MenuThe Financial Planning Association (FPA)’s Ask an Expert Week kicks off today, giving Australians the opportunity to have all their financial questions answered for free by a qualified financial planner and in turn, helping to make 2014 the year of getting their finances in order.
The national event is a week-long initiative (3 – 9 Feb) held by the FPA to improve access to financial advice for all Australians.
According to Mark Rantall, CEO of the FPA, the timing for Ask an Expert Week couldn’t be better with many Australians looking to implement their new year’s resolutions to shore up their finances in 2014.
However, many of these consumers don’t know where to look for extra guidance in making their resolution stick or just need that extra bit of expert advice to ensure they keep their resolve and stay on track with their goals.
“Only one in three Australians (34%) say they know where to find a financial planner that they can trust, according to our research1. This number is even smaller among low-income households, who often stand to benefit the most from financial planning advice,” said Mr Rantall.
“We understand that it can be tricky to know where and what to look for when seeking help with something as important as your financial future. That is why we set up Ask an Expert Week – to provide a bridge between consumers and financial planners who are professionally certified and bound by a Code of Professional Conduct.”
Mr Rantall went on to outline the free resources on offer in Ask an Expert Week:
- The ‘Ask an Expert’ forum gives Australians the opportunity to ask their financial questions, no matter how simple or complex, in their own words, and have them answered by an expert financial planner for free. ‘Ask an Expert’ is an online forum on the FPA website, (www.fpa.com.au/askanexpert).
- Questions can also be posed via Twitter to @FAAA_Au, and are already being accepted.
- A blog containing useful tips and advice from expert financial planners (www.fpa.com.au/blog)
- ‘Find-A-Planner’ (www.fpa.com.au/findaplanner) is a directory of reputable financial planners by area, which is available via the FPA website all year long.
Mr Rantall concluded, “One hesitation that we often hear about from consumers is that they don’t feel that financial planning can help them or that they can’t afford it. But whether you are a young professional just starting to earn income or approaching your retirement years, quality financial advice can help you set and achieve your life goals. Ask an Expert Week gives Australians the chance to try out financial advice for free and without the need to commit to a longer-term relationship with a planner, from sources they know they can trust. We hope this initiative will encourage more Australians to seek out a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional to truly make their New Year’s resolution stick.”
1 Galaxy Research for the Financial Planning Association, September 2013
