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Is financial advice worth it?

We looked at the independent UK and international research. Across every study, the same conclusion holds: the greatest value of advice isn’t beating the market — it’s making better decisions, consistently, over a lifetime.

+£47k
Better off after 10 years — people who took regulated financial advice built meaningfully more wealth than those who didn't, according to joint research from Royal London and the International Longevity Centre UK. The uplift was largest for those starting with less.
What the research shows
Vanguard · Advisor's Alpha
~3%
added net return per year
Through behavioural coaching, suitable asset allocation, tax-efficient decisions and disciplined investing — value that isn't about picking winning funds.
Morningstar · Mind the Gap
−1.7%
a year lost to poor timing
DIY investors who buy and sell at the wrong moments consistently under-earn the very funds they hold — a gap that advice is designed to close.
Morningstar · Gamma Study
+29%
more retirement income
Smarter withdrawal strategies and planning decisions in retirement — not just investment selection — can meaningfully increase sustainable income.
FCA · Financial Lives Survey
85%
confident in the advice they received
The regulator's own research found the large majority of advised clients found their advice clear, understandable, and something they'd use again.
Pensions Policy Institute
↑
better retirement decisions
Independent pensions research consistently points to guidance and advice as central to helping people navigate increasingly complex retirement choices.
Broader UK consumer research
Reassurance, confidence and peace of mind
Beyond the numbers, UK consumers consistently cite confidence and peace of mind — not investment performance alone — as the benefit of advice they value most.

The biggest value of financial advice isn't beating the market. It's helping people make better financial decisions over a lifetime.

Sources: Royal London & International Longevity Centre UK, "What it's worth: revisiting the value of financial advice" (2019) · Vanguard, "Putting a value on your value: quantifying Vanguard Advisor's Alpha" · Morningstar, "Mind the Gap" (2013–2022 study) · Morningstar, "Alpha, Beta, and Now… Gamma" (Blanchett & Kaplan) · Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Lives 2024 Survey · Pensions Policy Institute, published research library.

Figures are drawn from published third-party research and are illustrative of typical findings across studies; individual outcomes will vary and past research is not a guarantee of future results.

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