--- title: "Check a Firm or Adviser on the FCA Register | Pensions Advice UK" url: https://pensionsadviceuk.com/check-an-adviser/ description: "Check any firm or financial adviser on the FCA Register without leaving this page. See their status, contact details and what they’re allowed to do." last_updated: 2026-10-23 publisher: "Pensions Advice UK (a trading name of GAP-GNX Ltd)" language: en-GB --- Protect yourself # Check a firm or adviser on the FCA Register Enter a firm reference number or name to see whether a firm or adviser is authorised, what they’re allowed to do, and the contact details the FCA holds for them. [Request pension advice](https://pensionsadviceuk.com/qualified-advice-request/) Free to enquire. We are an introducer, not an adviser. Important information - Introductions to FCA-authorised advisers - Free to enquire - We call back within the hour, 9am to 5pm weekdays - Details passed on only with your consent **Quick answer:** Before you share personal details or sign anything, check that the firm or adviser is on the FCA Register. Type their firm reference number (FRN) or name below. It takes a few seconds and costs nothing. ## Where to find the reference number Every FCA-authorised firm has a firm reference number, usually six or seven digits. It must appear on the firm’s website, letters and emails, often in small print at the bottom. Individual advisers have their own reference number (IRN), made of three letters and five numbers. If a firm can’t or won’t give you its number, don’t go ahead. ## What the result means - **Authorised**: the FCA has given the firm permission to carry out regulated work. Check its permissions match what you need. - **Appointed representative**: the firm isn’t authorised itself but works under another firm that is, called its principal. The principal is responsible for its advice. Look up the principal firm too. - **No longer authorised** or **Unauthorised**: the firm must not give you financial advice. Don’t go ahead. - **Nothing found**: check the number. If it still isn’t found, treat it as a warning sign. ## Check the details match Fraudsters sometimes copy the name, address and reference number of a real firm. This is called a clone firm. Only contact a firm using the phone number and website shown on the Register, not the ones in an email, text or advert. If they don’t match, stop and report it. [How to spot a pension scam](https://pensionsadviceuk.com/pension-scams/) ## If you’re thinking of moving a final salary pension The adviser’s firm must have permission to advise on pension transfers. The result above shows whether it does. By law, you must take advice from a firm with this permission before transferring a final salary pension worth more than £30,000. [Final salary pension advice](https://pensionsadviceuk.com/defined-benefit-and-final-salary-pension-advice/) ## Questions to ask before you go ahead - What is your firm reference number? - Are you authorised yourself, or an appointed representative? Who is your principal? - What will your advice cost, and how do I pay it? - Will I get your recommendation in writing? - Who do I complain to if something goes wrong? ## Frequently asked questions ### Is this the real FCA Register? Yes. The details come from the FCA’s own Financial Services Register, the official record of firms and people the FCA regulates. The result also links to the full record on the FCA website. ### Can I check an individual adviser? Yes. Choose “An individual adviser” and enter their reference number (IRN) or full name. The Register shows people who hold certain roles. Their firm should also be on it. ### What if the firm isn’t on the Register? Don’t give them personal details or money. Firms giving financial advice in the UK must be authorised. Report it to the FCA consumer helpline on 0800 111 6768. ### Is Pensions Advice UK on the FCA Register? No. Pensions Advice UK is not authorised by the FCA and does not give advice. We are an introducer. You can check the firm we introduce you to here. ## Related guides - [What is the FCA, and why does it matter to you?](https://pensionsadviceuk.com/what-is-the-fca/) - [How to spot a pension scam](https://pensionsadviceuk.com/pension-scams/) - [The Financial Ombudsman Service explained](https://pensionsadviceuk.com/financial-ombudsman-service/) - [FSCS compensation explained](https://pensionsadviceuk.com/fscs-compensation/) ## Going to the official FCA Register website You can also search the Register on the FCA’s own website. It holds the full record for every firm, including its history, trading names and the people who work there. [Open the FCA Register](https://register.fca.org.uk/s/) Opens the official website in a new tab. This page stays open. ### Important information Pensions Advice UK is a trading name of GAP-GNX Ltd. We are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and we do not provide financial, investment, pension or tax advice. We act solely as an introducer. The information on this page is general information only. It is not a personal recommendation and should not be relied upon when making decisions about your pension. Whether any course of action is right for you depends on your individual circumstances. When you make an enquiry, we may introduce you to an FCA-authorised financial adviser. Any advice, recommendation or regulated service will be provided by that authorised firm, not by Pensions Advice UK. The authorised firm will explain its services and any fees to you directly before you decide to proceed. FCA-authorised firms may have their own criteria for accepting clients, over which we have no control. The value of pensions and investments can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you put in. Past performance is not a guide to future returns. Transferring or combining pensions is not right for everyone and may mean giving up valuable benefits or guarantees. Free and impartial guidance about your pension options is available from the government’s MoneyHelper service, and if you are aged 50 or over from Pension Wise, at moneyhelper.org.uk. Compensation limits and award limits are those published by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and the Financial Ombudsman Service as at October 2026 and can change. ## Want an introduction to an FCA-authorised adviser? Tell us what you need help with. We’ll introduce you to an FCA-authorised firm you can check right here. Request pension advice 020 3778 0939 We’re an introducer, not an adviser. ## Want to speak to an adviser? Start online, or call us. We call back within the hour between 9am and 5pm on weekdays, or the next working day. [Request pension advice](https://pensionsadviceuk.com/qualified-advice-request/) [020 3778 0939](tel:+442037780939) [Call us](tel:+442037780939) [Enquire](https://pensionsadviceuk.com/qualified-advice-request/) --- Pensions Advice UK (a trading name of GAP-GNX Ltd) connects UK residents with FCA-authorised pension advisers and pension tracing services. It is not FCA-authorised and does not give financial or tax advice. It acts solely as an introducer to FCA-authorised firms, who provide any advice and explain any fees before you proceed. This is the text version of https://pensionsadviceuk.com/check-an-adviser/. More pages: https://pensionsadviceuk.com/llms.txt