Marketers can often feel frustrated by compliance restrictions, which can seem like roadblocks that stifle their creative campaigns. Meanwhile, compliance teams can become equally frustrated with marketers who fail to understand the regulation that causes these systems to be put in place.
This frustration is common among marketing and compliance teams across all industries in the financial services sector. It’s a challenge that Stacey Ishiekwene, global financial promotions oversight manager at eToro, knows all too well, which is why she took a key role in launching Not Financial Advice (NFA).
The forum aims to bridge the gap between compliance and marketing teams by creating an open space where marketing, communications, and compliance professionals can collaborate and communicate to build a stronger mutual understanding.
“The purpose of the forum is for us to have that dedicated space where marketing and compliance can come together, discuss our challenges, and there are a lot of challenges, exchange insight and just collaborate and learn,” Ishiekwene says.
Alongside this frustration at a lack of understanding, Ishiekwene’s frustration with the absence of a dedicated space for them to connect also inspired the creation of NFA to fill this gap.
“There are forums for every other area of compliance, but there’s no dedicated forum. There are no compliance forums that introduce marketing into the conversation,” she says.
Everyone needs help navigating regulation
The new forum is designed to support professionals across compliance, marketing compliance, marketing, PR, communications, and legal roles within the UK’s regulated financial industries.
Ishiekwene notes that the forum caters to individuals at all stages of their careers. For those just starting out, navigating financial regulation can often seem daunting, and the forum aims to provide the support needed to ease this challenge.
“If you’re just starting out in either marketing or compliance and want insight or tips on how to create a compliant promotion or want to understand the regulation, it’s the place for you.”
However, it’s also for those already working in the field, looking to stay up to date with regulations. This is becoming an increasingly difficult task as regulation is constantly evolving to keep pace with the ongoing advancements in digital marketing, she says.
Fostering collaboration is key
The forum’s success hinges on creating a safe environment where both sides feel comfortable enough to share their challenges and concerns.
To encourage open communication, the forum will ensure no regulators are present and will implement Chatham House rules, allowing participants to speak freely, knowing that anything shared will remain confidential and not be met with judgment, Ishiekwene explains.
She adds that regular events and webinars on various topics will also promote collaboration, along with a LinkedIn group and a group chat that will enable 24/7 communication to discuss new regulations or emerging technologies.
The future of the forum
Even though the forum’s inaugural event will take place on February 4, Ishiekwene already has ambitious plans for its future. She says her vision is for the forum to become so influential in fostering meaningful discussions that regulators will turn to it for insights and feedback on new regulations and consultations before they are published.
“It would be amazing if we create this forum and become thought leaders so when the FCA produces a paper, when we respond, we’re not only responding on behalf of compliance, but we’re also responding with the view of, how do marketing deal with this?” she says.
She adds that training courses that offer a more innovative and cost-effective approach to compliance and marketing education, research hubs for accessing tools and templates and conferences are also among future plans for the forum.
Understanding the shared goal
Ultimately, marketing and compliance teams share a common goal: driving sustainable growth. When these teams collaborate effectively, they both thrive and benefit from the company’s success. If they don’t, they’re both left vulnerable to face the repercussions.
By working together, instead of in silos, marketing and compliance teams can improve communication, align priorities and collaborate effectively.
As a result, marketers can create campaigns with compliance in mind, while compliance can provide practical, creative solutions. This approach balances creativity with risk, turning the teams into strategic partners focused on building trust, protecting the brand, and driving growth.