Updated
Updated · FT Adviser · Sep 1
4 in 5 Britons Use Unregulated Financial Advice as Only 24% Check Credentials
Updated
Updated · FT Adviser · Sep 1

4 in 5 Britons Use Unregulated Financial Advice as Only 24% Check Credentials

1 articles · Updated · FT Adviser · Sep 1

Summary

  • 83% of UK credit card holders said they use unregulated sources for financial guidance, rising to 93% among 25- to 34-year-olds and 92% among 35- to 44-year-olds, Zable found in a survey of 2,001 people.
  • 68% said they did not check the risks before acting on advice, while only 24% would verify a financial professional’s credentials and 22% would probe sponsorships, commissions or conflicts of interest.
  • 29% said they had lost money from bad credit-card advice, including 21% who lost £100 or more in the past 12 months; another 28% reported losses tied to investment advice.
  • 54% most often sought unregulated advice on salary and wages, followed by savings at 49%, as Zable warned that social-media finfluencers and AI tools can leave consumers exposed to misleading or incomplete guidance.

Insights

Why do millions of young adults trust unverified algorithms and influencers with their savings over certified experts?
Are your favorite social media finance gurus secretly draining your bank account with unregulated advice?