More than a quarter (26%) of Britons are not confident about how or where they could access trustworthy financial advice, according to new research from Opinium.
Almost one in seven (14%), rising to more than a fifth among Gen Z, say they need financial advice but have not yet taken any action.
The findings show that a quarter (25%) of UK adults are worried about their finances, yet just 5% have accessed independent financial advice since the start of 2026, while another 5% have actively looked into getting financial advice. One in 10 (10%) said they were already receiving financial advice.
Among those who know they need to access financial advice but haven’t done so, a third (33%) cited concerns about the cost of advice, while nearly a quarter (23%) said they were unsure what kind of adviser they needed or didn’t know any financial advisers (23%). One in five (21%) also admitted they were unsure what to ask an adviser.
The survey also showed that more than quarter (27%) said that even if they could access Targeted Support for free or for a low cost, they would still feel the need to access paid independent financial advice, rising to two in five (40%) among Gen Z.
According to Opinium, more than half (57%) of Brits reviewed their personal finances at the start of the year, with budgeting for the year the main reason to do so, followed by financial goals and planning for upcoming major expenses.
Around 7% of those say that they hadn’t ever considered accessing financial advice before, but realised they need to as a direct result of reviewing their finances in the New Year, rising to 13% among Gen Z.
Matthew Howlett, research manager at Opinium, said: “The start of the year has prompted many people to take stock of their finances, but our findings highlight a notable advice gap. While a significant number recognise they need financial advice, many have yet to take the next step, often due to uncertainty around cost, where to start, or who to trust.
“This is particularly pronounced among younger adults, who show both higher levels of concern and greater openness to seeking advice. Overall, the data paints a picture of rising financial awareness, but with too many barriers still standing in the way of action.”
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