Certified Financial Planning & other CISI professionals Unite

As the new financial year begins, the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) is encouraging all UK consumers to sign up for free financial planning sessions offered by its CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNING and other qualified professionals during Financial Planning Week, commencing 8^th May 2017. The free, one hour consultations, which are worth up to £500, are being offered by the CFP^TM professionals throughout the UK, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.  Consumers are being encouraged to book a session with a local financial planner via cisi.org/fpweek emailing fpweek@cisi.org or calling 020 7645 0708. With 40 financial planning firms already on board throughout the UK*, the aim is to shine the spotlight on financial planning, which differs to “financial advice” ie “financial planning” helps people to organise their money to achieve specific life goals, whereas “financial advice” focuses more on financial services products. “Financial planning is a relationship-based process, which aims to help everyone, no matter what their age or financial circumstances. It allows those with money to plan their spending and saving wisely, but also those without, to work with a qualified CFP or CISI professional who can support them in reaching their financial goals.  Financial planners do not just work with wealthy individuals,” said Jacqueline Lockie, Deputy Head of Financial Planning at the not-for-profit CISI. The free, one hour money management sessions offer a chance for the UK public to have a one-to-one meeting with a qualified CFP professional, who begin by working with life goals and then helping you plan how to achieve them. Financial planning firms will be offering:

• Free consultation surgeries, either in person, via skype or over the phone
• ‘Ask a Planner’ online sessions
• Talks to schools across the country about the merits of the financial planning profession

Ian Painter APFS FCSI CFP of Affinity Integrated Wealth Management, Kent said: “We are here to support people with the big questions in life eg when can I afford to retire? Most of us don’t take time to think about these or even know where to begin. Issues such as making sure family are ok, that you can afford to do the things you want to and protect what you have.” Duncan Hannay Robertson CFP who runs his firm Hannay Robertson Financial Planning in Cambridge said: “It doesn’t take much to get financially organised. We owe it to ourselves and our families to try to understand our finances. Even if you’ve gone off-track, a financial planner can help take the weight off your shoulders and save you from those money management worries we all experience at varying points in our lives.” Martin Bamford CFP Managing Director at Informed Choice Ltd in Cranleigh, Surrey said: “We are pleased to help support Financial Planning Week again this year. The best way to share the benefits of financial planning is to talk about the work we are doing with clients on a daily basis, changing lives and helping achieve long-held goals. Throughout the week commencing 8^th May we’ll be writing, podcasting and making videos about various aspects of financial planning, which we hope will be shared with a wide audience and encourage readers, listeners and viewers to take positive action.” Joanna Hague, CFP, Chartered MCSI Paraplanner and Chartered Financial Planner of Investment For Life in Doncaster said: “Working on your finances is complex. There are so many different options for what to do with money that many people can feel overwhelmed with the choice, not to mention all the technical details that go along with making decisions. Financial Planning is different. We take a step back and ask our client’s ‘What is it you want to achieve?’ We help you take a path that makes your money work for you, no matter what your objectives are.” *Firms wishing to take part in Financial Planning Week 2017 should contact Cisi.org/fpw.