Financial abuse: The silent crime advisers must learn to detect

Should the industry be doing more to protect vulnerable clients?

Sahar Nazir
clock • 5 min read

Financial abuse is an insidious crime that often goes unnoticed, leaving victims vulnerable and financially devastated. Given the vital role financial advisers play in managing clients’ wealth, they are uniquely positioned to detect the warning signs. Is the industry doing enough to train advisers to recognise and handle financial abuse? Sahar Nazir talks to experts…

A widespread but underreported issue Financial abuse is more common than many realise. Research from the charity Surviving Economic Abuse found that 4.1 million women in the UK experienced financial abuse from 2023 to 2024. PercyBaxter Wealth Management founder and planner Natasha Percy-Baxter tells PA that she has not received any formal training on economic or financial abuse. Instead, she has taken it upon herself to learn about the issue independently. "It is very prevalent, and given how many people experience it, it would be helpful to have guidance and training. Advisers need...

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