VICTORIA Mutual Building Society (VMBS) recently hosted its first in a series of personalised financial workshops under the theme “Paving the Road to Financial Empowerment: Small Steps. Life Changing Results” at the St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Santa Cruz.

The aim of the workshop was to create personalised solutions for individuals during these uncertain financial times. All members of the public were invited to the session free of charge and those who attended were met by financial advisors of the Victoria Mutual Group and introduced to the principles of planning, preparing and preservation and the importance of personal financial planning.

Keynote speaker, VMBS financial services specialist Lawrence Fraser, highlighted the significance of the financial planning process and strategies one should take towards developing and fulfilling personal financial goals. The presentation focused on real-life situations pertaining to family budgets and living within one’s means, and included budgeting and managing monthly expenses. The session outlined the importance of setting goals, creating multiple sources of income, debt management, risk mitigation and planning with a financial advisor.

According to VMBS vice-president, group marketing & corporate affairs Vivienne Bayley-Hay, “These Personalized Financial Workshops are designed to create awareness and improve the financial habits and decisions of each attendee. Given the country’s current socio-economic climate, an initiative such as this is more than needed. The workshop provides our customers and participants with tools as opposed to a lecture. Our financial experts are able to give individualised advice, which is fundamental, as no two people’s financial circumstances are identical. Our aim is not to sell products, but rather to offer sound financial advice and value to our society.”

The financial workshops will be held islandwide over the upcoming months, with the next scheduled for the St Mary Parish Church on Wednesday, July 14, 2010.