Regulator

The theory goes that the whole financial advice sector is now fully regulated. Tough rules are designed to limit who can offer financial products to the public and how they can go about it. The chief watchdog in this respect is the Financial Services Authority in London. Its website is stuffed with information for the public, all under the Consumer Advice section. Look at www.fsa.gov.uk – or you can ring its helpline and ask to be sent any of its fact sheets and advice booklets. The number is 0845 606 1234. Mortgage advisers were brought under the FSA’s wing back in 2004 – on a day dubbed M-Day. Today you can check that any adviser you speak to is authorised to do business by using the ‘Check Our Register’ feature on the FSA website.