Starting a Finance YouTube Channel in the UK (2026 Guide)

Financial literacy in the UK is poor. Surveys consistently show that over 40% of UK adults don't feel confident managing their money, and over 60% couldn't explain the difference between a stocks and shares ISA and a cash ISA. This knowledge gap creates enormous demand for accessible financial education on YouTube.

UK finance YouTube is dominated by a handful of established creators, but there's still significant room for new voices. The niche is broad enough to support hundreds of successful channels, each covering different aspects: investing, property, pensions, tax planning, budgeting, student finance, side hustles, and financial independence.

The earnings potential is exceptional. UK finance channels command CPMs of £10-£20 — the highest on the platform. A channel with just 50,000 monthly views in this niche earns £500-£1,000 from ads alone. Add affiliate income from investment platforms (Trading 212, Freetrade, Nutmeg, Vanguard all have referral programmes) and sponsorships from fintech companies (Monzo, Starling, Revolut), and the total income is substantial even at modest audience sizes.

Faceless finance channels work exceptionally well. Viewers want clear explanations, not personality. Tools like FluxNote let you create professional finance content with AI voiceover, stock footage, and animated charts — no camera needed.

This is the topic most finance YouTubers either ignore or get wrong. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates financial advice in the UK.

The critical distinction: There is a legal difference between financial education and financial advice. You can educate people about how ISAs work, explain different types of investments, and discuss general principles of money management. You cannot tell specific individuals what to do with their money, recommend specific investments as suitable for particular people, or hold yourself out as providing regulated financial advice.

Practical safeguards:
- Always include a disclaimer that your content is educational, not financial advice
- Avoid phrases like 'you should invest in X' — instead say 'some people choose X because...'
- Never guarantee returns or imply investments are risk-free
- Make clear your content is for entertainment and education
- Include disclaimers in your video description and ideally verbally at the start of videos

Affiliate disclosure: When promoting financial products, you must comply with both ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) and FCA financial promotion rules. Clearly disclose any affiliate relationships and ensure promotional content is fair, clear, and not misleading.

Companies to be careful with: Cryptocurrency content, forex trading, and 'get rich quick' investment schemes attract the most FCA scrutiny. If in doubt, consult a compliance professional. Some finance creators pay for periodic legal reviews of their content — at £200-£500, it's cheap insurance against regulatory issues.

The best finance topics for UK YouTube combine high search demand, evergreen relevance, and strong CPMs.

ISAs and tax-efficient investing: Every UK adult gets a £20,000 ISA allowance. Content explaining ISA types, the best ISA platforms, and ISA investment strategies has massive demand and very high CPMs.

Pensions explained: UK pensions are confusing — workplace pensions, SIPPs, the State Pension, pension tax relief. Explainer content performs exceptionally well and attracts premium advertisers.

Property and mortgages: First-time buyer guides, Help to Buy alternatives, buy-to-let analysis, and mortgage comparisons. Extremely high CPMs (£12-£20) because mortgage and property advertisers pay top rates.

Budgeting and saving: Lower CPMs but massive audience. Cost-of-living content, budgeting methods, and savings challenges attract viewers who go on to watch higher-CPM investment content.

UK tax explained: Self Assessment, National Insurance, tax-free allowances, and tax planning. Seasonal spikes around January (Self Assessment deadline) and April (new tax year).

Investment platform reviews: Comparing Trading 212, Freetrade, Vanguard, AJ Bell, and Hargreaves Lansdown. Excellent for affiliate revenue — platform referral programmes pay £5-£50 per signup.

Financial independence (FIRE): The UK FIRE community is growing. Content about achieving financial independence through saving and investing has a dedicated, engaged audience with high commercial value.