IFA promotes financial advice through community website

Hampshire-based Encompass Financial Management plans to promote financial advice through a local not-for-profit community website it is setting up.

Encompass director Michael Osman (pictured) will use his blog on the website to discuss financial issues highlighted in the news and stimulate interest in financial planning in the 40,000-strong community in The New Forest.

The community forum website, SO45, already has sponsorship from 10 local companies, including local accountancy and solicitor firms. All proceeds from the website will go to local charities.

Osman said he wanted to counter clients’ tendency to focus on the negative aspects of financial news. ‘I thought it would be good to have someone who works in the industry who can give a more balanced view in layman’s terms, without being patronising, and explain how current and topical financial issues affect the average person’s savings or pension funds,’ he said.

 ‘When the Budget is announced, rather than a 100-point article that some providers might send that is very complicated, we might take two or three key points which might be more relevant and explain the impact.’

Osman said he hoped the website would encourage people to seek financial advice, and that the project could be replicated in other communities.