What's in a name? Why 'guidance' should be 'tailored information'

Anything but 'guidance' should be used

clock • 4 min read

Brendan Llewellyn discusses the terminology used in the advice/guidance debate and says the difference between the two is by no means clear...

Harriet Baldwin's tabled amendment on "personal financial guidance "follows the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) announcement that it wants to carry out a "holistic review of the boundary between advice and guidance so we can understand how to reduce the regulatory burden while continuing to provide the right level of consumer protection". The background is that advisers tend to operate at the more affluent end of the market whilst some providers, targeting the mass market, want to offer more than generic information or execution only yet are concerned that their services might be int...

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 Your profession

Advisers on Iran war: 'My advice goes well beyond just saying don't panic'

Advisers on Iran war: 'My advice goes well beyond just saying don't panic'

‘Clients are naturally concerned’

clock 11 March 2026 • 5 min read
The capacity trap: Why advice firms can't hire their way out of the admin crisis

The capacity trap: Why advice firms can't hire their way out of the admin crisis

'You cannot outrun a broken process by adding more people to it'

Stuart Breyer
clock 10 March 2026 • 3 min read
The enduring value of advice in an era of DIY investing

The enduring value of advice in an era of DIY investing

'The debate is about execution and consistency'

Chris Ball
clock 10 March 2026 • 4 min read