Targeted Support: Shaping the future of financial advice in 2026

08 December 2025

2 min read

This article first appeared in IFA Magazine in November 2025.

As 2026 approaches, the introduction of Targeted Support is set to reshape how people get financial help. This new, regulator-approved model is set to change how millions of people access financial advice, especially during crucial life stages like retirement.

The 'advice gap' has meant that most consumers have had to navigate financial decisions alone, with only a small fraction - just 9% - having paid for advice in the past two years.

Targeted Support is designed to address this. It offers free, actionable suggestions tailored to groups of customers in similar circumstances. This limited form of advice is not fully individualised - but a meaningful step beyond today’s generic guidance.

Early testing reinforces optimism. Customers using prototype journeys reported higher confidence and clearer understanding - essential ingredients to better decision-making and financial resilience.

I believe Targeted Support will be a vital bridge, not a substitute, for the gold standard that is individualised advice. It will be complementary, creating an accessible entry point to advice for more people earlier. At Royal London, our ambition is to make Targeted Support synonymous with personalised financial help for those who cannot access advice today.

The rare industry consensus around Targeted Support reinforces that the opportunities outweigh any challenges. Regulatory timelines are set, with final rules due in December and services launching in April 2026. Early adopters will be at the forefront of innovation, while others may need to catch up as Targeted Support becomes a baseline expectation in workplace schemes and consumer propositions.

For advice firms, this dynamic opens new workplace pension corporate consulting opportunities and the chance to deliver meaningful, no-cost improvements to employee support.

The FCA has called this a "once in a generation reform," and the industry's challenge is to turn ambition into reality through building trust, engagement, and improved financial resilience for all.

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