---
title: Insights | Choosing a chartered financial planner
description: What's the difference between a financial advisor and a financial planner? In this blog, we cover the crucial differences
image: https://www.puntersouthall.com/hubfs/financial%20planning%20blog%20image.jpg
---

- [ Our services ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/our-services) 
    - [ Pensions ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/pensions) 
          - [ Defined benefit ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/defined-benefits)
          - [ Defined contribution ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/pensions#defined-contribution)
          - [ SIPP & SSAS ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/pensions#self-invested-pensions)
          - [ Expert witness ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/expert-witness)
    - [ Analytics ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/analytics) 
          - [ Numbers for lawyers ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/analytics#numbers-for-lawyers)
          - [ Data compliance ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/analytics#data-compliance-for-data-confidence)
    - [ Legal ](https://puntersouthall.law/)
    - [ Employee benefits ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/service-update-apr-24) 
          - [ Financial planning ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/service-update-apr-24)
- [ Insights ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights) 
    - [ Blogs ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights)
- [ Our story ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/our-story)
- [ People & culture ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/people-culture) 
    - [ Our people ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/staff-directory)
    - [ Awards ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/awards)
    - [ Careers ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/careers)
- [ Contact us ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/contact)

[![Punter Southall - Animated icon](https://www.puntersouthall.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/punter-southall-hc/library/images/client/logos/punter_southall_anim_logo.gif) ![Punter Southall - Text logo](https://www.puntersouthall.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/punter-southall-hc/library/images/client/logos/punter_southall_text_logo.svg) ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/)

**

** **

- [ Our services ** ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/our-services) 
    - [ Pensions ** ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/pensions) 
          - [ Defined benefit ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/defined-benefits)
          - [ Defined contribution ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/pensions#defined-contribution)
          - [ SIPP & SSAS ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/pensions#self-invested-pensions)
          - [ Expert witness ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/expert-witness)
    - [ Analytics ** ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/analytics) 
          - [ Numbers for lawyers ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/analytics#numbers-for-lawyers)
          - [ Data compliance ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/analytics#data-compliance-for-data-confidence)
    - [ Legal ** ](https://puntersouthall.law/)
    - [ Employee benefits ** ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/service-update-apr-24) 
          - [ Financial planning ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/service-update-apr-24)
- [ Insights ** ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights) 
    - [ Blogs ** ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights)
- [ Our story ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/our-story)
- [ People & culture ** ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/people-culture) 
    - [ Our people ** ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/staff-directory)
    - [ Awards ** ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/awards)
    - [ Careers ** ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/careers)
- [ Contact us ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/contact)
- **

**

Financial planning 

20 May 2022

[** Back ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/)

**Author:** Josh Gordon

# How do you choose a chartered financial planner?

## What does it mean to be chartered?

On the face of it, financial advisors do the same job as financial planners, don’t they?

Broadly speaking, they do but there are crucial differences which are worth considering if you are trying to decide which is best for you.

And that’s before we get into what it means to be a [chartered financial planning firm](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/punter-southall-aspire-financial-planning-awarded-chartered-status) as opposed to a company without this qualification.

On the face of it, financial advice and financial planning are pretty similar to the untrained eye.

But where financial planning differs is developing an overall, holistic view of what someone needs their money to do for them at various stages of their life, an end-to-end framework starting with your earnings, marriage, buying a house, raising a family to adulthood and even beyond, planning retirement and organising your tax affairs. Not to mention reviewing your investments and helping to manage your assets and many other things besides.

Without wanting to do down the role of the financial adviser, it can often be characterised as a focus on investment and its returns without necessarily considering – and preparing for - the specific client requirements in the round and across the years and decades ahead.

A chartered financial planner will not only create a structure with your objectives in mind. He or she will also have spent the time to really understand your financial goals and the motivation and reasoning behind them.

That’s because being only 14 per cent of the 5,000 or so UK financial planning firms have achieved Chartered status, which is something worth seeking out in any financial planner or financial professional.

In the words of the [Chartered Institute of Insurance](https://www.cii.co.uk/membership/join-us/chartered/corporate-chartered/why-choose-a-chartered-firm/financial-planners/), which confers Chartered status: “By choosing Chartered, you are choosing a financial planner who has made a public commitment to professionalism. They must maintain standards of excellence in qualifications, ethics, business practices and professional development. The CII sets the bar, a firm meets it.”

Or, in everyday language, it’s going above and beyond for your clients in a way that’s defined by reaching the required yet challenging standard.

We’re proud that the efforts of our financial planning teams have been recognised in this way. Chartered status as a financial planning firm is more than just a badge, it is a nationally accredited benchmark.

So if you’re looking for chartered financial planners or, indeed, chartered financial advisers, a good starting point is to check on the [CII](https://www.cii.co.uk/membership/join-us/chartered/chartered-firm-search/), which will confirm whether or not their practice is what it says it is.

One final point. We have always prided ourselves on being the kind of financial planners people want to work with year after year. An essential factor in your search and selection is to take the time to talk.

After all, when it comes to your financial life, you need to establish trust, competence and honesty but also the ability to get on with each other as navigating your financial future is one of the most important, long-term commitments you are likely to make.

 Share [** ](mailto:?subject=How%20do%20you%20choose%20a%20chartered%20financial%20planner?&body=https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/how-do-you-choose-a-chartered-financial-planner) [** ](http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=How%20do%20you%20choose%20a%20chartered%20financial%20planner?&url=https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/how-do-you-choose-a-chartered-financial-planner) [** ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/how-do-you-choose-a-chartered-financial-planner) [** ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/how-do-you-choose-a-chartered-financial-planner)

[** Back ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/)

### Get in touch today

At Punter Southall, we have a team of highly skilled risk, compliance and legal experts with deep in-house practical experience. Get in tough if you would like a friendly chat with one of us.

 Get in touch**

- LATEST UPDATES

## You may also be interested in

[Financial planning ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/how-being-chartered-charts-a-route-to-high-quality-financial-planning)

- 3 November 2022

[How being Chartered charts a route to high-quality financial planning](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/how-being-chartered-charts-a-route-to-high-quality-financial-planning)

[Read article](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/how-being-chartered-charts-a-route-to-high-quality-financial-planning)

[News CEO blog Financial planning ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/punter-southall-aspire-financial-planning-awarded-chartered-status)

- 21 April 2022

[Why choose a Chartered financial planning firm?](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/punter-southall-aspire-financial-planning-awarded-chartered-status)

[Read article](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/punter-southall-aspire-financial-planning-awarded-chartered-status)

[Financial planning ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/why-the-new-consumer-duty-is-the-kind-of-duty-we-can-all-get-behind)

- 21 July 2023

[Why the new Consumer Duty is the kind of duty we can all get behind](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/why-the-new-consumer-duty-is-the-kind-of-duty-we-can-all-get-behind)

[Read article](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/why-the-new-consumer-duty-is-the-kind-of-duty-we-can-all-get-behind)

- ###### INSIGHTS

#### Subscribe to updates

Where we share what we’re thinking about and what conclusions can be drawn on everything from the work we do to the world around us. We hope you find our posts readable, relevant and thought-provoking.

Subscribe

**

##### Subscribe to updates

Insights

![Footer graphic](https://www.puntersouthall.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/punter-southall-hc/library/images/client/shapes/footer-graphic.svg)

###### Let’s work together

- [Our services](https://www.puntersouthall.com/our-services)
- [Insights](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights)
- [Our story](https://www.puntersouthall.com/our-story)
- [People & culture](https://www.puntersouthall.com/people-culture)
- [Careers](https://www.puntersouthall.com/careers)

[** ](https://twitter.com/PunterSouthall) [** ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/1241357)

© Punter Southall 2024

- [Terms of use](https://www.puntersouthall.com/terms)
- [Privacy ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/privacy-policy)
- [Cookies ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/cookie-policy)
- [Acceptable use ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/acceptable-use-policy)
- [Modern slavery statement](https://www.puntersouthall.com/modern-slavery)
- [Data Complaints](https://www.puntersouthall.com/hubfs/Data%20Complaints.pdf)

Website by [Harrison Carloss](https://harrisoncarloss.com/)

© 2024 Punter Southall Group This website is maintained for general circulation and is intended to provide information only. It is not intended to be construed as a solicitation for the sale of any particular investment or as investment advice and does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs of any person by whom it is read. Tax treatment will depend upon individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future. Please also note that the value of investments, and /or the income from them, can fall as well as rise so you may get back less than you invested. The past performance of an investment should not be relied upon as a guide to its future performance. Comment and opinion on this website is based on tax year figures in the year written and there is no updating to the current tax year. Punter Southall Group is a trading name of Punter Southall Group Limited. Registered office: 11 Strand, London WC2N 5HR. Registered in England and Wales No. 4096788. This website contains information provided by or about Punter Southall Group and its group companies. Details of such group companies are provided at http://www.puntersouthall.com/our-businesses-legal-information. Punter Southall SIPP Limited (FRN: 189480) and Punter Southall Defined Contribution Consulting Limited (FRN: 121328) are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Josh Gordon",
    "url" : "https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/author/josh-gordon"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2022-05-20T10:25:23.500Z",
  "datePublished" : "2022-05-20T10:20:12.000Z",
  "headline" : "Insights | Choosing a chartered financial planner",
  "image" : [ "https://www.puntersouthall.com/hubfs/financial%20planning%20blog%20image.jpg" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/how-do-you-choose-a-chartered-financial-planner",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://www.puntersouthall.com/hubfs/Logos/punter-southall-horizontal-RGB.svg"
    },
    "name" : "Punter Southall"
  }
}
```