I have some bad news for the Chancellor. The financial services sector, one of the great hopes of the government in terms of jobs and economic revival, is shrinking.

Financial Planning Week, the CISI’s annual consumer-focused campaign to promote the benefits of professional financial advice, kicks off on Monday.

For my last column of 2023, rather than give you my eagerly-awaited insights into the latest developments in the Financial Planning profession and financial services, I thought it would be useful to look at other worthwhile things that Financial Planners do when they are not providing financial advice.

Perhaps not surprisingly the Association of British Insurers has concluded, after carrying out an advice experiment, that personalised guidance really can work.