Watchdog launches interactive financial planning on CD Rom

FSA Financial Planning will take you through a simple - but comprehensive - five step financial plan flagging up the things you need to think about including:

• an interactive quiz to establish your personal goals and priorities
  
• a personal budget calculator to help you track your income and spending
  
• guidance on what to consider when choosing products
  
• information on your rights

Deborah Arnott, Head of Consumer Education at the FSA said:

Many of us put off getting on top of our finances because it seems like such a daunting prospect. FSA Financial Planning should help to make it an easier and more appealing task.

It takes you through the basics of financial planning simply and systematically providing you with relevant, easy to understand, independent information to help you make better informed financial decisions.

Free copies of FSA Financial Planning are available from the Consumer Helpline on 0845 606 1234.

Notes for editors

1. FSA Financial Planning is available to the public free from the Consumer Helpline on 0845 606 1234 and will also be distributed to all Citizens Advice Bureaux, libraries and housing associations.

2. For up-to-date, comparative information about ISAs and personal pensions, including stakeholder pensions visit www.fsa.gov.uk/tables/

3. The FSA regulates the financial services industry and has four objectives under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000: maintaining market confidence; promoting public understanding of the financial system; the protection of consumers; and fighting financial crime.

4. The FSA aims to maintain efficient, orderly and clean financial markets and help retail consumers achieve a fair deal.