PANTOMIMES are in full swing, signalling the start of another year and I am going to be positive – oh yes I am – because we have had bad news coming down in torrents for months and we are all soaked.

My clients tell me they are starting to become immune to the constant drizzle and occasional downpour of negativity. So have we reached rock bottom in terms of how we feel? After all, a further drenching isn’t going to make us any wetter, is it?

We need to dry ourselves off as families and individuals, and look forward with optimism, not back with despondency.

Optimism is one of the keys to the door marked “Recovery”.

Those of you who are enjoying personal or business success (and I believe there are still plenty) should be singing in the rain, loudly, and maybe some of us will cheer up a little if we hear your chorus.

However, I fully appreciate that there is increased anxiety about job security, and many people find themselves in positions that they hadn’t anticipated or planned for, but it simply isn’t the case that we are all “hard-pressed consumers” as I heard one commentator state recently. Rather, the situation is that the constant use of evocative words and phrases such as “frightening”, “truly awful”

and “no positives” linked with dramatic music is having a devastating effect on how we feel and, consequently, we have lost our appetite for spending money.

Our wallets have gone on strike. This circle is indeed vicious, as such a dark national mood can only speed up business failure, increase job losses and further plunge us into confusion and despair.

Remember that in media terms, “good news is no news”, so we are unlikely to be collectively uplifted any time soon. Let’s get the curtain up and our own show started instead.

Last year – it’s behind you!

So, what is your long-range financial forecast?

This year, resolve to become more organised in terms of your personal financial planning and, therefore, more in control of your own destiny and future security. Accept that there is no fairy godmother, frogs generally disappoint and you will probably have to drive yourself to the Retirement Ball.

We can all do something to strengthen or enhance our financial positions, even if it is just understanding how our income and our spending matches up so that we can make cutbacks, or start to save if we have spare cash.

The good news: There is a lot of guidance online that you can access to help you with this. Try the budget planner on the Financial Services Authority site at moneymadeclear.fsa. gov.uk Apparently, nearly half of us have no idea how many golden eggs the Government goose will lay for us in terms of a state pension and a further third have only a vague idea, yet very many of us expect most of our retirement income to come from the state pension.

The good news: The length of time required to qualify for a full state pension has been reduced to 30 years for anyone reaching state pension age after April 2010.

Women in particular will benefit from this big change.

Get your personal forecast, either online or by post or telephone. Details can be found at thepensionservice.

gov.uk The need for good quality professional advice is all the greater during turbulent times and this is borne out by recent survey results from the Institute of Financial Planning. The survey found that 83.5 per cent of the certified financial planners questioned reported their clients were sticking with their longerterm strategies rather than lapsing into short-termism.

Those who have an advisor to support them feel more positive.

The good news: You can access a financial planner or advisor who is appropriately qualified to guide you.

They can provide reassurance, will review your financial goals, and might help you to take advantage of the current market weakness by rebalancing and perhaps adding to your investment portfolio. Find professional financial planners at financialplanning.

org.uk/consumers and findanadviser.org and all financial advisors at unbiased.co.uk Do not let your affairs go pumpkin-shaped – take action before the stroke of 12/09.

■ Joss Harwood, FPFS, CFP, is a director of Eldon Financial Planning, a Chartered Firm awarded New Model Advisor of the Year 2008 – North. She can be contacted on 01388-770810 or joss.harwood@eldonfinancial.co.uk