The Pensions Regulator together with the Financial Conduct Authority, has published "Guide for Employers and Trustees on providing support with financial matters without needing to be subject to regulation"

This gives guidance on how employers can provide limited financial advice to employees without getting authorisation from the FCA.

According to the guide, employers and trustees do not need FCA authorisation because they:

• are not usually in the business of providing investment advice; and
• do not derive any commercial benefit from advising their employees or beneficiaries.

Employers and trustees may also give employees and members purely factual information on their workplace personal pension arrangements, provided this information is not presented in a way which also seeks to promote the pension scheme or persuade individuals to join it.