FCA unveils enhanced screening checks for financial adverts

Approvals for unregulated firms will be required

Cristian Angeloni
clock • 2 min read

Companies approving financial marketing for unregulated firms will face an additional range of checks from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

The regulator revealed today (12 September) it will introduce enhanced controls on such businesses to ensure regulated firms and their professionals have the "necessary skills and expertise to approve adverts". Prior to this, FCA-authorised companies were able to approve promotions on behalf of unregulated firms. However, the watchdog noted the practice has caused harm to end investors in the past, as at times, the regulated businesses did not understand the promotions they were approving, resulting in unclear, unfair and/or misleading adverts. As a result, if regulated companies w...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Regulation

Financial firms risk missing a golden opportunity in targeted support

Financial firms risk missing a golden opportunity in targeted support

'Targeted support’s success depends upon firm involvement'

Mark Glover
clock 24 February 2026 • 4 min read
Reality TV 'finfluencers' sentenced

Reality TV 'finfluencers' sentenced

Had combined Instagram following of 4.5 million

Jen Frost
clock 23 February 2026 • 2 min read
FCA CEO sets out shift in regulator's approach with 'less rules'

FCA CEO sets out shift in regulator's approach with 'less rules'

Consumer Duty ‘will do a lot of the work for us’

Isabel Baxter
clock 18 February 2026 • 2 min read