The UK’s financial advice gap has long been blamed on regulation, rising costs and a shortage of advisers. Financial education platform Funkled believes the real problem starts much earlier: consumers simply don’t understand enough about money to know when—or why—they need professional advice.
Its latest partnership with UK advice technology provider Focus aims to change that by combining free financial education with institutional-grade planning tools, giving advisers, employers and financial services providers a new way to engage consumers before they ever speak to an adviser.
The collaboration embeds Focus’ digital client engagement (DCE) technology directly into Funkled’s educational platform, transforming passive learning into interactive financial planning. Rather than reading about budgeting, saving or investing and leaving with only theoretical knowledge, users can immediately apply what they’ve learned using calculators and planning tools designed for real financial decisions.
It’s a simple idea, but one that addresses a long-standing weakness in financial literacy platforms: education without action rarely changes behaviour.
Education Meets Financial Planning
Under the partnership, every Funkled learning module now concludes with an appropriate planning tool powered by Focus.
Someone completing a budgeting lesson can immediately access a household budget calculator. A module on debt links directly to debt analysis tools, while investing content connects users with savings and investment goal planners.
The integration is significant because Focus’ technology isn’t built specifically for consumers. Its planning tools are already widely used by financial advisers, banks and building societies across the UK as part of professional client engagement processes.
Instead of creating simplified consumer versions, Funkled is placing adviser-grade technology into educational journeys, helping users move from understanding concepts to making informed financial decisions.
For financial advisers, that could mean prospective clients arrive better informed and better prepared before the first consultation—potentially making advice conversations more productive and less focused on explaining basic financial concepts.
A Major Expansion of Financial Content
The announcement also coincides with Funkled’s biggest content rollout since launching.
Beginning 1 August, the company plans to publish:
One new financial education module every day for 30 consecutive days.
One new podcast episode daily for 15 days.
Topics range from fundamental concepts like compound interest, budgeting and pensions to more complex life events including bereavement planning and lasting powers of attorney.
Rather than producing content internally, Funkled has assembled a broad network of industry contributors, including Oxford Risk, Invesco, Zurich and Alexander Hall, alongside specialists such as Pension Pie, APS Legal and Cascade Cash Management.
That collaborative approach reflects a broader trend across fintech and HR technology, where educational platforms increasingly rely on domain experts to improve credibility and keep content aligned with evolving regulations and consumer needs.
Tackling the UK’s Advice Gap
The partnership arrives against a backdrop of persistent financial engagement challenges across the UK.
According to figures shared by Funkled:
Only 8.7% of UK adults currently receive financial advice.
Just 17% hold a Stocks and Shares ISA.
Around eight million working people have no pension.
Approximately seven million people never compare insurance policies before purchasing.
These numbers illustrate what has become known as the “advice gap”—the growing disconnect between consumers who could benefit from financial advice and those who actually receive it.
Traditionally, firms have attempted to solve the problem through digital advice platforms, artificial intelligence or regulatory reform. Funkled founder Dan Russell argues those approaches overlook a more fundamental issue.
“The biggest barrier to growth in UK financial services isn’t regulation, and it isn’t AI; it’s the fact that most consumers simply don’t understand what we’re talking about,” Russell said.
His argument is that education and planning tools are equally ineffective when delivered separately. Knowledge without practical application doesn’t drive action, while planning software has limited value if users don’t understand why they’re using it.
Bringing both together creates a more complete customer journey.
New Opportunities for Advisers and Employers
The partnership isn’t aimed solely at consumers.
Advice firms, employee benefits consultants and financial institutions will be able to white-label Funkled’s platform, offering branded educational experiences alongside Focus’ planning technology.
For employers, the platform could become part of wider workplace financial wellbeing programmes—a growing priority as organisations look to improve employee engagement beyond traditional pension schemes.
Financial advisers gain another potential benefit: nurturing prospective clients before formal advice begins.
Rather than relying on introductory meetings to explain basic concepts, advisers could direct prospects to structured learning journeys that build understanding while capturing useful planning information through integrated digital tools.
That could help firms serve more clients efficiently at a time when adviser capacity remains stretched across the industry.
Governance Expands Alongside the Platform
As part of its broader growth strategy, Funkled is also creating an external advisory board.
The initial members include Focus’ Mike Hearfield, former Beverley Building Society CEO Karl Elliott, and Dr Emma Black, founder of GB Bank and Cascade Cash Management.
The advisory board is expected to guide future platform development as Funkled expands both its educational content and technology partnerships.
Why This Partnership Matters
Financial education has become an increasingly crowded market, with banks, fintech firms, pension providers and employers all investing in learning platforms.
Many offer articles, videos or webinars. Others provide calculators and planning tools.
Few combine both into a continuous learning journey.
That’s where Funkled’s partnership with Focus attempts to differentiate itself. By embedding professional financial planning technology directly within educational content, the platform aims to shorten the distance between understanding financial concepts and taking meaningful action.
If successful, the model could prove valuable not only for advisers seeking warmer leads but also for employers looking to improve workplace financial wellbeing and financial institutions trying to engage customers earlier in their financial journeys.
Whether it meaningfully narrows the UK’s long-standing advice gap remains to be seen. But at a time when financial literacy continues to lag despite growing access to digital tools, integrating education with practical planning appears a logical next step—and one likely to attract attention across both the fintech and HR technology sectors.
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