The Personal Finance Society has launched a new course designed to help Financial Planners and advisers adapt to social and regulatory expectations on sustainable investment.

The course is aligned with the FCA’s recently issued Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) and investment labels rule.

The new rule, which recognises the increased demand from clients wanting to invest sustainably, will be applied from 31 May.

On Tuesday the FCA announced that it was planning to extend the rule to portfolio managers as well as asset managers. 

The proposed labelling and Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) for portfolio managers largely mirror those introduced for asset managers in November 2023.

They include:  

• Product labels to help consumers understand what their money is being used for 
• Naming and marketing requirements so products can only be described as having positive outcomes on the environment and/or society when those claims can be backed up

The PFS' 50-minute e-learning course is aimed at helping advisers meet the FCA’s expectations around its anti-greenwashing rule and the regulator’s new investment labels. It will support them in offering correctly-labelled products that comply with the SDR and assist customers to make informed decisions, the PFS said.

Learning objectives include:

• Explaining fundamental aspects of Sustainability Disclosure Requirements
• Understanding FCA regulations regarding anti-greenwashing and investment fund labelling
• Identify examples of greenwashing across different mediums and suggest improvements

Ian Simons, director of content and capabilities for the PFS, said: “The current social and regulatory climate calls for financial advisers to possess a well-rounded, in-depth understanding of matters relating to sustainability, sustainable investments, greenwashing, and SDRs.”

He said the course is designed to help finance professionals feel confident in their ability to support clients and ensure their practice is aligned with the FCA’s recent guidance.

The course counts towards PFS member’s continuing professional development.