The 12th Financial Planning Week will be staged between August 20 and 27 by the Financial Planning Association (FPA).

The initiative will involve 31 FPA chapters across the country and will include national and regional events to raise awareness about financial planning.

Among these will be a free interactive online advisory service known as Ask The Expert, which is designed to give participants an opportunity to experience the benefits of seeking expert advice.

The FPA has also launched a 12-month advertising campaign aiming to “boost the awareness among all Australians of the importance of having a qualified professional manage your finances”, CEO Mark Rantall says.

With the current campaign running since June 1, advertisements have appeared in the two national newspapers, pay TV, financial websites and paid Google searches.