Adviser's Facebook posts under scrutiny by CII

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Adviser's Facebook posts under scrutiny by CII
An adviser's personal facebook posts are being investigated by the CII. (Tobias Dziuba via Pexels)

A financial adviser's Facebook posts, which included images of Meghan Markle as a golliwog, are being investigated by the Chartered Insurance Institute, FTAdviser has learned.

A series of screenshots, such as jokes about the Holocaust, Madeline McCann and memes about former mortgage adviser Nicola Bulley, who was found dead earlier this year, had been sent via a whistleblower to FTAdviser. 

FTAdviser approached the CII to ask if there was an investigation into this matter, given the CII's actions in the past regarding other advisers' social media comments, such as the public Twitter comment made by one Yorkshire-based adviser in 2021.

A spokesperson from the CII responded: “All PFS and CII members are required to adhere to the Chartered Insurance Institute’s Code of Ethics, so that the public can trust and have confidence in the professionals with whom they engage.

"We take any alleged breach of our Code extremely seriously. We are considering carefully the material that has been passed to us and will take any appropriate action."

I would hate to think that I would genuinely offend one of my friends or family for their heritage or nationality or beliefs.The adviser

A whistleblower, who had seen these posts, told FTAdviser that some of these had been reported to Facebook. The whistleblower also said some of these were still visible.

The posts were made on the adviser's personal page and not publicly viewable. The posts were also reposts of shared memes, and not content created by the adviser themselves.

Some images were visible to the public as at the time of writing (April 11), including an Irish joke and a joke about naked women that featured the C-word.

The financial adviser on whose personal Facebook page these appeared is known to FTAdviser, and they have said they are working openly and honestly with the CII. 

The adviser added: "If something I have posted has caused offence to anyone and they are genuinely offended by something I have posted, of course I would apologise.

"I am only posting to friends and family and I would hate to think that I would genuinely offend one of my friends or family for their heritage or nationality or beliefs."

'Not to harm or discriminate'

However, the adviser also commented that a personal Facebook post, even if distasteful, was not something on which the quality of their work as an adviser should be judged.

They said: "I should be measured and regulated on the advice I give to clients and the satisfaction of my clients, not on my viewpoints outside of working hours.

"We are highly respected on VouchedFor and elsewhere, and our clients are happy with what we have done to help them. Contentious posts on Facebook, on a private page, are not for clients to see.

"It comes down to an individual's sense of humour. I know there is a fine line these days between what is acceptable and what is not."

The adviser told FTAdviser they "wholeheartedly disagreed with racism", adding that they attend football matches regularly with their daughter "and we see the punishment - and rightly so - for people who use racist abuse".

Similarly, they said: "I equally do not agree with anything homophobic, anti-Semitic, gender discriminatory or anything that inflicts people’s right to be who they want to be. 

"However comedy is there to poke fun at all of us and although some of what I share is contentious, it is not there to harm or discriminate. My Facebook page is private so why would I want to insult friends and family?"

It comes down to an individual's sense of humour.The adviser in question

The adviser also said there may have been some previous employees or connection of theirs who may hold a grudge. They told FTAdviser: "To be honest, it sounds like someone is trying to hurt my business and I can think of a couple of people who would be vindictive enough to flag this with FTAdviser/ the CII.

“I am a little surprised that the person who has done this has chosen to do so anonymously - that shows to me that this is simply a vindictive attack from either a disgruntled ex-employee or a mutual connection of such. 

"It is also difficult to understand why the person would not approach me first for an apology for the offensive content before trying to harm my business and my reputation. I would suggest that no offence has been caused whatsoever."

The whistleblower did not disclose any connection to the firm or to the adviser.

There is no suggestion that the firm itself has approved of or posted any controversial or concerning images on its professional Facebook page. 

The CII said the investigation, which is confidential, was still ongoing and said: "We would encourage anyone else who has concerns in this case, or others, to contact us via complaintsagainstciimembers@cii.co.uk.

"Disciplinary matters are confidential by their nature and it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this stage.”