More than a quarter of a million consumers have searched for details of independent financial advisers during the first half of 2008, according to Unbiased.co.uk. Around 30% of all requests were from consumers seeking advice on retirement planning, while investments and savings remain popular, accounting for 24% of all searches. As the effects of the credit crunch have set in, 17% of consumers are looking for help with their mortgage, around 50,000 people so far this year. Meanwhile, equity release requests have increased by more than 18% in the last six months, with almost 4,000 requests for qualified advisers.