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Targeted support? Will it help millions as the FCA claims?

Journalist: Laura Miller, Freelance

ended 12. December 2025

Targeted support from registered banks and other financial firms is being given the go-ahead by the FCA and should start in April.

This will allow firms to make investment and pensions recommendations based on what similar groups of people could do with their money.

It still falls short of individually tailored advice, which can only be provided by an authorised financial adviser for a fee.

The FCA says targeted support will see millions of people get extra help with investments and pensions decisions.

What are your views on targeted support?

  • How worried are you banks will abuse the rules to push products?
  • How much of a mis-selling risk is there to ordinary savers and investors?
  • To what extent is targeted support better than people turning to social media or friends and family for financial advice?

 

 

3 responses from the Newspage community

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Editor
Scott Gallacher
Director at Rowley Turton
Targeted support is the FCA’s attempt to bridge the advice gap it inadvertently widened through RDR and subsequent regulation. It will undoubtedly provide some help to people who would never pay for full financial advice, but it also walks a very fine line. By allowing firms to make broad-brush recommendations to groups of consumers, it risks becoming a ‘miss-selling charter’ if not tightly monitored.
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Editor
Rob Mansfield
Independent Financial Advisor at Rootes Wealth Management
I suspect on balance that it will help lots of people, whether that extends to millions remains to be seen. The emphasis for so long has been on heavy handed risk warnings and ever increasing regulatory standards, which has created a huge void where people are either spooked off or priced out of regulated advice. If this helps bridge that gap and get people started, then it's no bad thing. It's not a perfect solution and wont be nearly as comprehensive as regulated advice but it has a place. The risks are that we could see poor standards creep in but that's up to the regulator to police.
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Patricia McGirr
Founder at Repossession Rescue Network
Targeted support could close the advice gap. But if the watchdog hands banks and chosen firms a hall pass to shape how millions handle their money, we need to know on what basis, to whom, and with what safeguards inplace. Without that, this could be a mis‑selling scandal waiting in the wings. I’ve seen the fallout of bad advice from well‑qualified people, damage that goes beyond money to homes, families, and futures. The handover here is undefined. Who decides when nudges stop and advice begins? If banks own the funnel, consumers risk being pushed into products instead of being guided into a personally crafted strategy. The role of impartial advice from a qualified professional must remain central to this. The pathway matters as much as the product and in spite of innovation, the FCA must maintain its primary focus on consumer protection and the sanctity of proper guidance.