Financial Advisers in Sunderland

Pensions, investments, protection and inheritance planning are areas where a regulated financial adviser can help, particularly at turning points such as approaching retirement, receiving an inheritance or selling a business. This guide lists three places in Sunderland where you can get regulated advice, all trading in November 2026, along with the public guidance services that are worth using first. Please note that this page is general information, not financial advice. It does not recommend any product or adviser, and inclusion here is not a recommendation over firms we have not listed.

Check the FCA register first

Anyone giving regulated financial advice in the UK must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or be an appointed representative of a firm that is. Before you share personal details, search the firm and the individual adviser on the FCA register at register.fca.org.uk. The register shows what the firm is allowed to do and any warnings. Be wary of unexpected calls, emails or social media messages offering investments, and use the contact details on the register rather than those given to you by the caller.

Fairstone

Fairstone is a national financial planning and wealth management firm whose head office is on Camberwell Way at Doxford International Business Park. Its firm reference numbers are published on its website and can be checked on the FCA register.

Advisers cover investment planning and ongoing investment management, retirement and pension planning, estate and inheritance tax planning, mortgage advice and protection such as life and income protection insurance. The firm also works with businesses on corporate financial planning.

Best for: Suits people with pensions and investments to bring together, and families planning how to pass on wealth.

Key Wealth Management

Key Wealth Management is based at Grange Terrace on Stockton Road and is authorised by the FCA under reference 196946. It is the sister company of chartered accountants TTR Barnes and shares their offices.

The firm advises on pensions, investments and wider financial planning. The link with an accountancy practice can help business owners, whose decisions about salary, dividends and pension contributions often affect both their tax and their long-term planning.

Best for: Suits company directors and self-employed people who want their accountant and planner working side by side.

Newcastle Building Society, Sunderland branch

The Newcastle Building Society branch on Waterloo Place, near The Bridges, offers appointments for regulated financial advice as well as everyday savings and mortgage services. Advice is given by Newcastle Financial Advisers Limited, an appointed representative of The Openwork Partnership, and covers investments, pensions, protection and inheritance tax planning.

Appointments can be held in the branch, by phone or by video call. The branch opens Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and on Saturday mornings until 11:45am.

Best for: Suits people who would like a first conversation about advice on the high street, without visiting a business park.

Guidance before advice

Guidance and advice are different. Guidance explains your options in general terms; advice is a personal recommendation that the adviser is responsible for. Several government-backed services offer guidance at no cost:

• Pension Wise, part of MoneyHelper, offers appointments for people aged 50 and over with a defined contribution pension, explaining the options for taking the money.
• MoneyHelper also offers guidance on pensions, debt, budgeting and buying a home, online and by phone.
• Debt advice charities can help if money worries are the main concern, and should be your first call before taking out any new borrowing.

For practical support with council tax, benefits and local services, see our council services guide.

Independent or restricted?

Advisers are either independent, meaning they consider products from across the whole market, or restricted, meaning they work with a limited range of products or providers. Both are regulated and both can give good advice, but the adviser must tell you which they are before giving advice. It is reasonable to ask why they recommend a particular product over alternatives.

Questions to ask an adviser

• How are you paid? Advisers must explain their charges, whether a fixed fee, an hourly rate or a percentage of the money invested, before you commit.
• What does the ongoing service include? Many firms charge for annual reviews; check what you get and how to stop the service.
• What qualifications do you hold? All advisers must hold a minimum level of qualification, and some hold higher ones such as chartered status.
• Will I get a written report? You should receive a suitability report explaining any recommendation.

When an adviser is most useful

People often seek advice when they are approaching retirement, have a lump sum from an inheritance or a business sale, need protection after a new mortgage or a new baby, or are thinking about care costs for a parent. Our guide to care homes in Sunderland explains how care funding works, and our solicitors guide covers wills and powers of attorney, which often go hand in hand with financial planning. Accountants are covered in our accountants guide, and other professional services are in the directory.

Know a Sunderland financial adviser we have missed? Get in touch.