Strengthening fund suitability: Automated data feeds support compliance confidence

Fund suitability has moved beyond a box-ticking exercise. Under MiFID II and the UK Consumer Duty, compliance professionals must now evidence that each investment recommendation is in a client’s best interest and based on timely, relevant and accurate data. These assessments are no longer static; they’re part of a living compliance process that must respond to changes in client circumstances, product features and regulatory expectations.

Despite this shift, many wealth managers and DFMs still rely on outdated fund data and manual tracking to support suitability decisions. This leaves compliance teams vulnerable – spending valuable time reconciling information, chasing missing documents or attempting to align incomplete datasets. The result? Delays, inefficiencies and growing pressure to maintain control in an increasingly data-driven environment.

Why outdated or fragmented fund data puts you at risk

Suitability failures rarely stem from bad intent. They come from weak infrastructure. When fund data is fragmented across systems, reliant on inconsistent updates or manually maintained spreadsheets, even basic assessments become hard to trust. 

Missing or outdated regulatory templates such as EMTs, EPTs or PRIIPs KIDs create gaps that compromise the foundation of suitability reviews. If the data behind a recommendation isn’t current, complete or accurate, then the recommendation itself becomes hard to defend.

Manual workarounds only make matters worse. Cross-checking documents, validating data fields or emailing for updates drains time and introduces the risk of error. And when compliance must demonstrate what data informed a decision and when that data was sourced, the lack of an audit trail can leave firms exposed. These problems don’t just threaten compliance outcomes; they undermine confidence in the entire process.

Suitability demands are increasing – so are the consequences

The bar for demonstrating suitability is rising. Regulators now expect ongoing reviews, not just initial assessments. Firms must reassess suitability when a client’s objectives shift or a product’s characteristics change. That means compliance functions need more a system that keeps pace, not static records.

What’s more, regulators are asking for clearer evidence that suitability decisions are made using appropriate data, sourced responsibly and reviewed regularly. This shift places a new burden on compliance teams: not only must the outcome be suitable, but the process that led there must be robust and traceable.

Firms relying on disjointed systems or ad hoc data collection are struggling to meet these standards. Internal resources are stretched. Operational risks increase. And the cost of a misstep – regulatory, reputational or both – is growing.

Regain control with reliable, automated data infrastructure

This is where strong data infrastructure becomes essential. A well-governed, automated process for receiving up-to-date fund data and regulatory documents allows compliance teams to move from reactive firefighting to proactive oversight.

Rather than manually tracking down the latest EMTs or risk profile changes, firms can receive precisely what they need – configured to their requirements, delivered at the right time and in the right format. Version control, auditability and confidence in data provenance become built in, not bolted on.

Only when the right data is delivered consistently and securely can compliance processes scale with the demands of suitability. And only then can firms free their teams from low-value administrative tasks, allowing them to focus on higher-order governance and risk management.

Why FE fundinfo’s Data Feeds are built for this

FE fundinfo’s Data Feeds provide exactly this kind of infrastructure. They deliver current, validated and regulatory-ready fund data – including EMTs, EPTs, PRIIPs KIDs and other compliance-critical documents – directly into your systems, with full control over what is received and when.

Feeds can be configured to include only the fields you need, cutting through noise while supporting your firm’s specific suitability criteria. Secure, scheduled delivery replaces manual collection, while detailed audit trails offer transparency for internal and regulatory review.

By automating data delivery through a platform designed for precision, scale and regulatory reliability, compliance teams gain more than efficiency. They gain assurance that the data behind their suitability processes is complete, current and defensible.

Compliance that’s credible, consistent and scalable

Suitability assessments will always rely on professional judgement. But without the right data at the right time, even the best judgement can fall short. By investing in automated, high-quality data infrastructure, compliance teams reduce the risk of gaps, delays or errors and increase their ability to act with confidence.

With FE fundinfo’s Data Feeds, firms can stop spending time chasing updates and start focusing on what matters: delivering fair, compliant outcomes backed by evidence that stands up to scrutiny.

Learn how FE fundinfo’s Data Feeds can help your compliance team stay ahead of suitability requirements – without the operational strain.