Finding someone who will respect your ethical principles and take them seriously is easier than it used to be.
Financial advisers tend to operate as small businesses, partnerships, or sole traders, and there are around 4,500 in the UK. Financial advisers used to focus on a specific region, but nowadays many will advise nationally.
In recent years, money has been pouring into ‘ethical’ funds, many of which have been performing better than traditional funds for a while now. This means that even previously cynical advisers are showing more respect for an ethical approach, and you’d be hard-pressed to find one that didn’t mention ‘sustainability’ or a similar buzzword at least once in their promotional materials. In a way though, this can make them harder to sift through, and so we highlight a few below that we know are not new to the game.
How much can an ethical adviser cost?
Approaching a firm for bespoke advice is rarely recommended for people with less than £100,000 to invest (which is the majority of UK citizens). Indeed, one 2019 survey has suggested that only 16% of financial advice firms would take on a client with less than £100,000.
However, they can be really useful for complex long-term arrangements like pensions, lump sum inheritances, and mortgages, and we suggest consulting them occasionally in some of our money guides.
Some firms may offer an hourly rate for a consultation, which can start at around £250.
It's always good to choose an adviser whose website is clear and upfront about what the charges will be. The section on ethical investment platforms, below, explores more options for people with less money.
Finding an ethical financial adviser
In February 2025, The Path became the first financial adviser to become accredited under our expanded Best Buy label scheme, which now includes products that aren't covered in our regular shopping guides.
See below for more about how we rated The Path.