From revision tips from seasoned exam sitters to thoughts on how to study together in groups, a group of paraplanners share best practice on revision and exam preparation.
Learning objectives
In this session we covered…
- Creating your own study plan
- Getting the best from revising in groups
- Common pitfalls in preparation
- Sitting the exam: The dos and the don’ts
- Managing exam nerves
- What to do if you don’t pass?
- Is a remark worth it?
- Should you take it again?
- Looking at options from other examining bodies
John Bunker, consultant with Irwin Mitchell, freelance legal and tax trainer and in the process of writing the The Law Society’s Inheritance Tax Planning Handbook, takes us through some estate planning basics, focussing on the processes and procedures to be aware of.
Learning objectives
In this session we covered…
- Changes to the probate application process
- Major changes to the way applications are made for a grant of probate and the aims of HM Courts & Tribunals
- Service (HMCTS); Limits to applying online
- How much information is needed and recent changes Where applications are processed and the new Probate Registry.
- Estates and trusts: variations within 2 years of death
- Basics on using sections 142 (estates) and 144 (trusts), Inheritance Tax Act (IHTA) 1984.
- An introduction to IHT and CGT
- Potential use of variations for securing spouse exemptions and BPR/APR
- RNRB and planning through variations
- IHT process changes for the Covid-19 crisis
- IHT accounts: new procedures to adapt to the situation
- Payments (and repayments) of IHT electronically
- Help in paying IHT during the crisis
In this session a panel of experienced administration and client support professionals discuss their roles.
Learning objectives
In this session we covered…
- Best part of their role
- Common issues
- Remote working challenges and opportunities
- Tools and tips that have made life easier
- One piece of advice from each panel member that they are following in their own career
- Support available to Administrators and client service roles
Having a robust strategy for vulnerable clients has always been important and in this session we discuss the key points. This was recorded during the pandemic.
Learning objectives
In this session we covered…
- Tools to ensure your approach is robust
- Help on how to evaluate your approach
- Putting in place any follow up measures
Using real life examples, this session focussed on the basic design principles for reports.
Learning objectives
In this session we covered…
- How people read documentation – yep, there is some science to it
- Basic layout principles i.e. fonts, font size, columns, justification, colour, logo placement, front covers and back covers
- Working with data – tables, graphs and charts
- Rules to be aware of for legibility and accessibility
A discussion about the challenges of managing a paraplanning team remotely. This was recorded during the pandemic.
Learning objectives
In this session we covered…
- How to adopt and maintain a positive mindset in order to lead and manage successfully (it’s crucial for you to look after yourself first and foremost) looking at your circle of control and resilience
- How to engage and communicate with your teams
- How you can equip yourself with the tools, skills and confidence to be the best possible leader
- How to capture the positives and key lessons from this experience, which will enhance the way you work as a leader with your team in the future.
Autoenrolment has led to millions of people going into DC pension schemes. But a little birdie called the Financial Conduct Authority, found out in their 2017 Financial Lives Survey, that despite people getting a statement every year, only 52% read theirs and only 23% say they understood it ‘very well’.
To address this, Quietroom were tasked to write and design a new Standard Annual Statement – a statement that would provide people with information they needed presented in a way they could understand.
Why is all this relevant to Paraplanners?
Having spent 18 months collaborating with the DWP, Eversheds, and in consultation with lots of different parties and over that time, Quietroom learnt lots of lessons. Many that are relevant to Paraplanners and our ongoing task to turn the complex into something meaningful to clients in reports.
Learning objectives
In this session we covered…
- Communicating complex concepts in the simplest possible way.
- Making decision on what to leave in and take out of client communications and documentation.
- How to negotiate with other stakeholders (compliance, legal).
In this session we explore the practical implications of PROD for Paraplanners.
Learning objectives
In this session we covered…
- What’s the point of PROD?
- What are the rules, roles and responsibilities?
- Segmentation: What is it, what information do you need, what approaches can you take, what about model portfolios?
- Reporting: What and when? What’s the next thing you can do following this Howwow?
In July 2020, the FCA’s new platform rules came into force and in this session we seek to understand it better.
Learning objectives
In this session we covered…
- An overview of the key themes and trends from 2019
- What the new rules are about/mean and have to think about
- Due diligence top tips
- What to expect in 2020
- A live demo of the platform analyser
- What other bits of kit are out there and what we like/don’t like about them
A second exploration of FE and what paraplanners can do with it.
Learning objectives
In this session we covered…
- FE’s calculators on ex-ante charges and RIY
- Account admin and archiving Bespoke report builder
- Saving a favourite list of indices and to top it all off, charts, charts, and for the fun of it, more charts