Stop wondering if you’re doing the right things to grow your business: A power-up for outsourced paraplanners

Here’s a question that might keep you awake at night: how do you know whether what you’re doing to promote your outsourced paraplanning business is actually working? Or perhaps more fundamentally – where on earth do you even start?

If you’re nodding along, you’re definitely not alone. Whether you’re a new business needing to generate leads and build awareness, or you’ve been established for a while but want to grow and increase enquiries, the challenge is the same: cutting through the noise and actually getting noticed.

The good news? You don’t need an MBA in marketing or a hefty advertising budget to make meaningful progress. Just book your ticket to join us and your fellow paraplanners at this business power-up, Marketing that actually works (for outsourced paraplanners).

A full day focused entirely on practical marketing for outsourced paraplanners

Join us at Aegon’s London offices on Thursday 14 November for a day designed specifically for outsourced paraplanners who want to take control of their marketing – without the jargon, without the overwhelm, and definitely without walking away with more questions than answers.

We’ve partnered with New Tradition, marketing and brand experts who specialise in making the complex simple, to deliver a hands-on workshop that cuts straight to what actually matters for your business.Plus, we’re delighted that Dr Tom Mathar from Aegon will be joining us to share his insights on achieving better success from referrals – because we all know that word-of-mouth remains a powerful tools in your arsenal.

What makes this day different?

This isn’t about theory or abstract concepts. You’ll spend the day building your own marketing plan using practical tools that you can take away and continue using long after the event ends.

We’ll focus on four fundamental areas that every successful outsourced paraplanning business needs to get right:

• Who you’re trying to reach – getting crystal clear on your target audience
• What you’re offering – defining your proposition in ways that actually resonate
• How you stand out – finding your point of differentiation and what you stand for
• Getting noticed – practical strategies for building relationships and visibility

Who should attend?

This day is designed for outsourced paraplanners at any stage of their business journey:

• New businesses who need to generate leads and build awareness from scratch
• Established practices looking to grow their client base and increase enquiries
• Anyone who’s ever wondered whether they’re focusing their marketing efforts in the right areas

What will you take away?

By the end of the day, you’ll have:

• Your own marketing blueprint – a practical plan specific to your business that you can implement immediately
• Reusable frameworks and tools – so you can continue refining your approach
• Confidence that you’re doing the right things – no more second-guessing your marketing efforts
• Actionable strategies for referrals – thanks to Dr Tom’s expertise
• Fresh perspectives and ideas – from working alongside other outsourced paraplanners
• New connections – with people who understand your challenges and can offer ongoing support
• A completed workbook – everything you need to keep moving forward

Most importantly, you’ll leave with the reassurance that comes from having a clear plan and the tools to execute it.

Agenda

Morning session

• Welcome and introductions
• Setting the foundation: understanding your current position
• Workshop 1: Defining your target audience
• Workshop 2: Clarifying your proposition

Afternoon session

• Workshop 3: Identifying your differentiation
• Workshop 4: Getting noticed and building relationships
• Dr Tom Mather (Aegon): Achieving better success from referrals
• Pulling it all together: your marketing blueprint
• Action planning and next steps

Ready to take control of your marketing?

If you’re tired of wondering whether you’re doing the right things to promote your business, and you want to walk away with a clear plan and the tools to implement it, this day is for you.

Places are limited to ensure everyone gets the individual attention they need to build their own marketing plan.

Book your place now.

Whether you’re just starting out in paraplanning or looking to make your next move, having a clear career plan makes all the difference. But how do you actually build one that works?

In the fourth episode of our career series, we’re focusing on something practical: creating a strategy for your next career step that you can actually use, whatever stage you’re at.

Your career roadmap in just one lunch hour

Join us online at 1pm on 1 October as we help you map out your next move with clarity and confidence.

Caroline Stuart, owner and founder of Sparrow Paraplanning, will guide this conversation with four brilliant guests: Ellie Welling paraplanning team leader at Succession Wealth, Joe Jacob, paraplanner at FLP, Peter Spence, advice and paraplanning team leader at Fintuity, and Sarah Purves, learning and development expert at Aegon.

Together, they’ll take you through a practical framework for career planning that goes beyond wishful thinking to create actionable next steps.

What can you expect when you listen?

During this lunch-hour Assembly we’ll:

• Explore your career aspirations and help you define what type of role you actually want
• Identify the constraints and opportunities that will shape your path (including your non-negotiables)
• Create objectives that move you forward, making sure they are SMART  (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound)
• Build out your personal career action plan
• Learn from the panel’s experiences

What will you take away?

You’ll leave with a practical framework you can use immediately to plan your next career step, plus real-world insights from paraplanners who’ve successfully navigated their own career transitions at different stages.

Most importantly, you’ll have a clear action plan rather than just good intentions.

Thanks to Aegon

This Assembly would not be possible without the generous support of Aegon. Thank you to the team at Aegon for supporting and for backing the development of paraplanners and paraplanning in the UK through their support of the Paraplanners’ Assembly.

Catch up on the series

This builds on our previous career episodes:

• Breaking into paraplanning: ‘Where do I even start?’
• Breaking into paraplanning: ‘Who should I work for?’
• Developing as a paraplanner: ‘Where could I go from here?’

Ready to turn career planning into career action? Save your spot now.

You’ve established yourself as a paraplanner, but now you’re thinking: ‘What next?’

For many paraplanners, staying in paraplanning is exactly what they want to do. But what does career development look like within the profession? How have people built on their paraplanning skills and experience? And what about those considering a move into other areas like financial planning or specialising in research or operations?

This Assembly, recorded on 3 September explored some of the career routes within and from paraplanning.

Our host Caroline Stuart, owner and founder of Sparrow Paraplanning, is joined by Ellie Bailey, paraplanning team leader at Succession Wealth, Farida Hassanali, client manager at Paradigm Norton, Rebecca Tuck, operations director at FLP Financial Life Planning and Sian Greenhill, operations executive and centralised investment and product committee at Brooks Financial – all sharing their perspectives on career progression and specialisation.

Over the course of the Assembly, they discuss:

• Some of the career development options for paraplanners
• The practical steps our panel took to progress in their careers
• Lessons learnt along the way
• Tips for planning your next career move

You’ll leave this Assembly with your head full of good ideas for potential career development and a bucket load of insights from people who’ve successfully made these transitions and you can claim one hour’s CPD.

Catch up on previous Assemblies in this series

This continues our series on paraplanning career development. Don’t miss our previous sessions exploring how to break into paraplanning and choosing the right place to work for your early paraplanning career.

Thanks to Aegon

This Assembly would not be possible without the generous support of Aegon. Thank you to the team at Aegon for supporting and for backing the development of paraplanners and paraplanning in the UK through their support of the Paraplanners’ Assembly.

Whether you’re considering a move into paraplanning, just landed your first role or are just curious about the options, one question you might keep wondering about: ‘What kind of organisation should I work for?’

Do you choose in-house team or outsourced provider? A small boutique practice or large corporate? Whichever you choose, there will be pros and cons, so how do you decide which is most suitable for you?

This Assembly – recorded on 6 August 2025 – lifts the lid on different paraplanning career paths and workplace structures. It’s the second in a series of Assemblies looking at careers in paraplanning and supported by Aegon.

Our host Caroline Stuart of Sparrow Paraplanning is joined by Julie South, owner of Bee Paraplanning, Sarah Lees, senior paraplanner at Forvis Mazars and Jo Parkes, paraplanning manager at Navigatus – paraplanners with experience of working in all kinds of organisations and are ready to share what it’s meant for their careers.

Over the course of the Assembly, they discuss:

• The different paraplanning structures out there – and what they’re really like to work in
• How to get your foot in the door – and what to look for in potential employers
• What support and development you can expect from types of organisations
• Practical tips for adapting and thriving wherever you land

You’ll leave with a clearer picture of your paraplanning options, practical insights from experienced practitioners, and the confidence to take your next career step.

Don’t forget your CPD

Once you’ve listened to this Assembly, you can request a certificate for 1 hours CPD. Just follow the link below.

Don’t miss the first Assembly in this series

This is the second Assembly in a series on breaking into and developing your career in paraplanning. Discover the first in the series Breaking into paraplanning: where do I even start?.

Thanks to Aegon

This Assembly would not be possible without the generous support of Aegon. Thank you to the team at Aegon for supporting and for backing the development of paraplanners and paraplanning in the UK through their support of the Paraplanners’ Assembly.

Thank you for joining us on 15 November to take your outsourcing game to the next level.

Thanks to the generous support of Assembly supporter, Aegon UK, we were able to team up with coach and consultant Rachael Hurdman to create a workshop where paraplanners could gather to exchange practical insights, knowledge and experience.

We hope you agree it turned out to be a day out of the office that made a real difference to you and your future in outsourcing.

To mark Independence Day in the United States, we thought we’d treat you to a bonus episode: a bite-sized Assembly that’s all about investing for US expats living in the UK.

Because despite being citizens of the ‘land of the free’, once they leave the USA’s shores, expat savers and investors often face complex challenges to stay on the right side of the US equivalent of HMRC: the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

So what do paraplanners in the UK need to know to support US expat clients? Who better to ask for expert knowledge and insight than a specialist in investing for US expats: Canaccord Genuity’s Laurence Leigh.

In this bite-sized Assembly, Laurence explores:

• The unique tax challenges facing US citizens abroad – including worldwide taxation and annual IRS returns
• Investment limitations and potential pitfalls, such as the risks of UK ISAs and non-US listed funds
• Solutions for compliant investing – including US-recognised structures and expert portfolio management

In just ten minutes, Laurence covers the dos and don’ts of advising US expats, the limitations of UK platforms, and the severe penalties for non-compliance.

It’s an episode packed with practical advice that will give you confidence in ensuring US expat clients can invest effectively and stay compliant on both sides of the Atlantic.

Brian Radbone, Technical Counsel at Transact, joins Richard to unpack the post-lifetime allowance (LTA) world and its consequences for paraplanners.

In a bite-sized Assembly lasting less than eight minutes, Brian explores transition certificates, new lump sum allowances, and why timing is everything when it comes to crystallising benefits. Plus he discusses the importance of understanding provider restrictions.

If you’re in the market for a post-LTA primer but are pushed for time, this Assembly is ideal.

Canaccord Genuity’s chief investment officer, Tom Becket, joins Richard Allum for a primer on fixed interest investments that is ideal for paraplanners wherever you are in your career.

During a 20-minute conversation, Tom explains the basics of bonds and gilts, how interest rates affect their values, and how the recent spikes in interest rates have affected returns and revived annuities – putting an end to years of fixed interest investments’ appearing to be ‘uninvestable’.

The likelihood of lower inflation combined with potential interest rate cuts is positive for fixed interest markets.

But Tom is keen to stress that all bonds aren’t created equal and he offers his thoughts on where – depending on the risk appetite of your clients – opportunities might lie across a spectrum of fixed interest investments, from government debt to high-yield credit.

For paraplanners looking to get a handle on this significant but possibly misunderstood asset class, this bite-sized Assembly offers valuable insights to help navigate the fixed interest landscape.

In a special bite-sized Assembly, Transact’s Stuart Fleat explains how model portfolio services offered by discretionary investment managers are able to accessed on platforms like Transact.

In less than six minutes, Stuart explains how platforms and MPS providers are able to handle access to client accounts and data securely and confidentially, how portfolio rebalancing works in practice, practical considerations around capital gains tax, and how clients are invested into the model portfolios.

This was the third in our three-part series of It’s all kicking off in the world of retirement income planning Assemblies exploring the new practicalities of retirement income planning – a series made possible with the support of our friends at Just.

In the first Assembly, we looked back at the events that changed the world of retirement income and what the consequences of this change means for paraplanners, advisers and clients.

In our second, we considered the practicalities of researching, creating and executing a plan for clients.

In the third and final part of the series, we explored three case studies – each allowing us to consider the suitability of different strategies to meet the ambitions for retirement income of each client. To help, we were joined by Karl Steadman from Just.

Naturally, we also considered how the Consumer Duty affects the choices available too. 

CPD and resources

Scroll down to see links to resources mentioned during the event plus a video replay and podcast episode link.

You’ll also see that we’ve published a link to a CPD survey. Once you complete the survey, a CPD record of your attendance will be emailed to you automatically.

Catch up with parts one and two

If you missed the first two Assemblies in the series, pop over to the Why is it all kicking off in the world of retirement income planning? (Part 1) and Getting real: the new practicalities of retirement income planning (Part 2) where you’ll find a video replay and podcast episode link plus links mentioned during the event.