THE UK’s NATIONAL STRATEGY ON FINANCIAL CAPABILITY NOVEMBER 2007

Shaun Mundy ([email protected]) Former Head of Financial Capability Department, Financial Services Authority, UK

FSA statutory objectives

• Secure an appropriate degree of protection for consumers • Promote public understanding of the financial system Key Aims of Strategy: • Consumers who individually - are financially capable - are able to take responsibility for their own actions Consumers who, as a group, can influence the market Steering Group: senior representatives from broad range of partners

National Financial Capability Survey

• • • Rigorous large-scale study in 2005, to set a baseline against which can measure progress • Over 5,300 in-depth interviews • Representative of the UK population • Covering people’s understanding, attitudes and behaviour Will repeat every 4 to 5 years In March 2006, FSA published results of survey together with action plan to improve current levels of financial capability

Main themes emerging from the survey

People are increasingly being asked to make provision for their future ............ but many are not equipped to do so Many people are failing to plan ahead adequately for retirement or an unexpected drop in income Unless action is taken, the UK population will store up problems for the future Only a small proportion of people have debt problems. But, given the failure to plan ahead, many more could be tipped into over-indebtedness People do not take adequate steps to choose products that meet their needs The under-40s are less capable, on average, than their elders Many people could be tipped into financial difficulties by a small change in their circumstances Many people are not shopping around for good deals and are taking on risks of which they are unaware The greatest demands are placed on those least equipped to deal with them (particularly the under-40s)

Improving Financial Capability will significantly benefit individuals

Individuals experience greater financial well-being

Understanding financial issues Making the right financial choices Managing money more effectively Planning ahead better Reviewing and setting spending patterns which are in line with income Taking on the right kind of debt when appropriate and having plans to get out of debt Setting appropriate aspirations for the future and saving accordingly Identifying risks and choosing which to take and which to protect against Seeking advice when required Getting help when required Turning to the right places for advice

There are clear benefits for the Savings/Protection Industry

Consumers have more discretionary spending money Consumers buy more savings and protection products that suit their needs Consumers understand the benefits of savings and protection Consumers are more likely to seek high quality advice

The savings/protection industry will benefit from improved financial capability

Consumers buy fewer inappropriate savings and protection products Consumers are better able to judge what is good advice Distribution costs are lower Consumers are more likely to identify for themselves when they should buy a product Consumer - facing staff can spend less time on educating customers about products etc

And there are clear benefits for the lending industry

Consumers understand when and what type of debt to take on Consumers take on more appropriate levels of debt Consumers proactively approach lenders rather than waiting to be sold to

The lending industry will experience greater profitability from improved financial capability

Consumers avoid taking on too much debt Consumers are more likely to pay back their debt Consumers budget for repayment Consumers seek advice before their debts become unmanageable

The FSA’s programme of action is being delivered

Schools Workplace Online Tools Young Adults New parents Consumer Communications Money Advice

Two approaches

Direct to consumers

•

Money Made Clear

•

On-line tools

– consumer website – – Financial Healthcheck Debt Test – Comparative Tables – Calculators • •

Make the Most of Your Money Parent’s Guide to Money

workplace seminars - aimed at new parents and distributed through health service

Supporting intermediaries

• •

Schools –

teachers

Colleges and universities –

• • student support services

Young adults who are not in education, employment or training –

voluntary and community workers

Support Groups

– e.g. those who support offenders, people living in social housing, cancer patients, the elderly

There are ambitious targets:

The FSA intends to reach more than 10 million people over 5 years 1.8m children in 4,000 of the 6,000 schools in England Around 2 million young students in higher education Around 1 million young people not in training, education or employment 4m employees in the workplace 1.5m new and prospective parents 4m annual visits to the FSA website

Schools: Learning Money Matters

• • • • FSA has worked with the Government to raise profile and status of personal finance education in the school curriculum in each of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Financial education will be included in a new Economic Wellbeing and Financial Education programme of study, from September 2008.

Teachers need to be capable and confident in teaching about money matters. In England, the FSA is funding the Personal Finance Education Group (pfeg) to provide a one-stop shop of materials and consultancy support. Since launching this in September 2006, pfeg have delivered, or arranged to deliver, support to c20% secondary schools Comparable picture in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Helping Young Adults Make Sense of Money

Three strands:

• Higher Education (ie universities): in 2006/07, 20 universities helped develop the pastoral support toolkit (Money Doctors), successfully piloted at Roehampton University in 2005/06. This will be proactively rolled out to further 30 universities in 2007/08 and made available to all UK universities.

• Financial Education: FSA will work with 10 Further Education colleges in 2007/08 academic year to adapt the Money Doctors toolkit and to embed personal finance as a context for learning.

• Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET): over the next three years, FSA aims to secure training of 20,000 intermediaries who work with NEET Young Adults

Workplace: Make the Most of Your Money

• The Model: - All staff receive financial education and are invited to attend seminars • • - Trained presenters visit workplace to deliver one hour seminars, open to all staff - All of this is provided free of charge – A CD-Rom has been developed for employees (e.g. in dispersed workforces or with small employers) for whom seminars are not practicable Over 80% of seminar attendees say they will be doing something about their finances. Of those telephoned 3 months later, over 60% had turned intention into action Partners include main employers organisation (CBI), main trade union body (TUC), Chartered Institute of Personal and Development, Business in the Community

Parent’s Guide to Money

 For new and prospective parents.

 Comprehensive and accessible information in one place, budget calculators, signposts to other information and where to get help, etc  In recent pilot, 68% took ‘hard’ action (e.g. opened a savings account, wrote a will or reduced debts) and 85% of those credited the guide with a role in doing so  Larger trial in 3 Primary Care Trusts from Autumn 2007.

 The Royal College of Midwives fully supports the strategy of distributing the guide via midwives.

• • • • • • New consumer website

- moneymadeclear –

launched in December 2006

www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk

impartial information from the FSA, the UK’s financial watchdog – no selling, no jargon, just the facts Plain Language Society has awarded Moneymadeclear its first gold standard for a website FSA is developing a Young Adults website Online survey: 85% found content useful and 70% are more likely to make an informed decision New suite of publications available by end of September 2007. Piloting distribution via banks, building societies, credit unions and Citizens Advice Bureaux Aim to double traffic to FSA website from 2 to 4 million over next 3 years

Online Tools

• • • • Financial Healthcheck (launched June 2005) and Debt Test (launched January 2006) – over 2 million users Over 1 million visits annually to the comparative tables 600,000 visits annually to various calculators (loan, mortgage, budget and pension) Syndicating tools and information via a wide range of channels (taking materials to the traffic)

Delivering Money Advice via Support Groups (Innovation Fund and Development)

• The Model FSA provides seedcorn funding for groups to develop tailored programmes for their clients FSA works with these groups, and with national umbrella groups, on sustainability and replicability Client groups (many of whom are vulnerable or excluded) supported in this way include: Ex-offenders Single parents Disabled Domestic violence victims Older People People with Autism Carers Cancer patients

Thoresen Review of Generic Advice

• The Treasury commissioned Otto Thoresen (CEO of Aegon plc) to lead a feasibility study – not whether, but how.

• • Public/private partnership?

Devolved model, making use of existing providers?

The seven projects are designed to promote financial inclusion

Project

• Learning Money Matters – Schools • Make the Most of Your Money – the Workplace • • All children will be reached and this should help to prevent children from all backgrounds becoming financially excluded in later life Targeting large employers will capture many low paid employees • Young Adults

Contribution to financial inclusion

• • Broaden participation in higher education and further education and enhance completion rates NEET project: many are likely to be financially excluded • Financial Healthcheck and the Debt Test • Already available to all. Broadening distribution further, including via groups who help the more vulnerable • Parent’s Guide to Money • MoneyMadeClear • Money Advice • To be available to all • Considered needs of financially excluded in developing website.

• Looking to work with various agencies, including those whose focus is on more vulnerable groups

The Government’s long-term approach document, published 15 January 2007

• • • • “The Government’s approach will complement, and be coordinated with, the FSA’s National Strategy” “The FSA has developed a leading edge programme” Gap in the market for affordable generic financial advice. “A more preventative approach is needed, and the Government considers that a national approach to the provision of generic advice is required” “Raising consumers’ financial capability .......... will have lasting benefits to individuals, the financial services industry and the wider UK economy”

Concluding thoughts

• Lack of financial capability a huge issue for society and individuals • FSA’s programme to improve financial capability is in place and is being rapidly scaled up • • • • You can make a real difference – but it will take time Working through trusted intermediaries is key Keep it simple and engaging Win/win - government/citizens - financial service industry/consumers - teachers/pupils - universities/students - employers/employees