The National Association of Professional Financial Planners (NAPFA) is about to launch its Consumer Webinar Series, designed to help Americans become better educated about financial products, the organization said yesterday. NAPFA hopes this will also allow help turn participants discerning users of financial planning advice.

For one year beginning in August, the NAPFA will conduct live monthly sessions online accessible by links on its Web site. NAPFA-registered financial advisors, who have agreed to donate their time to the series, will lead the sessions from their offices. Registration is open now.

The association first announced plans for the series last month, in an open letter from NAPFA National Chair Diahann Lassus that addressed recent accusations of misconduct against former members. “As an industry we have done a poor job of helping consumers increase their financial knowledge,” Lassus said in a statement yesterday. “This program, along with the successes of the Your Money Bus Tour, is NAPFA’s way of doing its part.” Financial planners can use the classes to enhance client relationships by encouraging their clients to participate in the series, said Ellen Turf, chief executive officer of NAPFA.  

Topics for the one-hour sessions will include: “Money 101: Knowing the Basics,” led by John Henry McDonald, and “What is Financial Planning?” led by Timothy Maurer. Participants can also listen to audio replays of the lectures, which will be available for at least three months after the original live session, Turf said.

For more information about the series, contact Mardi Lee at NAPFA: leem@napfa.org.