The Finanacial Planning Association (FPA) has called on the industry to get behind Financial Planning Week and drive home the importance of professional advice.
Kicking off today, a series of staged events encourages consumers to take up free financial planning discussions with experts via Twitter or the FPA website.
Issues being debated include hot topics from last year’s forum such as debt, savings, superannuation and investments and life insurance.
FPA CEO Mark Rantall said Financial Planning Week was a crucial part of FPA’s efforts to spruik financial advice.
“The FPA community wholeheartedly believes that the lives of Australians, regardless of their financial position, can be improved by trusted financial advice from a planner with high standards and professional qualifications,” Rantall said.
It follows research showing 61 per cent of Australians did not receive financial advice and 87 per cent were unaware of the Future of Financial Advice (FOFA) reforms.
“What is particularly disappointing is that the percentage of Australians receiving financial advice has not increased over the past few years,” Rantall said.
“It is precisely these kinds of issues that the FPA community is hoping to address through initiatives like Financial Planning Week.”
