Don’t let financial compliance be your worst enemy

The financial services industry is bound by strict compliance and legal standards. So, when finance companies think about their financial blogging strategies, copywriting needs, or other content, they must understand how to provide compelling content, while at the same time adhering to compliance standards.

Here’s a few ways to stay compliant when thinking about your content and copywriting.

Soften language

Ethical copywriting means not promising anything that can’t be delivered. Instead of making promises or providing a list of “shoulds”, it can help to soften language to stay within the boundaries of ethical finance.

For instance, when talking about CDs, instead of saying: “Put your money into a certificate of deposit for a steady rate of return.”

You can instead say: “Consider a certificate of deposit as a potentially great investment for a relatively stable return.”

Avoid exaggeration

Other industries are filled with exaggerated claims attached to products and services. From “Lose 50 lbs in one week!” to “Improve your productivity by 10x” these outlandish claims attract customers with the hopes of easily fulfilling their dreams.

Financial blogging strategies, on the other hand, should avoid such claims at all costs. Not only do they fall into a legal gray area (at best), they are simply stretching the truth too much to stay within a strong ethical framework. 

Ethical financial content for all

The financial services industry needs to work on its ethics. Of course, advising the public on investments, budgeting, and other financial topics lends itself to making mistakes, but we can still do better.