Welcome to Created, the newsletter whose only investment advice is to invest in great stories. Here’s what we got today:
- Why UK financial regulators arrested three influencers
- Meet The Grand Tour’s new hosts
- Outlier of the week
UK Authorities Arrest 3 Influencers — And 50 More Get Warnings
Last week, three influencers were arrested by the UK’s top financial regulator.
Their crime? Promoting high-risk investments on IG without a license.
It’s the first time the UK’s top financial regulators have gone after creators this hard.
And they’ve made it clear: more arrests are coming.
What Happened
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is launching a global crackdown on “finfluencers” — creators who promote financial products without proper authorization.
Here’s what that looked like last week:
- 3 arrests
- 650 takedown requests for social posts
- 50+ influencers formally warned
The FCA says many of these creators were promoting high-risk trading schemes that “retail investors typically lose money on 80% of the time.”
The three influencers who were arrested were promoting foreign exchange trading (FX) — essentially betting on the value of a foreign currency like the Euro, Dollar, Yen, etc.
And the biggest red flag? Most of these posts were disguised as lifestyle content. Fancy cars. Beach vacations. Promises of overnight wealth.
But behind the glam…was illegal financial advice.
Why It Matters
Unlike skincare or kitchen gadgets, promoting a financial product crosses into legally risky territory fast.
One wrong line — especially about crypto, stocks, or trading algorithms — and you’re not just an influencer. You’re an unlicensed investment adviser.
That’s why the FCA has now joined forces with regulators in Canada, Australia, Italy, and the UAE to coordinate enforcement across borders.
The US Isn’t Far Behind
The US hasn’t made arrests like the UK (yet). But regulators are watching:
- The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) are cracking down on creators who promote securities without registration or proper disclosures.
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires clear disclosure of all paid financial promotions
- YouTube’s biggest finance influencers, like Kevin Paffrath, have already faced lawsuits for promoting failed platforms like FTX.
And those are just the ones who got caught.
Right now, US enforcement is reactive — not proactive. But that might change.
Our Take
Finance content is blowing up on TikTok and YouTube. But so are the consequences.
For years, “finfluencers” have walked a fine line — offering stock tips, crypto picks, and “wealth hacks” while dodging the rules that licensed advisers follow.
But regulators are catching up. And the fines aren’t small. In the UK, creators are getting arrested. In the US, lawsuits are piling up.
So if you’re a creator, remember: recommending a new moisturizer is not the same as recommending a high-risk investment.
One is a brand deal. The other could be a felony.
The Grand Tour's New Hosts Are YouTubers
When The Grand Tour aired its final episode last year, it felt like the end of an era.
Between Top Gear and its successor The Grand Tour, hosts Clarkson, Hammond, and May have been on screens for 20+ years.
But now, Amazon is handing the keys to three new faces — and they’re all creators.
It’s not official yet, but multiple outlets report the announcement is coming soon.
And if true, it marks a major shift: From BBC-trained broadcasters to creators who built their followings online.
Who Are They?
Thomas Holland and James Engelsman run Throttle House, a car-focused YouTube channel with 3.3M subscribers.
They review supercars, push daily drivers to their limits, and shoot cinematic track sequences that rival anything on TV.
Then there’s Francis Bourgeois, a self-described “trainspotter and mechanical engineer” who went viral for his infectious train enthusiasm and headcam videos.
He’s racked up 2.5M IG followers, 145K subscribers, written a book, and worked with Gucci and Channel 4 (a major UK network).
Why This Could Actually Work
- Holland + Engelsman already have on-screen chemistry
- Francis brings a totally new energy and a massive Gen Z audience
- All three are digital-first creators, not legacy TV hosts
Our Take
This is a big bet. But a smart one.
Rather than try to replicate Clarkson and co., Amazon is betting on creators who grew up watching Top Gear…and then built their own brands in its shadow.
It’s not just a new cast. It’s a new era.
And if it works? It could be the blueprint for how every legacy franchise stays relevant:
Don’t just reboot. Hand the mic to people who already know how to use it.
🎯 Weekly Roundup: Thumbnails
Here’s why we love these YT thumbnails. Hopefully, they inspire your next one.
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- “It’s genius” text + close-up on a basic chair makes you want to know what you’ve missed (Phil Edwards)
- The absurdity of cooking steak with lightning is so wild you can’t help but click (Max Fosh)
- Profit/loss signs + confused hot dog vendor instantly highlight the broken business model (Morning Brew)
- Tortoise vs hare race, but real. You’ve gotta click (Dude Perfect)
🚀 Weekly Outlier
This video by Lilly’s Tech Tips has 498K views, which is 20 times higher than the channel’s average. Here’s why it took off:
- Looks Like Vox, Not Canva: Cinematic music, vintage textures, and smooth transitions make it feel like a documentary, not a tutorial.
- Shockingly High Effort: People expect a basic walkthrough and get a beautifully crafted, film-like experience.
- Tutorial as Storytelling: It teaches Canva, but feels like a story — making it not just helpful, but shareable.
💰 Job Board
- Chelsea and Nick are looking for a thumbnail designer
- Zhong is looking for a video editor
- The Cooking Foodie is looking for a YouTube scriptwriter
🏆 The Created Referral Program
Know someone who’d also love this newsletter? Refer them and get gifts.
Refer 1 friend: you’ll get my Infinite Ideas book. It’s my 8 best tips to find viral ideas for your next upload.
Refer 5 friends: you’ll get my Top 50 Thumbnails book. It includes a detailed breakdown of why they work so you improve your packaging.
Trust me, these books are packed with more tips than most paid courses.
Copy this unique link and email, text, or post it: [RH_REFLINK GOES HERE]
👋 See You Inside
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– Jon
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