Financial services firms undertaking a website redesign face a distinct set of considerations beyond typical design and development priorities — regulatory disclosure requirements, heightened security expectations, and audiences that scrutinize credibility signals with particular rigor. A structured checklist approach helps ensure these industry-specific requirements aren’t overlooked amid the broader excitement of a redesign project.

Compliance and disclosure requirements should be addressed early in the planning process, not retrofitted after design decisions have already been made. Financial services firms often have specific regulatory obligations around required disclosures, risk disclaimers, and how certain claims can be presented, and these requirements need to inform content and design decisions from the outset rather than being squeezed in as an afterthought.

Security architecture deserves particular attention in the technical planning phase, given the sensitivity of the information many financial services websites handle — from general firm information through to secure client portals or investor reporting access. Security requirements should be defined clearly before development begins, not addressed reactively after launch.

Credibility and trust signal strategy warrants deliberate planning — how the site presents track record, team expertise, regulatory standing, and third-party validation. Financial services audiences are particularly attuned to evaluating these signals, and a redesign presents a genuine opportunity to present this information more clearly and compellingly than a firm’s existing site likely does.

Technical performance and accessibility considerations round out a thorough checklist, ensuring the redesigned site meets the security, speed, and compliance standards financial services audiences and regulators alike increasingly expect as a baseline rather than a differentiator.

Planning a redesign for your financial services firm? Contact Sixty Five Design — 323-229-9800, hello@sixtyfivedesign.com, /contact-us.