The FPA will kick off its “Ask an Expert” program on Monday in a bid to encourage the public to get financial advice free of charge and without obligation.
The program, which ends on 1 July, gives members of the public six weeks to get free advice from more than 170 FPA members around the country.
It also opens the door for more people to interact with financial advisers as the industry deals with deep changes expected from Finanancial Services Minister Bill Shorten’s Future of Financial Advice reforms.
“Ask an Expert is a safe, easy way for ordinary Australians to put their toe in the water of expert advice, without obligation, so they can see for themselves exactly the kind of scope, breadth and depth of expertise our members can offer them,” FPA chief executive Mark Rantall said.
“Whether it’s about their super, dealing with debt, investing in property or saving for the future, our experts can help out. It’s a great opportunity to demonstrate exactly what we do and how important financial advice is for everyone – not just those with dollars to spare.”
Ask an Expert is in its fourth year. It is part of Financial Planning Week, which starts on Monday.
Rantall said FPA members recently approved a three-year plan to raise professional standards and increase members’ education requirements. He said the free advice program is critical to that effort.
“Ask an Expert is one way we can demonstrate directly to the community that the FPA is firmly committed to winning the trust of Australians and to working continually toward higher standards,” he said.
“It’s all about educating people about the value of professional financial advice and how important it is to seek it from a qualified and trusted financial source, such as an FPA member.”
