14 MILLION BRITS WILL SEE IN THE NEW YEAR WITH A RESOLUTION

        7 million people make the same resolution ever year

        Find out what the celebrities are pledging Photos available

More than 14 million UK adults will embark upon 2003 with a New Year’s Resolution, but a quarter will have lost their resolve within a week, reveals new research* from IFA Promotion, the organisation promoting the benefits of independent financial advice.

Despite 2 million fewer people making a resolution this year than last, overall people’s good intentions look set to mirror those of previous years, with the most popular resolutions for 2003 being:

         Giving up smoking (29%)

         Losing weight (13%)  

         Exercising more (11%). 

When asked if their resolutions were likely to have something to do with their financial situation, 6 million (42%) agreed they would.

Although many of us plan to start off 2003 with the best intentions, a quarter (2.7 million) of us will have fallen by the wayside within one week, with almost a half (5.1 million) of us not lasting the month, if last year’s ‘perseverance levels’ are anything to go by.

Even the rich and famous are planning to embark on 2003 with a set of New Year’s resolutions, for example making more time to see friends and family, stopping the yo-yo dieting, and making the most of their hard earned cash celebrity resolutions below.

David Elms, Chief Executive of IFA Promotion commented, “Everyone starts off the year with good intentions - the key is not to simply recycle a failed resolution time and time again, but to work out why it failed, and how you can succeed in the future.”

He continued, “Focusing on sorting out your finances seems to be a key objective for many, including celebrities, and the New Year is an ideal time to knock them into shape. By sharing some financial goals with an IFA, you may just be able to make this New Year’s Resolution stick.”

- ends -

For further information please contact:

David Elms                                               Richard Winder  / Liz Willder

Chief Executive                                        Lansons Communications

IFA Promotion                                          0207 490 8828

0207 833 3131

1.  Independent Financial Adviser Promotion

IFA Promotion was established in 1989 to promote the value and accessibility of independent financial advice to the public.  It represents over 10,000 firms of independent financial advisers across the UK and is sponsored by 28 leading financial institutions. In 2002, over 300,000 consumers and businesses used IFA Promotion to find local independent financial advice.

IFA Promotion’s believes Independent financial advice should be:

        Affordable.  The option to take independent financial advice should be available, by right, to all - not just the wealthiest in society.

        Convenient.  IFAs should be available in the location of the consumer’s choice, wherever they live in the UK.

        Transparent.  It must be clearly transparent to consumers who is able to offer independent financial advice and who is not.

2.      Independent Financial Adviser Promotion’s sponsors

AMP NPI

Old Mutual Asset Managers

AXA

Prudential

Barclays Global Investors Funds

Scottish Equitable Plc

Bright Grey

Scottish Life

BUPA

Scottish Mutual Assurance Plc

Canada Life

Scottish Provident

Clerical Medical Investment Group

Scottish Widows Plc

Eagle Star

Selestia

Friends Provident

Standard Life Assurance Company

GE Life

Swiss Life (UK) Plc

INVESCO Fund Managers Ltd

Skandia UK Group

Legal & General

Tunbridge Wells Equitable Friendly Society

National Savings & Investments

Winterthur Life UK Ltd

Norwich Union Life

Zurich Life Assurance Company

 

Celebrity New Year Resolutions IFA Promotion 2003

Uri Geller

Personal and Financial

My key financial aim in 2003 is to learn more about ethical investment.

Ethical earnings are one thing, but ethical investment is quite another. I never did like to play at accountants, and my manager deals with all day-to-day financial matters, so it has been easy to ignore what my money gets up to when I am not spending it. Maybe it is all invested in eco-friendly companies and tax-deductible charity projects, but if it is I can't claim any of the credit.

Nell McAndrew

Personal

I have a passion (or a weakness) for eating Tiramisu.  Not good!!!

Financial

I have to start saving more money and stop buying so many shoes, especially Gina.  I am realistic and know that in the business of modelling you don’t know how long you are going to be making good money so I must plan for my future. 

Darren Day

Personal

In 2003 I intend to be far more organised than I have been in the past, and indeed, to date. 

Financial

Recent years have seen a complete lack of interest in my financial affairs on my behalf;  but I've now discovered that there's an exciting world of financial opportunity out there and am so grateful that my advisors have been working hard in the background for me whilst I was displaying a shameful lack of interest!!

I am also determined that in 2003 I will 'hang on' to all receipts - a plea from my accountant on a regular basis!! 

Claire Sweeney

Personal 

Instead of yo-yo dieting I am going to try and be more balanced in my eating and not be excessive

Financial

 Next year I am going to learn to treat myself a bit more! I've been very sensible up to now, investing my money properly, but I am going to have more fun next year!"

Tony Blackburn       

Personal resolution

 To make sure I have enough money left in the kitty to ensure Victoria (my young daughter) has a good education.

Financial resolution

Continue to make every pound a prisoner! 

Christine Hamilton

Personal

I resolve never to have a dull moment in 2003 if it is legal, honest and faintly decent I am up for it so I plan an ever-changing mlange of stage, screen, airwaves and print - so roll on, roll up and roll over!!!

Financial

Thanks to the Egyptian grocer, my husband is bankrupt so I intend to earn as much as I possibly can so Neil can continue luxuriating as his status as a kept man.

Jo Guest

Personal

When I go out I will make sure I do not have chipped nail vanish.

Financial

 When I go out I'm leaving my credit cards at home

* Research conducted by BMRB, interviewing 1002 adults aged 15+ in November 2003.

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