Due to the closure of a well-known directory of pension advisors, people looking for retirement assistance are unsure of where to turn
We examine our current options.
One of the most crucial financial planning decisions we will ever make is what to do with our retirement pots, from building them to spending them. However, obtaining expert assistance in this field has only gotten more difficult.
The government's MoneyHelper, which ran the well-known Retirement Adviser Directory, closed this month, making it harder for people with pension-related concerns to find guidance.
Because the list was free, unbiased, and non-commercial, it was frequently used. The website promised, "We don't receive any incentive or commission and won't share your details or contact you." A "
Retirement advice can cover a wide range of topics, such as inheritance tax, equity release, paying for care home expenses, investing, and the best way to take a pension. It is strongly advised to consult a regulated financial advisor in this highly complicated area.
The Retirement Adviser Directory was shut down, according to MoneyHelper, because there are now many free retirement adviser directories available and the market has "evolved significantly" since its launch ten years ago.
"We don't take the decision to decommission our guidance tools lightly, but we must ensure we are able to focus on supporting our customers where there isn't readily available guidance," stated Zoe Burns-Shore, executive director for customer delivery at the Money and Pensions Service.
"A large number of advisors that were included in the RAD are also listed in other reputable directories. These days, MoneyHelper directs users to these free online directories along with helpful advice. The "
More people than ever are using their pensions at the time of the closure. Nearly a million pension pots (961,575) were accessed for the first time in 2024 - 2025, up roughly 43% from 201920, according to recent data from the Financial Conduct Authority. This indicates that more people than ever are making retirement decisions all at once and seeking assistance.
The same data showed that almost 70% of people made difficult pension decisions without consulting a professional. Additionally, the majority of drawdown participants regularly take out more than 8% annually, which puts their savings at risk of being exhausted too soon.
Those looking for trustworthy pension advisers to assist them will need to do more research now that the Retirement Adviser Directory has closed. Still, there are a few choices.
Where to seek advice on pensions.
Pension-wise.
For people 50 years of age or older with a defined contribution pension fund, Pension Wise is a specialized service supported by the government. Pension Wise offers a free 45- to 60-minute consultation (online, over the phone at 0800 138 3944, or in person at a local Citizens Advice office) to explain your retirement options in the form of unbiased advice that isn't fully customized.
To actually speak with someone at Pension Wise, though, you might need to be extremely patient. According to new data acquired by wealth firm Quilter under the Freedom of Information Act, savers are still waiting an average of more than three weeks for an appointment, which is three times longer than before the pandemic.
According to the same FOI, Pension Wises telephone service is still the most popular channel, but since its launch in October 2024, digital guidance has consistently increased monthly appointments from about 2,000 to over 3,000 since the start of summer 2025.
"Guidance is only valuable if it is accessible," stated Quilter's head of retirement policy, Jon Greer. We are aware that engagement is brittle, and many people will give up and move forward without assistance if they experience delays when they initially seek assistance. The "
Financial providers may be able to relieve some of MoneyHelper's workload with targeted support that will soon be available to assist those with less complex needs in getting the right guidance without having to pay for comprehensive financial advice.
Neutral.
An online resource for locating regulated financial advisors is called Unbiased. People looking for a financial advisor can use it for free, but the companies that are suggested to you have paid to be listed there. To find an advisor nearby, you can filter by the kind of advice you require, such as pension advice, and your location.
As "an AI-enabled financial advice platform," Unbiased uses sophisticated AI models "trained on a rich dataset of user activity to intelligently match individuals with qualified advisers."
According to the website, it can match you with the best advisor in as little as 36 minutes out of over 27,000 vetted advisers.
Keeping in mind that Unbiased is a business is crucial. According to its LinkedIn profile, it has produced over £100 billion in assets under management opportunities for financial advisers since 2010, with 65% of "prospects"that is, individuals looking for expert assistancebeing new to the field.
On review site Trustpilot, however, it has a high rating of 4.4 out of 5, with the majority of reviewers stating they had an excellent experience with the Unbiased. Customers stated that they feel the business links them with competent experts who are aware of their needs.
Vouched.
Despite claiming to "do more checks than any other adviser directory," VouchedFor functions similarly to Unbiased as a commercial adviser directory of regulated financial professionals.
You can use it for free, but advisers must pay to be listed. VouchedFor attempts to match you with your "ideal" adviser after you respond to a few straightforward questions about what kind of advice you're looking for and how much money you have saved. After that, you can speak with them for free and without any commitments.
With a score of 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot, VouchedFor is marginally better than Unbiased. Reviewers appreciated the prompt and effective response times, felt confident in the counsel they received, and appreciated the clarity with which the requested information was provided.
The Later Life Advisers Society.
The Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA) focuses on certified and regulated advisors who are aware of the financial requirements of the elderly.
It is a nonprofit organization "dedicated to higher standards and accessibility to regulated financial advice for older people and their families" and was founded in 2008. Profits are utilized to support the Society and its goals; there are no shareholders.
You can search SOLLA's adviser directory by location and type of advice, including equity release and care payment. To guarantee that their clients understand what to anticipate from their services, all full members of the Society must obtain the Later Life Adviser Accreditation and follow a Code of Practice.
SOLLA accredited advisers can advise on:
Planning for retirement (pensions and annuities) Paying for care home expenses Paying for care in your own home Equity release and other property options Planning for investments and savings Tax issues and estate and wealth planning.
Society for Personal Finances.
In the UK, the Personal Finance Society is the professional association for financial planners. "Lead the financial planning community towards higher levels of professionalism exhibited through technical knowledge, client service and ethical practice" is its mandate.
You can search the Personal Finance Society's adviser directory by location, areas of expertise, and method of contact.
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