Advertising of investment products
Many financial companies advertise directly to consumers with investment opportunities, for example, KiwiSaver, managed funds, debt securities such as term deposits or bonds, share offers or other investments products. You might have spotted these on TV, on social media or in the newspaper.
Firms must ensure advertisements for financial products are not misleading, deceptive or confusing. Many different aspects can contribute to an advertisement being misleading, deceptive, or confusing including specific claims or statements, the presentation and format and imagery used, important information being buried in fine print, or what an advertisement does not say.
Even an advertisement that is factually correct may not meet the required standards if it creates an overall impression that is misleading, deceptive or confusing.
This applies to all types of advertising: websites, TV, radio, social media, emails, newspapers, magazines, billboards, buses, presentations and seminars, and even sponsored content from influencers and celebrities.