So you want to be a financial 'planner'

TOUCHY-FEELY?

Nicola Brittain
clock

The RDR may have narrowed the distinction between ‘adviser' and ‘planner', so what options are there now for those looking to branch into life planning? Nicola Brittain finds out...

To some, the difference between a financial adviser and a financial planner is vast; to others, the distinction is imagined. Thanks to changes made to the delivery of advice following the Retail Distribution Review (RDR), it may no longer be true (if it ever were) that the former more often results in a product transaction while the latter tends to charge separately for advice and so is not reliant on securing a sale. But, to some, a clear and identifiable gap remains, particularly relating to profitability, or certainly potential profitability. Perceptive Planning operations direc...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Your profession

Female client focus 'vital' as great wealth transfer comes

Female client focus 'vital' as great wealth transfer comes

Intergenerational wealth planning importance

Professional Adviser
clock 06 February 2026 • 1 min read
Andrew Goodwin: Flipping the narrative on successful investing

Andrew Goodwin: Flipping the narrative on successful investing

'He's a pinball wizard, there has to be a twist'

Andrew Goodwin
clock 06 February 2026 • 4 min read
Paraplanners' confidence holding back progression

Paraplanners' confidence holding back progression

Aspiration and confidence gap over future career paths, SOTAN report finds

Isabel Baxter
clock 05 February 2026 • 3 min read