A financial adviser will advise you on a range of products from a large number of different, and competing, financial services companies.

Financial advisers usually give advice on investments such as:

• Regular savings schemes
• Lump sum investments
• Pensions, for individuals and companies
• Life and health insurance
• Mortgages

If you have very specific aims, for example you may be planning to limit the effects of Inheritance tax, or looking for a special kind of mortgage, then it may be worth looking for a financial adviser who specialises in a particular area such as tax planning, will writing, mortgages, pensions or investments.