Twitter and other social media will be a key focus for this year's IFP Financial Planning Week which starts on Sunday (24 November).
The IFP is planning a 'Tweet Chat' on Friday 29 at 1pm and is urging planners and others to join in to learn more about reaching consumers. The week aims to encourage large numbers of consumers to consider the benefits of planning their finances better.
For the Tweet Chat the IFP will be circulating the broad topics in advance to people to give them time to prepare if they need it. However, anyone can log into Twitter and simply follow the hashtag #FPWUK. Many Tweets are already on this hashtag providing updates on the preparations.
If you are not a Twitter user now is a good time to consider opening an account to join in. Opening an account takes a few minutes and is free. Simple go to the Twitter homepage and choose your account name. Enter the other details required and you are up and running.
You can follow the IFP @ IFP_UK and Financial Planner Online @FPM_Online and many others including news organizations, providers and other planners. Twitter is a great source of news, information and comment and you can just Follow people and companies and see what they are saying or join in the conversation.
Sue Whitbread, IFP communications director, said: "We'll be discussing how best to raise awareness of Financial Planning and help consumers to make better Financial Planning decisions as well as all sorts of other key topics too.
"Who knows, we might even get #FPWUK trending!"
The media launch for the campaign was held last Wednesday at Aviva's offices in London featuring rugby legend Will Greenwood. Full report on Financial Planner Online.
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Lots of Accredited Financial Planning FirmsTM and CFPCM professionals up and down the country will be offering free Financial Planning surgeries during the week and many are running local PR and consumer-focused campaigns.
A selection of tools and guides has been added to the IFP website www.financialplanning.org.uk.
Many IFP members and supporters are also displaying the Financial Planning Week logo and providing tips and blogs which will be distributed next week.
The official launch press release featuring the YouGov consumer survey results will be issued tomorrow under embargo until Sunday 24 November.
Ms Whitbread said: "It would be great if members can issue their own news release based on this to their own contacts to help spread the word – and we'd appreciate their support of the embargo here."
An embargo means details the news release will be sent in advance to members but cannot be released to the public until the date the embargo ends.
• Meanwhile, to help raise awareness of Financial Planning during the week, VouchedFor.co.uk, the consumer ratings site for IFAs, is running a campaign to encourage consumers to request a free of charge financial 'health check' with a local adviser.
The financial health check, a free of charge consultation offered by many advisers prior to taking on a new client, will help to put planners in touch with potential clients and consumers to understand the benefits of advice.