HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR
A notable highlight has of course been our Four Nations Tour, a uniquely different conference agenda bringing together members, provider partners and the FCA across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. With over 800 attendees at four locations so far, the tour concludes at the Vale of Glamorgan in January, with over 200 attendees already registered. A first of their kind, they have offered the opportunity to both hear from and interact directly with FCA, and the overwhelmingly positive feedback and requests for more has led to a commitment to evolve the programme further in 2026.
This year also saw the launch of two new initiatives focused on the women’s wealth and Consumer Duty data, making a total of six dedicated taskforces and significant progress in areas such as vulnerability, retirement income, gender diversity, new talent, data standards, and cross-border advice.
A special thank you to our members, affiliates, FCA and pro-bono contributors from across the market for making 2025 uniquely different!
Thanks also to Ocarian’s Michael Lawrence and FTRC’s Ian McKenna, who continue to host our valuable Consumer Duty Practitioner and Technology and Protection Forums respectively.
TASKFORCES AND ALLIANCES
The Financial Vulnerability Taskforce welcomed its new chair, Chartered Financial Planner, Robin Melley. Its widely adopted good practice guide for supporting clients in vulnerable circumstances has been downloaded over 7,000 times, with a campaign to raise standards in relation to bereavement planned for the New Year. Meanwhile, the Financial Vulnerability Charter has grown to over 1,000 supporting firms and 4,000 users.
The Retirement Income Taskforce, led by Margaret Snowdon OBE, is focusing on workplace support for retirement, supported by our newest Executive Director, chartered practitioner, Fiona Tate. A series of plain English consumer-facing guides will be published in 2026, including ‘What to Expect from a Financial Adviser’ to help pave the path to professional advice. Its Adviser Retirement Income Checklist meanwhile remains one of our most popular adviser-facing guides.
The New Talent Alliance, chaired by Tom Hegarty of Simplybiz, surpassed 1,000 social media followers this year and launched a new website featuring a growing range of resources for firms recruiting new talent. Upcoming initiatives include a guide to careers in financial advice for new entrants, an online adviser academy directory, and support for firms around the new apprenticeship standard.
The Women's Wealth Alliance, newly formed in 2025 and led by Chartered Financial Planner, Vanessa Barnes, conducted a landmark survey of over 500 women in personal finance. Its white paper, ‘Women, Wealth and the Workplace’, showcases the sector and provides a roadmap for further change, including a female-focused career guide, a professional framework for financial coaching, and a digital learning and development hub for women. Vanessa is establishing the WWA as a go-to thought leader on female financial issues and recently appeared on Radio 5’s Saturday Breakfast and Radio 4’s Money Box.
The Consumer Duty Data Forum is another recent addition, led by Chris Davies of New Model Office, and is focused on increasing firms’ data literacy and ability to respond to an increasingly data-led regulator. Its initial output will be a guide on data literacy, standards, and security in the new year.
Finally, the Cross Border Alliance, led by Chartered Financial Planner, Jane Hodges, has been in ongoing dialogue with the FCA to raise awareness of the unique risks faced by clients moving overseas and seeking further clarification on key issues. The group will be developing resources based on the current state of play, to help advisers navigate cross-border financial planning.
LOOKING AHEAD
Thank you to everyone who has contributed their time, expertise, and passion this year. The CDA’s achievements reflect the power of collaboration and the generosity of our profession. We look forward to building on this momentum in 2026, continuing to Raise Standards Together and deliver positive outcomes for all.
Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
Keith Richards, CEO, Consumer Duty Alliance
