How do I check whether a financial adviser or investment influencer is legitimate?

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) maintains a public register of every firm and individual authorised to give regulated financial advice in the UK. Searching the FCA Register at register.fca.org.uk by name or firm lets you confirm whether someone holds the correct permissions and qualifications. If they are not on the register, they are not authorised to give you regulated advice — and any recommendation they make carries no consumer protection.

For social media personalities sharing investment tips or financial strategies, the same rule applies: they need FCA authorisation to promote financial products to UK consumers. The FCA carried out a crackdown on illegal financial adverts reaching millions of UK social media accounts, making takedown requests against content that broke the rules. If someone is offering financial tips on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube, check the register before acting on anything they say.

A few practical signs to look for: - A legitimate adviser will tell you their firm name, their FCA Firm Reference Number, and the regulatory permissions they hold. - Qualified advisers typically hold named credentials such as the CII Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning or Chartered Financial Planner status — they should be willing to share these. - Anyone who refuses to give you a firm name or FCA reference, or pressures you to act quickly, is a warning sign.

If you have received financial content from an unregulated source, a regulated independent financial adviser can help you assess the information and your options properly.