UK consumers struggling with cost-of-living pressures, mortgage payments and long-term savings worries are being urged to start the New Year with professional financial planning support, as the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) prepares to roll out a nationwide programme of free introductory sessions.
The educational charity and professional body said its annual Financial Planning Week will run from 26 January to 1 February 2026, offering the public an opportunity to speak with qualified financial planners as part of a campaign designed to improve financial understanding and confidence.
Financial Planning Week is led by CISI CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals — described by the organisation as the highest-level financial planning certification in the UK and a globally recognised designation with more than 230,000 CFP professionals worldwide. Those taking part in the campaign and offering complimentary sessions are listed through the CISI’s online directory.
The initiative comes as many households continue to report ongoing “money stresses”, ranging from the pressure of day-to-day living costs to longer-term concerns about retirement funding. CISI said consumers may be worried about making their money stretch, as well as managing mortgage payments, rising rents, credit card balances and personal loans.
The organisation noted that financial challenges often surface at different stages of life, which can make it difficult for individuals to identify the right next steps or priorities. In that context, CISI said, a CISI CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ can provide qualified support to help people structure their finances and plan with greater clarity.
According to CISI, financial planners focus on the bigger picture by helping clients identify goals, aspirations and concerns, before producing a “holistic strategy” built around a formal financial plan — described in the campaign messaging as “live your today and plan your tomorrow”.
The institute drew a distinction between financial planning and financial advice, stating that financial advisers may focus on a single aspect such as money and investments, including helping consumers purchase a financial product suitable for a specific need. Financial planners, it said, look across the whole of a person’s circumstances and use their expertise to create an overarching strategy that can help protect individuals and their families.
CISI also positioned the campaign as part of its broader work on financial inclusion, saying it aims to advance the dissemination of knowledge and learning for public benefit. It added that financial literacy sits at the heart of financial planning, and that UK Financial Planning Week is intended to ensure “everyone has access to a free support session to kick start a money conversation for all”.
Tracy Vegro OBE, chief executive of CISI, said the campaign was designed to highlight the value of professional planning and practical financial education at a time when many households are seeking stability and reassurance.
“CISI Financial Planning Week shines an annual spotlight on the value of professional financial planning, financial literacy and helping UK consumers take control of their finances. This year’s campaign follows the release of the government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy. We were delighted to lend CISI’s support to the Economic Secretary to the Treasury Lucy Rigby launch last year, and the team are developing new free key stage three resources, MoneyBase, that will offer school students practical money skills,” Vegro said.
CISI said participating financial planners across the UK will support the week through a range of activities, including publishing articles and guides, hosting a free one-hour financial planning session, and visiting local schools to discuss financial literacy.
The campaign’s organisers are encouraging members of the public to explore the resources available online and to use the complimentary session as a starting point for a broader review of personal finances, particularly for those feeling overwhelmed by multiple competing financial demands.
People looking to take part can find more information via the CISI Wayfinder website, which lists CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals and CISI Accredited Financial Planning Firms™. The organisation also suggested searching for Financial Planning Week online or following the hashtag #FPWUK on social media to track campaign activity and updates during the week.
With the New Year often seen as a natural point for goal setting, CISI is positioning Financial Planning Week as a practical opportunity for consumers to address what it describes as “finance fatigue” and build stronger money management confidence — supported by a qualified professional and without the cost barrier of an initial consultation.
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