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Financial Advisory Launch Programme

You’ve started your firm. Here’s the first 90 days.

You’ve advised under someone else’s name. Now the firm is yours.

A clear, honest plan for getting set up, getting authorised, and advising your first clients. Free to use whether or not we ever work together.

Start the programme Prefer we run it for you?
10 modules
Work at your own pace
Free
The whole journey, at a glance

The 90-day map

Ten modules, four phases, one clear path.

Start with module 1
Day 0 · You are here
01 / 04

Get set up

Days 1–10

Module 01

Choose Your Model & Niche

The advice you give, independent or restricted, your fees, and your niche.

1–2 days
Module 02

Money & Foundations

A business account with firm money separate, professional indemnity, your capital requirement, and ICO registration.

2–3 days (PII can take weeks to secure)
02 / 04

Get authorised & compliant

Days 5–30

Module 03

Get Authorised

Appointed Representative or directly authorised, your Level 4 qualification and SPS, and where SM&CR applies.

Weeks of prep; the gate is 6–12 months
Module 04

Get Compliant

The regulated standard you build the firm on: Consumer Duty, a suitability process, AML, and secure data.

~1 week
Module 05

Your Software Stack

The back office at the centre, plus platforms and research, cashflow modelling and a client portal.

~2–3 days
03 / 04

Get seen & get found

Days 20–50

Module 06

Your Brand

A brand built around your niche and your credibility, with financial promotions signed off.

2–4 days We can do this one
Module 07

Your Website & Client Portal

A trust-first, compliant adviser website and a secure client portal, connected end to end.

1–2 weeks We can do this one
Module 08

Get Found

Your Google Business Profile, the adviser directories, and a compliant habit of gathering reviews.

~1–2 weeks to set up, then ongoing We can do this one
04 / 04

Win clients & advise

Days 30–90

Module 09

Win Your First Clients

Activate your existing relationships, build referral partnerships, and run a trust-led first meeting.

Ongoing, weeks to build We can do this one
Module 10

Advise Your First Client

Onboarding and the fact-find, researching the recommendation, the suitability report, and implementation.

Days 30–90, per client
~Day 90 · Up and running

How every module works

Three calm steps, the same every time.

01 · Learn

Every module starts with why it matters — in plain words, no jargon, no filler.

02 · Do it yourself

Follow step-by-step guidance and real templates you can use straight away.

03 · Ask us

Or hand over the ones we build — your website, being found, your systems.

Who it’s for

New UK financial advice firms, in their first year.

  • Advisers going independent
  • Registered individuals setting up their own firm
  • Planners leaving a network to go directly authorised
  • Appointed Representative or directly authorised, the path is the same
A straight scope note

This covers the business of launching and running an advice firm: your setup, authorisation route, systems, website, being found, and winning clients.

It is not regulated, financial, or compliance advice. For FCA authorisation, Consumer Duty, suitability, or the Senior Managers and Certification Regime, the FCA, your network, and your professional body are the right sources.

One note on timing: this is ninety days of effort, not ninety on the calendar. Where a step waits on the FCA or your network, that clock is theirs. Start the work, and pick it up when they clear you.

Who’s behind this

A small, founder-led UK software & web studio.

We’re Digital Royalty. Everything here is free to use, whether or not you ever work with us. When you’d rather hand any of it over — the website, being found, your systems — here’s how.

Get in touch

No sales pitch · no obligation · just a straight conversation