New programme in personal finance to be launched

The Association of Investment Companies (AIC), Finance and Leasing association (FLA) and APACS, the UK payments Association have all offered their backing to a new educational programme designed to help consumers make informed financial decisions.

A new ‘ Programme in Personal Financial Planning (PPFP) is to be launched by the ifs School of Finance to ensure that future generations understand how best to use their money, as well as adults lacking those skills too.

Daniel Godfrey, director general with the AIC, said: “The AIC has always argued that financial education should be moved up the political agenda.

“Whilst real and significant progress has been made in the classroom, it is encouraging to see this extended to adult education initiatives.”

The programme arrives as recent research from AIC showed that an estimated 90 per cent of parents did not have any financial education while they were at school.

According to the figures, 65 per cent of those want to receive personal finance training as an adult.

Tags: finance, Personal Financial Planning, Institute of Bankers, personal finance, political agenda, AIC

Finance with a conscience gaining esteem

So-called green financial products are more popular now than ever, according to the Environmental Transport Association (ETA).

It states that there is heightened awareness of environmental ethics and it is now a part of the public consciousness.

As a result an increasing number of companies offer ethically sound products, so it is then up to the consumer to research the available options to separate genuinely green offers from the simple marketing ploys.

A spokesperson for the ETA said: “At the moment it is up to the consumer to check this out but in the future it will be up to the companies to prove that they are truly green as consumers become more knowledgeable.”

He added that, over the past decade being ethically-minded and green has become “fashionable”, so much so that it has climbed up the “political agenda”.

Major corporations are starting to appreciate the value of addressing these types of issues with banking giant Citigroup putting $50 billion (£24.4 billion) towards green projects earlier this year.

Tags: Ethics, political agenda".Major corporations, spain, ETA SA, decade, political agenda, green, available options

Caution advised for first-time buyers looking overseas

As recent studies reveal more and more first-time buyers are looking to make their first steps on the property ladder overseas, it is important they are aware of the possible pitfalls.

A report from UK National Savings & Investments discovered 84 per cent of 18- to 30-year-olds believe buying property abroad is a more feasible option than buying in the UK.

But some industry insiders have been quick to point out that the situation for first-time buyers looking to invest overseas is generally similar to that in the UK.

Helen Adams, managing director of FirstRungNow.com, warned: “People aren’t going to be giving really big mortgages to people who are … renting in the UK.”

She added that “the best thing to do is to find out where you’re interested in buying and then speak to a mortgage specialist in that field”.

The warning comes as the major political parties look to bring the issue facing first-time-buyers to the forefront of the political agenda ahead of a possible election.

The Conservatives pledged recently to remove stamp duty for houses valued between £125,000 and £250,000, which currently stands at one per cent.

Tags: thing, possible election.the conservatives, political agenda, economics, first time buyers, Economy of the Republic of Ireland