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FCA Regulated
Chartered Expertise in Our Team
Whole of Market
5-Star Rated
Transparent Fees
First Equitable Chester investment advice at a glance
First Equitable is an independent, whole of market firm of financial advisers, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference number 782577, with Chartered expertise within the team.
How we help clients in Chester
When a lump sum arrives
An inheritance, a house sale or a business exit. We decide with you how much to keep accessible, how much to invest, which tax wrappers to use and whether to invest it all at once or over time.
When your money has drifted
Old workplace pensions, an ISA opened years ago and a portfolio nobody has checked. We find out what you hold and what it costs, then bring it together into one plan.
When you need an income
As retirement nears, the order you draw from pensions, ISAs and other accounts matters as much as the return. We build an income that is tax efficient and lasts as long as you need it to.
After a pension transfer
If you have moved a final salary pension, the transferred fund has to be invested carefully. We hold the specialist transfer permissions and advise on both sides of the decision.
How we work with you
1. A free first conversation. At Bridgegate House, by video or by phone, whichever suits you. We find out what you want your money to do and whether we can help.
2. A clear written recommendation. We review what you already hold, agree the level of risk you are comfortable with, and set out our recommendation and its costs in writing before anything changes.
3. Looked after as long as you want. We put everything in place, then review it with you as often as you choose. Ongoing service is optional and you can stop at any time.
Why independent advice can cost you less
Three things usually make more difference to your returns than which fund you pick: the tax wrapper your money sits in, the total you pay in charges each year, and whether the risk matches what the money is for.
All three are harder to get right if your adviser can only offer a limited range. As an independent adviser we must consider the whole market, including telling you when the best move is to leave things alone. We are fee based on investments, so our pay never depends on the product.
What investment advice costs
The full breakdown is on our charges page.
Why more people are paying tax on their investments
For 2026/27 the capital gains tax exemption is £3,000 and the dividend allowance is £500, both far lower than a few years ago, and dividend tax rates rose again on 6 April 2026. A portfolio held outside an ISA or pension that never produced a tax bill before may well produce one now. You can put up to £20,000 a year into ISAs. The full figures are on our investment advice in Liverpool page.
Finding us in Chester
Our Chester office is at Bridgegate House, at the Lower Bridge Street end of the city centre, a short walk from the Cross and the city walls. Appointments are by arrangement, in person, by video or by phone.
Bridgegate House, 5 Bridgegate, Chester CH1 1SA
01244 267485
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Regulated advice you can check
First Equitable (UK) Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, firm reference number 782577, company number 09910371. You can check us on the Financial Services Register and you have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service. More on our our regulation page.
The value of investments can fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you invested.