Bucks firm gets Financial Planning Week client boost
A Buckinghamshire-based Financial Planning firm has reported that it has a number of potential new clients lined up as a result of its first Financial Planning Week surgeries.
Jane Smith Financial Planning in Olney, Buckinghamshire, ran free surgeries for the public on 24 and 25 November as part of the IFP campaign.
The firm's director Nicola Watts CFPCM said: "This has been our first year offering free Financial Planning surgeries to help promote Financial Planning Week, and we have been very pleased with the interest from potential new clients.
"We have had a total of eight new enquiries to date, and although we haven't been able to see all the clients during the week, we have a number of initial appointments lined up.
"There has been a wide variety of concerns for the clients, from how best to secure an income in light of recent pension changes, to how best to invest for children's education and concerns regarding inheritance tax."
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Dozens of firms took part in the campaign week by holding free surgeries across the country.
Ms Watts said: "I believe that the work the IFP has done in terms of raising awareness regarding Financial Planning is starting to have some effect.
"A number of the people we have spoken with like the idea of having a goals-driven financial plan in place.
"In fact one gentleman asked what would be the next stage would be – he hadn't at this stage understood that I was also an IFA and would be able to help them in implementing the plan.
"Others probably still need some training – one was very much a transactional enquiry. There's still work to be done, but hopefully we're heading in the right direction."
She would like to see even more done by Financial Planners on a regular basis. She said: "It's great that the IFP does all of this work, focusing people's attention on this for one week in the year. However, I feel that there is lots more that can be done by us all throughout the year.
"Personally I'm looking at a regular slot on local radio in 2015, but I'd really like the opportunity to work with the mainstream press. The impact our planning and advice can have can be life changing and I'd love to be telling some of these stories so that others can see the benefits. Let's get the message out there."
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