Do your New Year's Resolutions last or are you a serial resolver?

8 March 2006

Do your New Year's Resolutions last or are you a serial resolver?

· Over a quarter of a million adults (281,406) in East Anglia will make a New Year’s resolution for 2006

· Over half (53%) make the same resolution every year

· Nearly half (46%) 3.2 million Britons aim to tackle their finances in 2006, but budgeting and advice is central to making best intentions last, says IFA Promotion

Over a quarter of a million people in East Anglia say they will embark upon 2006 with a New Year’s resolution. However, half of these people (53%) are making exactly the same pledge year in, year out reveals annual research* from IFA Promotion, the organisation promoting the benefits of independent financial advice.

Amongst next year’s top resolutions are personal finances with about a quarter (27%) intending to resolve their financial situation. However, on the whole, the research shows that overall next year’s most popular resolutions look set to mirror those of previous years:

· One in four (24%) of those making resolutions want to give up smoking

· Losing weight and eating more healthily is a resolution for 11%

· One in ten (11%) would prefer to enjoy themselves more – more than plan to reduce their drinking– perhaps we are not ready to leave our binge drinking ways behind us?

· Nearly a fifth (17%) will have lost their resolve by the end of January if this year’s ‘perseverance levels’ are echoed in 2006

Next year’s financial goals:

· Nearly a quarter (24%) of those making resolutions plan to combat Christmas spending sprees by getting out of the red in the New Year

· 13% want to sort out their pension and a 18% want to invest more money in 2006

· Budgeting and saving looks to be ‘de rigueur’ for 2006 as 79% and 38% respectively want to embrace these financial habits

Karen Barrett, Marketing Director of IFA Promotion commented, “It is encouraging that people in East Anglia intend to focus on their finances as part of their good intentions for the New Year, but what we really want to see is everyone sticking to their guns. In 2005 it became clear that more and more responsibility will be placed on the individual to ensure their financial situation is well organised, both for now and for the future. It’s important that people set realistic targets for 2006 achievements and by sharing your financial goals with an IFA you have a far greater chance of success that lasts for the whole year and beyond.”

Call 0800 085 3250 or visit www.unbiased.co.uk/getsaving for IFA Promotion’s Join the Saving Revolution guide, looking at why we need to save, how you can budget to save more and options for where to put any extra money. You can also obtain details of local IFAs to talk through the most suitable savings options for you.

-ends-

*Research conducted by BMRB interviewing 1000 adults aged 16+ in October 2005

For further information please contact:

Karen Barrett Chloe Merriman/Holly Godden

Marketing Director Lansons Communications

IFA Promotion 020 7294 3681 / 020 7294 3674

020 7833 3131

For expert comment or case studies from over 200 media-friendly IFAs, journalists should call IFA Promotion’s Media Services hotline on 020 7294 3682 or search online in ‘Media Services’ at www.unbiased.co.uk

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 around 9,000 firms of independent financial advisers across the UK and is sponsored by 32 leading financial institutions. In the past 12 months, over 530,000 consumers and businesses used IFA Promotion to find local independent financial advice.

IFA Promotion 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

Aberdeen Asset Management	National Savings & Investments
Abbey	NatWest Business Banking
AXA Life	New Star Investment Funds
Bright Grey	Norwich Union Life
BUPA Health Services	Old Mutual Asset Managers (UK)
Canada Life Ltd	Prudential
The Children’s Mutual	Scottish Equitable Plc
Clerical Medical Investment	Scottish Life
Friends Provident	Scottish Life International
GE Life	Scottish Widows Plc
GMAC Residential Funding	Skandia UK Group
INVESCO Fund Managers Ltd	Southern Pacific Mortgage Limited
Legal & General	Standard Life Assurance Company
London Mortgage Company	Unum Provident
Lincoln Financial Group	Webline Limited
Mortgage Express	Zurich Intermediary Group

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Do your New Year's Resolutions last or are you a serial resolver?

8 March 2006

Do your New Year's Resolutions last or are you a serial resolver?

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