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Publications

Our Research & Policy Aim

As a public interest organisation, BETTER FINANCE is committed to advancing the interests of individual investors and users of financial services throughout the European Union.

Our Goal

Our goal is to promote transparency, long-term value, and consumer protection in financial markets, ensuring that retail investors have a strong voice in policy discussions.

Our Approach

Working collaboratively with our member organisations, BETTER FINANCE undertakes rigorous analysis and research, engages in stakeholder consultations, and solicits expert contributions, resulting in well-informed, data-driven policy recommendations.

This approach ensures that EU financial regulations align with the interests of European citizens.

Explore Our Full Library of Publications

BETTER FINANCE feedback on the Open Finance Framework

BETTER FINANCE provided an initial feedback to the EC’s plans to create a system for accessing financial data (FIDA) to boost digital financial services by promoting competition. We suggest carefully ...
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/ Consultations, Banking, Capital Markets Union (CMU), FinTech, Other

BETTER FINANCE response to the IOSCO Crypto-Assets Consultation

The exposure of retail investors to crypto-assets has increased globally, leading to greater retail investor losses due to financial crime, fraud, money laundering, and under-regulated activities in the crypto-asset market ...
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/ Consultations, FinTech

BETTER FINANCE Response to the joint ESAs survey on Innovations

Through their joint pilot survey, the European Banking Authority (EBA), European Securities and Markets Authority and European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (the ESAs) aimed to assess and monitor market ...
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/ Consultations, FinTech

Digital euro: EU Commission’s proposal a first step in the right direction, but more is needed for a safer alternative to bank deposits

The European Commission today published its long-awaited proposal on the digital euro, marking a significant milestone in the digitalisation of public money. The document sets the stage for a democratic ...
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/ Press Releases, Banking, FinTech

Robo-advice 2022 Report | Breaking Barriers of Traditional Advice

BETTER FINANCE continued its research series into Robo-advice with this seventh annual edition (2022), mapping a sample of platforms that provide online Robo-advisory investing services, by analysing their (automated) advice ...
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/ Research papers, Capital Markets (equity & bonds), Financial Education, FinTech, Sustainabe Finance

BETTER FINANCE Position Paper on the EU Retail Investment Strategy (executive summary)

The European Federation of investors and Financial Services Users fully supports the clear stated objectives of the European Union’s very welcome “Retail Investor Strategy”. Before the European Commission's proposal is ...
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/ Position Papers, Capital Markets (equity & bonds), FinTech, Life Insurance & Pensions, Packaged Investment Products, Product governance & disclosures, Securities Markets & Trading, Shareholder Rights & Corporate Governance, Sustainabe Finance

The New Investing Environment for Retail Investors | Expectations and Challenges Ahead

BETTER FINANCE published a report in support of its response to the EC Consultation on the EU Strategy for Retail Investors, illustrating the current state of affairs, detailing how to ...
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/ Research papers, Capital Markets (equity & bonds), FinTech, Securities Markets & Trading

Retail Investing Surge Cushions Economic Downturn and Calls for Adequate Reforms

Over the last two years, health-related restrictions and economic shutdowns had unforeseen effects on European capital markets. An increase in disposable income available for EU households to invest, and at ...
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/ Press Releases, Capital Markets (equity & bonds), FinTech, Securities Markets & Trading

Recent “Unofficial” Reports Paid for by Investment Industry Players Push Misleading Findings and Conclusions in Defence of Kickbacks

BETTER FINANCE finds that commission-based distribution models (kickbacks) cost individual investors up to 15% of their investments in sales commissions and generate conflicts of interest which severely hurt their performance. ...
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/ Press Releases, Capital Markets (equity & bonds), FinTech, Packaged Investment Products

BETTER FINANCE Evidence Paper on the Detrimental Effects of Inducements

BETTER FINANCE screened available evidence (literature, surveys, experiments, and statistical data) comparing the impact of allowing the receipt of “inducements” by distributors or brokers of “retail” investment services and products, ...
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/ Research papers, Capital Markets (equity & bonds), FinTech, Packaged Investment Products