All you DIY investors — it’s time to stop listening to the “moon boys” on TikTok and YouTube promising overnight riches. I might be a so-called TradFi Boomer, but I agree with the FCA on this one: keep it boring.
Wealth is not created by gambling on the latest get-rich-quick scheme. Wealth is created, then saved. And the best way to save it? Through readily understood, well-diversified, low-cost investments. Nothing fancy. Nothing hidden. Just simple, proven strategies that work over decades.
As Christopher Woolard, former CEO of the Financial Conduct Authority, put it:
“The overwhelming majority of retail investors are best served by readily understood, well-diversified and low-cost investments which are already available from a range of providers, but many retail investors don’t choose these.”
— Call for Input: Consumer Investments, FCA
The Arrogance of Youth is Nothing New
This story isn’t new. It’s been told for centuries. Take Sir Isaac Newton — the great scientist who could “calculate the motion of heavenly bodies” but admitted he could not calculate the madness of men. He lost his life savings in the South Sea Bubble of 1720. Genius didn’t protect him from speculation. Arrogance cost him everything.
Fast forward to today, and we see history repeating. Only now, the bubbles are hyped by social media influencers flaunting rented Lamborghinis and promising financial freedom through forex, crypto, or CFDs.
The FCA Crackdown on Finfluencers
On 11 September 2025, three social media influencers appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, charged with illegally promoting high-risk forex contracts for difference (CFDs). They pleaded not guilty — but if convicted, each could face up to two years in prison.
This is part of a global crackdown involving regulators from the UK, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Italy, and the UAE. Over 650 takedown requests have already been issued across social media platforms. The message is clear: stop promoting, stop buying.
A TSB study revealed the damage:
- 83% of people have seen financial “advice” on social media they weren’t searching for.
- 31% acted on it.
- Of those, 55% lost money.
- Younger investors are hit hardest: 69% of 25–34-year-olds said they would consider investing based on social media promotions, compared to just 18% of over-55s.
Know the Difference: Advice vs. Promotion
Here’s the key point:
- If you’re being asked to part with money for a financial product, that’s a promotion. Only licensed professionals are allowed to do that.
- If you’re hearing generic financial advice from a registered professional who doesn’t sell products (like myself), that’s different. That’s guidance — and it’s legal.
Don’t confuse the two. And don’t get duped by moon boys pretending to be financial sages when all they’re doing is selling you into a trap.
Final Word
If you want to create wealth, don’t speculate. Don’t chase what you don’t understand. Stick to what works: boring, diversified, low-cost investments. Then protect what you’ve built.
Gambling is for the casino. Your financial future deserves better.
About Get SAFE
Get SAFE (Support After Financial Exploitation) was born from a simple truth: too many victims of financial abuse are left to suffer in silence.
We exist for people like Ian—for the ones who did everything right, only to be failed by the systems they trusted. We know that behind every vanished pension, every ignored complaint, and every stonewalled letter is a person—frightened, exhausted, and too often alone.
Get SAFE offers more than sympathy. We offer structure, support, and solidarity.
We provide a voice where there’s been silence, and clarity where there’s been confusion.
We stand beside those who have been exploited, not just to help them recover—but to help them reclaim their story and rebuild their future.
Because financial justice is not a luxury.
It’s a human right.
If you or someone you know has been affected by financial exploitation, we are here.
You are not alone.
Learn more at: Get SAFE (Support After Financial Exploitation).
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