Mark Hutchinson reveals what members can look forward to at the end of this year
As I write this we are kicking-off our final round of regional continuous professional development conferences for 2022 and I’m sure I’m not alone in wondering just where the first three quarters of the year have gone.
Nevertheless, our work is not over and members arguably still have the best of the year to come. As well as regional conferences, we have a great programme for our Accumulation & Investment Roadshows as well as a series of breakfast sessions for mortgage professionals.
Our paraplanning panel remains active and there are some exciting initiatives in train from our Power financial planning practitioner panel, who will all be at the Festival of Financial Planning and keen to share some exciting news.
We have also been delighted to finally invite our graduates to celebrate their achievements at the first face-to-face graduation ceremony for three years.
We could think of no grander venue than London’s Central Hall Westminster and are looking forward to recognising the achievements of hundreds of members along with their guests on 11 November.
Back to the future
Excitement is now building ahead of the twice-postponed return of the Festival of Financial Planning to the Birmingham NEC.
After two Covid-induced false starts, the prospect of feeling that buzz and sense of pride from the planning community fills me with excitement and anticipation.
Whether you are a planner, paraplanner, compliance specialist, mortgage adviser, part of the support team or a business leader, we are certain you’ll be able to find inspiration and have some fun along the way.
Delegates from the original Festival told us that as well as an amazing experience over the two days, they left the event brimming with new ideas, incredible insights as well as the inspiration and confidence to drive change for the better.
In recent weeks we have been working with presenters and exhibitors who have been committed to being part of this unique showcase. Dull and boring it certainly will not be - there will be an array of treats and special surprises in store for delegates.
Don’t forget too that we plan to end day one of the Festival by unveiling our Personal Finance Award winners for 2022/23 – again, in person for the first time in three years. The awards recognise and celebrate outstanding individuals and firms who strive to deliver exceptional consumer outcomes within the financial planning profession. They are an opportunity to showcase high standards and the invaluable work of our profession in supporting consumers with financial reliance and independence.
During the final quarter of 2021 the CII Group conducted its Shaping the future together consultation. Its purpose was to give members and other stakeholders an opportunity to share their views on key areas as we look towards the future. In July, we shared an update which details how we are future-proofing learning and ensuring membership is at the heart of all we do. The feedback we received via the consultation has been very helpful and provided us with valuable input and insight around the needs of our members and their expectations of their professional body. We used the feedback to prioritise activities with clear support from our members and to inform our medium-term strategic planning.
During the consultation, we heard that members want a professional body that caters to the unique requirements of the financial planning profession. PFS members want an organisation that champions how the profession delivers truly holistic advice by achieving demanding qualifications and developing an ethos that puts clients, not products, at the heart of what they do.
As we go to press the Personal Society Board is looking forward to introducing members to interim PFS chief executive, Don Macintyre, as part of its annual general meeting. Don will be supporting the Board in delivering on the Society’s strategic priorities with the executive team implementing dedicated business plans, as well as concluding the search for a permanent leader for the Society.
We will be thanking Sarah Lord for her hard work and dedication as a board member director and president and welcoming Caroline Stuart as our first paraplanner president of the Society.
Our professional community is so generous I would urge members to make the effort to be part of it. As the nights start drawing in can be hard to motivate yourself on a dark and frosty morning to make often long journeys to participate; but we all know that feeling once we’ve made the most of opportunities to network with our peers, get up to speed with the professions latest thinking and share good practice for the benefit of our clients.
Mark Hutchinson is membership director at the PFS
