From Empirerelations.com

Financials

IFA Call to Action
By MARKET WIRE
Aug 18, 2008 - 9:36:01 AM

LONDON, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 08/18/08 -- Long-term savings for children hasdropped out of the top 10 drivers to visit an IFA according tounbiased.co.uk, a trend that needs to be addressed warns leadingChild Trust Fund (CTF) provider, The Children's Mutual(http://www.thechildrensmutual.co.uk).

David White, Chief Executive of The Children's Mutual, said: "Asconsumers become increasingly concerned with the shorter-termfinancial implications of the credit crunch we are urging IFAs toencourage consumers to take a holistic approach towards theirfinancial planning so they may be better placed to afford to meettheir long term goals.

"Currently, one in two (48%) adults expects to finance theirchild's first home, while more than 2.4 million adults areexpecting to take a pensions break in the next 12 months due toeconomic unrest. It is up to us as an industry, including IFAs totake the initiative and ensure that their clients are not justpostponing potential financial challenges, but planning for them.

To put this into perspective, when today's CTF generation turns 18 in 2020, it will cost approximatelyPounds Sterling 63,000 to fund a youngster through a three yearuniversity degree course and Pounds Sterling 27,300 to cover thedeposit on a first home. This is a considerable financialliability for parents and illustrates the necessity for advisersto work with clients to plan thoroughly.

The Children'sMutual is calling on more IFAs to include CTF commitments aspart of their standard fact find questionnaire to clients. Thiscommitment by advisers will enable the CTF to go some way toredressing the balance that has been tipped in recent years by aproliferation of cheap credit and a lack of savings.

Mr White said: "We would urge IFAs to consider the provision forCTFs when speaking to their clients about their outgoings andfinancial commitments. Starting and maintaining CTF payments isvitally important and a small financial commitment by parents nowcan reduce the need for a much bigger one in the future. Many oftoday's young adults currently find themselves in financialhardship over a lack of saving and an over availability of cheapcredit - we are keen that future generations enter adulthood withan asset in order to avoid the same problems."

According to The Children's Mutual, as the number of CTF eligiblechildren increases the implications for advisers will continue togrow - more parents will need a better understanding of thebenefits of long-term saving for their children and more attentionwill need to be paid to the provision required to fulfil thosesaving commitment.

Media contact:

David White, Chief Executive of The Children's Mutual, isavailable for comment. Please call Elspeth Rothwell on 020 77812366.