The new and improved website is part of the FPA’s Financial Planning Week (20-26 August) and was launched this week. The initiative aims to encourage, educate and empower Australians to address their financial situation and discover the positive difference that sound financial advice can make.

Independent research released today by Investment Trends [1] shows that:

• A quarter of Australians who intend to seek a new financial adviser say they would use the FPA website to find one
• When consumers were asked: If you were selecting a new adviser today, how would you expect to search for such an adviser?  More would use the FPA website (27%) than do a Google search (24%) or check the ASIC website (16%).

“The research shows that the FPA website and our industry-leading Find-a-Planner directory are highly sought after by consumers,” says Mark Rantall, FPA CEO. 

“It is important for us to invest in the website to refresh it regularly and provide practical tools, useful information and multi-media aids for consumers. 

“With 10,000 members who are equally committed to our consumer advocacy cause, the new website also provides a valuable tool for members to use with their clients.”

The easy-to-navigate site is full of useful insights and speaks in jargon-free language for people looking to gain more understanding about financial planning.  It includes practical tools such as:

• New real-life story video clips to bring the benefits of financial advice to life
• A new ‘Ask an Expert’ online forum for consumers to put their questions to FPA financial planners which is already attracting high levels of interest
• A new consumer guide explaining financial advice in plain English.  Consumers can also order a free brochure to be sent to them
• ‘Find a financial planner near you’ directory that allows consumers to search for an FPA member or FPA Professional Practice in their region
• A plain English guide to the FoFA reforms to explain what the new laws mean to consumers in simple language.

Mr Rantall concluded, “We believe that our plain English guide to the FoFA reforms is the only resource of its type available to consumers.  This is just one example of the effort we have applied to ensure that consumers can be made aware of the progress of the profession and the higher standards of our members, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals.”

The FPA website receives up to 150,000 hits from 35,000 unique visitors each month, including up to 30,000 Find-a-Planner searches.

 [1] Source: Investment Trends August 2012 Advice and Limited Advice Report, surveying over 1,400 Australians

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A former Chair of the FPA and one of the leading lawyers to the financial services industry are in training to cycle 1250km from Bourke to Sydney (7-16 September 2011).  Their target is to raise $100,000 – funds that will give a second chance to some of Australia’s most disadvantaged young people.

Ray Griffin and Peter Bobbin are challenging other financial planners, their colleagues and friends, to join them on the 10-day ride, or a section of it, or to get together a team to compete in the Wheel Classic Prologue on 4 September in Sydney.

“The generosity of corporate sponsors has got our fundraising off to a great start”, said Peter Bobbin, Future2 trustee and Principal, Argyle Lawyers.  “Now we’re looking to the wider financial planning community to do their bit – either by cycling with us, or by sponsoring an individual cyclist or a team.”

All funds raised will go to Future2, the foundation of the Australian financial planning profession, whose grants program has gifted over $150,000 to charities and not for profit bodies working at the grassroots to transform young lives at risk through social exclusion and financial disadvantage.

The inaugural BT Future2 Wheel Classic in 2010 raised $88,000 through a combination of sponsorship, fundraising events and individual donations.

“We’re confident that there’s enough generosity of spirit out there to enable us to reach – and exceed – our target”, said Ray Griffin, a keen amateur cyclist and former Certified Financial Planner professional.

“I was inspired by my father, Jack, who followed the same route in 1955 on the Daily Telegraph-sponsored Bourke to Sydney tour”, Griffin added.  “Much of the road then was rough and untarred;  today the road conditions are very different and we face the added challenge of taking time out of busy lives to do something that’s going to be a force for good.”

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BT Future2 Wheel Classic 2011 – Options for cyclists

Wheel Classic Prologue

Morning of Sunday 4 September. Team- based  individual  time trials – approximately 2 km on a closed Sydney circuit

Bourke to Sydney

Wednesday 7 – Friday 16 September (1250 km)

Orange to Sydney

Monday 12 – Friday 16 September (503 km)

‘Executive Stage’, Orange to Cowra

Monday 12 September (103 km)

Home run’ executive leg

Friday 16 September (25 km +). Five  laps of Centennial Park and on to the finish line in Martin Place, Sydney

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Click to register for the ride, or support a rider

or click for more information about the BT Future2 Wheel Classic 2011

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