The first ever World Financial Planning Day is under way today (4 October) with over 170,000 Financial Planners around the world being encourages to join in.

Financial Planning organisations around the world, including the UK’s CISI which has 2,700 members in its Financial Planning Forum, are throwing their weight behind the campaign.

The Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB), the global body for the Certified Financial Planner qualification, is organising the day globally and is encouraging planners to get involved through social media using the hashtags. In the UK the CISI has encouraged members to Tweet using the hashtag #WFD17, write blogs and promote the value of Financial Planning to consumers as widely as they can.

In the UK, Perceptive Financial Planning is launching a new World Citizens Financial Planning service today to mark the inaugural World Financial Planning Day (see separate story). And FH Manning Financial Services in Lincolnshire is offering free Financial Health Checks.

The FPSB is running the campaign as part of the world securities organisation body IOSCO’s World Investor Week (#WIW2017).

IOSCO’s World Investor Week is a global campaign from 2-8 October designed to raise awareness about the importance of investor education and protection and to highlight the investor education and protection initiatives of securities regulators around the world.

FPSB says it has launched World Financial Planning Day as part of its commitment to support consumers in achieving their financial and life goals and to increase consumers’ level of financial literacy and capability.

FPSB says its 2015 global consumer research survey found that:
• Just 22 percent of consumers feel strongly confident that they will achieve their financial goals
• Only 17 percent believe strongly in their financial know-how
• 19 percent feel they are successful at sticking to their financial strategies

On World Financial Planning Day, FPSB says its network of member organisations representing a global community of over 170,000 Certified Financial Planner professionals will promote consumer awareness and understanding of Financial Planning topics including preparing for an unexpected financial emergency; home ownership; building savings; investment planning and preparing for retirement.

The 2,700 members of the CISI Financial Planning Forum are being encouraged to back the campaign by • Sharing articles and blogs: CFP professionals will serve as subject-matter experts on financial topics in various media publications. • Showing their support for the campaign by sharing Financial Planning tips and best practice on social media using the hashtag #WFD17.

Jacqueline Lockie CFP Chartered FCSI, CISI UK deputy head of Financial Planning said: “We are extremely pleased to be supporting this important initiative which aims to highlight for consumers globally the life-enhancing benefits which true Financial Planning can offer.”

• If you are doing anything for World Financial Planning Day today drop a line to our newsdesk: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

#WFD17 Tweets