory.info/

Adviser/planner link: https://www.sifaprofessional.co.uk/our-services/Ā 

The SIFA directory is aimed at solicitors and provides a list of advice and planning firms who specialise in working with professional connections.

There is no explicit fee to be listed, however, inclusion comes with SIFA Professional membership and is not available to non-members.

The Money Advice Service

Public link: https://directory.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en

Adviser/planner directory: https://radsignup.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/?_ga=2.77987229.881170278.1612599760-1603146279.1612264615Ā 

A general directory of firms which consumers can search based on their location, the style of advice they want to receive and the type of advice they require. To be included firms must advise on retirement planning and offer ā€˜whole of marketā€™ advice.

Only firms which offer independent advice can be included.

Next steps

Hopefully, this list is useful.

We recommend advisers, planners and firms take three key actions:

  1. Ensure you are listed on the appropriate directories
  2. Review existing profiles to ensure they are up to date; itā€™s easy to forget updating your address after an office move on a directory you listed on years ago
  3. Monitor the enquiries you get from each one and take action based on what you find

As always, we are here to help.

If you would like our advice about any of the directories listed here, or you can suggest any we have missed, please get in touch by emailing hi@theyardstickagency.co.uk or calling 0115 8965 300.

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