With the IFP campaign to raise consumer awareness about the profession under way, Steve Gazzard has stressed why Financial Planners have such an important role to play.
Mr Gazzard said everyone can improve the way they organise their finances.
A lot is heard about rising debt and people's lack of savings and pension provision, but not so much about positive to help people to sort things out for themselves, he said.
He said: "There has never been a more important time to look at your financial future and start planning, but many people don't know where to start.
"This year, consumers have been bombarded with information on products like pensions or ISAs, with news of mis-selling scandals, offered guidance, and threatened by an advice gap. Financial Planning week is about putting people back in control of their finances and their lives, giving them a process, tips and tools, and also providing personal and practical support through free face to face surgeries and online access to the expertise of experienced planning professionals."

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Rebecca Taylor, IFP President, said: "Financial Planning isn't just for the wealthy, it's for everyone. With below inflation wage rises for many years, many Brits are struggling to make ends meet.
"However, that just means it's more important than ever to take control of your finances, and not let them control you. I am very proud that the IFP is yet again leading this positive consumer awareness campaign to help people improve their financial fitness."

Free Financial Planning surgeries are being run by the following firms:

North East:
• Grainger Financial Planning Ltd, Sunderland. For bookings, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• *Jessop Financial Planning, Sheffield. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• LEBC Group, Leeds; for bookings email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• * Mazars Financial Planning Various locations. For details contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Roger W Williams Financial Planning Ltd, Leeds. For bookings email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
North West:
• *Chesterton House Loughborough. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Kellands (Hale) Ltd, Cheshire. For bookings, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• *Mazars Financial Planning Various locations: For details contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• OHFS Limited, Hull and Bradford. For bookings, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Questa Chartered, Blackpool. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• *Smart Financial (Skype or FaceTime consultations only), Altrincham. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Midlands / Central:
• *Adrian Smith & Partners Ltd, Coventry. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Beacon Wealth Management Cambridge. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Common Sense Financial Planning Ltd, Tamworth. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• *Donald Wealth Management, West Midlands. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Expert Wealth Management, Witney. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• *Fiscal Engineers Ltd, Nottingham. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• *Hannay Robertson Financial Planning, Cambridge. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Lehmann Financial Management, Stafford: Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• *Mazars Financial Planning Various locations contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Money Wise IFA Ltd, Cambridge. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• *Wealth Matters, Luton. For bookings email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
South East:
• Adidi Wealth Ltd, London. For bookings, call: 020 7060 0700
• * Bloomsbury True Wealth, London. For bookings email Elaine McErlean at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Cansdales Ltd, Little Chalfont. For bookings, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Clearwater Wealth Management LLP, High Wycombe. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Copthorne Financial Services Ltd, Great Missenden, Bucks. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• * Gem and Co Wimbledon; for bookings contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Jane Smith Financial Planning Ltd, Milton Keynes. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Juno Wealth Management, Sussex. For bookings email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• *KMD Private Wealth Management, Essex: For bookings email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Lubbock Fine Wealth Management llp, London. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• *Mazars Financial Planning. Various locations. For details contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• *Perceptive Planning Ltd. Central London. For bookings email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• True Potential Wealth Management LLP, Southend-on-Sea. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• *UNIQ Family Wealth, London. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
South West:
• Close Brothers Asset Management, Bristol. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• In Partnership Financial Design Ltd, Southampton. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• * Mazars Financial Planning Various locations: For details and bookings contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• * MFP Wealth Management, Christchurch For details and bookings contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Scotland:
• Affluent Financial Planning Ltd, Paisley. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• *Carbon Financial Partners Edinburgh, Perth, Aberdeen
• *Forty Two Financial Planning, Glasgow. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• *Mazars Financial Planning Various locations: For details and bookings contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• John Roddick & Sons, Annan. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Wales:
• D.J Lawrence and Associates, Gwynedd. For bookings email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• *Heron House Financial Management, Newport. For bookings email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• *Penguin, Cardiff. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Future Asset Management LLP, Bridgend. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• *UNIQ Family Wealth, Cardiff. For bookings, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Northern Ireland:
• * Gibson Financial Planning, Coleraine; For bookings email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.