Megan Webb reveals what members can look forward to this year.
With spring on the horizon, now is an excellent time to look ahead at some of the key activity and initiatives involving members across 2023.
Volunteers from our PFS regions will guarantee you a warm welcome at one of our 75 PFS Local Conferences taking place across the UK this year. Held in three blocks – spring, summer and autumn – each conference will focus on topical updates from subject-matter experts.
During the spring period, expect updates on:
- What the Consumer Duty means for research and due diligence.
- Investment planning in the new tax environment.
- Financial planning essentials for small businesses, and much more. We have also freshened things up with some subtle changes throughout the day, including:
- A friendlier feel, with more of a workshop style (say goodbye to ‘death by PowerPoint’).
- Instant polling, which creates natural talking points, making it easier for you to talk with other delegates.
- Designated times for ‘lunch and learn’ and ‘conversations over coffee’ slots.
- A real sense that this is your community of good practice.
Roadshows that deliver
Alongside our PFS Local Conferences, you are invited to attend any of our 12 Accumulation & Investment Roadshows and six Retirement and Later Life Roadshows. These will explore the latest thinking around each area, while providing practical planning points and actions to support advisers in continuing to deliver better consumer outcomes.
Our in-person events are supplemented by a varied programme of digital events, available to watch live or on demand at a time that suits you. Forthcoming events are always listed in the PFS member newsletter, with the following taking place later in February:
- Adviser pain point: First conversations with clients.
- Goodbye greenwashing, hello greenproving.
- Raising awareness of economic abuse and transforming responses to it.
Power Up
The Financial Planning Practitioner Panel is working hard to shape another year of inspiring financial planning content for the profession on PFS POWER. Head over to www.pfspower.org to check out the latest POWER podcasts, articles and weekly webinars, covering every aspect of financial planning. There’s plenty to catch up on in the on-demand library too.
Elsewhere, our paraplanning community is delivering a series of ‘paraplanner lab’ sessions on the first Wednesday of each month. These one-hour virtual workshops welcome all paraplanners to hear from a variety of experts, participate in open discussions and network with peers. To book, follow the links in your PFP newsletter.
Proud profession
Looking further ahead, the PFS’s annual conference will return on Thursday 2 November 2023 – save the date now. The Festival of Financial Planning 2022 was enthusiastically received by the 2000-plus delegates who attended and highlighted that the desire to network and catch up with old friends at large-scale face-to-face events remains strong.
We are committed to delivering another informative and inspiring event for planners, paraplanners, compliance specialists, mortgage advisers, support teams and business leaders.
It is also important to recognise and celebrate the best our profession has to offer and we will be looking forward to presenting the Personal Finance Awards 2023/2024 later in the year. They are an opportunity to showcase high standards and the invaluable work of our profession in supporting consumers with financial reliance and independence.
Finally, throughout 2023 we are seeking to grow the number of mentees and mentors on Connect – our e-mentoring platform – as well as build the number of active relationships. Whether you are seeking support to develop your career, or have knowledge and experience you can share by giving back, this remains a satisfying way of engaging with other personal finance professionals.
Megan Webb is programme development & partnership manager of the PFS
