You’re invited to join paraplanners from all over the country at the Paraplanners’ Assembly’s Big Day Out 2025.
We’ll be gathering on Thursday 9 October 2025 at FarmED in rolling Cotswold countryside – the last time the Big Day Out will be held at the venue.
What’s it all about?
The Big Day Out is unlike any other event in the world of wealth management.
No presentations. No muzak. No boiled sweets. No exhibition areas. No product pitches.
Exclusively for paraplanners, it’s a gathering that offers a combination of tailor-made interactive sessions involving hand-picked experts (and designed especially for the event), group discussions facilitated by paraplanner hosts, and six hours’ worth of CPD.
Together we’ll explore topics affecting paraplanners and the practice of paraplanning – with case study-led technical sessions, the chance to gain insight and exchange ideas on the trends affecting the future of work, plus plenty of chance to make new paraplanning connections, and share tools and tips to perfect your day-to-day work.
The Big Day Out is a supportive and encouraging space in which you can listen and learn, and share ideas, knowledge and insights however suits you. It’s a unique environment in which you can really focus and flourish – both professionally and personally.
What’s on the agenda?
Once you’ve booked your spot, you’ll be invited to influence the content of the day, so the fine details won’t be locked down until about four weeks before the event. However, here’s the expected running order for The Big Day Out 2025.
09:00: Breakfast and gathering
Arrive. Check in with our registration team. Then help yourself to a delicious hot breakfast bun (or buns), and coffee and tea. Take the chance to say ‘hello’ to people you know. Take a deep breath and muster the courage to introduce yourself to people you don’t know. Weather-willing, take a wander around the RIBA award-winning site (it really is a lovely location). See if you can spot The Big Day Out chicken.
1000: Welcome and Morning Assembly
Join us in the conference barn for a warm welcome from your Big Day Out hosts, Aleks Sasin and Chris Wormwell. For the first hour, we’ll be all together for a thought-provoking Morning Assembly that will set the scene for the rest of the day.
1100: Case study pick-n-mix: No 1
Ahead of the Big Day Out, you’ll be invited to pick two case study sessions (from a choice of four). Each Case Study Pick-n-Mix session will last an hour. This is the first session.
1200: Case study pick-n-mix: No 2
This is the second session. (And, yes, IHT changes will feature as a pick-n-mix topic.)
1300: Lunch and drop-ins
Locally sourced and freshly prepared, we guarantee that this will be a *chef’s kiss* of a lunch for you to tuck into. Bon appetit!
As a side, feel free to drop into one (or both) of two practical half-hour sessions we’ll be running that will help you pep up your paraplanning.
1400: All together now
This session – designed especially for the Big Day Out 2025 – will tackle the trending topics affecting the future for paraplanners and paraplanning. Yes, it’ll address the adoption and application of artificial intelligence (AI) that is happening now, but it’s also a fantastic chance to consider how technology, regulation and trends in advice services will influence the way we work with our colleagues and clients in future.
1515: Break
There may be ice cream.
1545: All Together Now Too
We’ll conclude our conversations and conclusions from the previous session and draw the 2025 Big Day Out to a close.
1700: Cheerio and close
Questions and answers
Jump to
- Where can I stay?
- What if I have to be careful about what I eat?
- How accessible is FarmED for people who use wheelchairs or have other needs?
- I’m not a paraplanner or administrator. Can I take part?
- What is FarmED?
- Will there be photography at the event?
Where can I stay?
Chipping Norton (10 mins drive to FarmED): the nearest town to FarmED and there are a number of hotels and pubs with rooms in the town centre: Premier Inn; Kings Arms; Crown & Cushion and The Fox.
The rates at the Premier Inn are remarkably expensive, we’re afraid. The combination of the annual Fair in Chipping Norton plus the proximity of Soho Farmhouse, Daylesford Farm and Diddly Squat perhaps inflating prices. The rates at the Kings Arms, Crown & Cushions and The Fox do seem reasonable compared to previous years at the moment.
Shipton-under-Wychwood (5 mins drive to FarmED): the nearest village to FarmED and there are some really good options there which appear reasonably priced for September: The Crown, Wychwood Inn and Lamb Inn.
Long Compton (20 mins drive to FarmED): The Red Lion is a popular country pub with rooms. Long Compton is on the main road from Oxford to Shipston-on-Stour. It’s a little bit north of Chipping Norton but you can reach FarmED without having to drive via Chipping Norton. Speaking of Shipston-on-Stour…
Shipston-on-Stour (30 mins drive to FarmED): There are a number of places to stay in the centre of this market town including The George Townhouse, The Lazy Pug, The White Bear and The Bower House Restaurant and Rooms
Banbury (30 min drive to FarmED): Don’t rule out Banbury too. It’s just a 30 minute drive from Banbury Cross to FarmED with a Premier Inn in the centre of town and one on the outskirts by the M40. However, the newly refurbished Whateley Hall, which is just a stone’s throw from Banbury Cross itself, is offering good rates too at the moment. The operator of the Big Night In BBQ coach is based in Banbury so, if you decide to book a room in Banbury, let us know, and we can arrange for the coach’s first stop to be in Banbury.
Burford (15 mins drive to FarmED). Burford’s a popular tourist spot so the hotels do tend to be very pricey. But it’s an option and there’s a Travelodge too so it may be worth a look.
Airbnb: we haven’t researched Airbnb but, because it’s a popular tourist destination, there may well be B&Bs available for overnight stays within an easy drive of
What if I need to be careful about what I eat?
You can let us know if there are any foods you’d like to avoid for the Big Day Out and the Big Night In as part of the checkout process. (By the way, because it’s a working farm, FarmED’s kitchen uses organic produce grown in its own fields so you’re in for the FRESHEST ingredients imaginable!)
How accessible is FarmED for people who use wheelchairs or have other needs?
Our event takes place in FarmED’s award-winning buildings. There are no steps in any of the buildings. Wide side doors can be opened to assist wheelchair access. Assistance dogs are welcome in the buildings. There are two disabled car parking spaces next to the entrance of the main building.
I’m not a paraplanner or administrator. Can I take part?
Assemblies are designed by paraplanners for paraplanners and we also welcome administrators, so if you are not one please don’t book a ticket. If you’re still really interested in coming along then get in touch with us at [email protected].
What is FarmED?
FarmED’s mission is to provide learning spaces and events that inspire, educate and connect people to build sustainable farming and food systems that nourish people and regenerate the planet. These really chime with the Assembly’s role in the lives of paraplanners. (Plus it’s a lovely venue.)
Will there be photography at the event?
Yes. We love a good a photo featuring our events so don’t be surprised if you spot a photographer or Assembly host lurking with a camera. If you don’t want to appear in photographs that we publish online, please let us know when you arrive at the event.
The choices clients make during the 5-10 years either side of retirement can decide how comfortable they’ll be once they stop working. In fact, it’s such a distinctive stage in our financial lives that, among a growing number of advice professionals, it’s known as the ‘retirement risk zone’.
The data says – and you’ll know this yourself – that clients tend to become more risk-averse on their approach to retirement. Yet the likelihood of longer lifespans – and the costs associated with it – mean that ‘playing it safe’ could actually prove to be risky.
What’s more, persistent economic uncertainty and instability, not forgetting the FCA’s retirement income review exposing gaps in advice quality, means hatching a plan that helps clients swerve unnecessary risks around retirement has never been more important.
Zone in on the risks in one lunch hour
Join us online at 1pm on 23 July 2025 when Connor Stewart from Standard Life will be joining host, Richard Allum, to explore the features of the retirement risk zone.
Together they’ll consider the risks that can trip clients up – things like the shift from accumulation to decumulation, sequencing returns, and adapting to changing financial priorities in an uncertain world – before considering practical ways to tackle them using approaches such as smoothed funds and guaranteed lifetime income.
Save your spot now.
Take part and you’ll leave with practical ideas to help guide clients through one of the trickiest phases of their financial lives. So how about it? Fancy zoning in on retirement risk? Then save your spot now.
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?
Get the inside track in just one lunch hour
Join us online at 1pm on 6 August as we lift the lid on different paraplanning career paths and workplace structures.
Our host Caroline Stuart of Sparrow Paraplanning will be joined by Julie Bee, 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 .
What we’ll cover:
- 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
What you’ll take away
You’ll leave this session with a clearer picture of your paraplanning options, practical insights from experienced practitioners, and the confidence to take your next career step.
Plus, there’ll be plenty of opportunity to ask questions and get advice tailored to your specific situation.
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?.
What knowledge, experience and skills will help you get hired? And, once you are hired, how will you know you’ve actually made the right choice?
Whether you want to get into paraplanning, are just starting out, or know someone who would love to get their break, this online Assembly – recorded on 9 July 2025 – is jam-packed with insights on making your move into paraplanning.
Hear for yourself how our guests took their unique paths into paraplanning
Host Caroline Stuart is joined by paraplanning guests Chris Wormwell, Ceetal Katechia and Kez Condy, plus personal development expert Sarah Purves of Aegon.
Over the course of one podcast, you’ll discover how each of our paraplanners took very different routes into the profession.
One is a former barista who swapped one daily grind for another kind altogether. Then there’s the university marketer who yearned to change career. Finally, there’s the ex-administrator who set their heart on changing lanes into paraplanning.
Among the topics covered are
- The multiple pathways into paraplanning (because there’s never a ‘right’ route is there?)
- Tried and tested strategies for overcoming obstacles when starting out (or just started)
- Building a career plan that works for you
- Creating your support network
- Tackling imposter syndrome head-on
- Vital conversations to have with current or potential employers
Let’s be honest, how many of us can claim that we had our careers sussed out from day one? So don’t miss this fantastic chance to listen, learn and take your first step into paraplanning.
Don’t forget your CPD
Once you’ve listened to this Assembly, you can request a certificate for 1½ hours CPD. Just follow the link below.
Thank you Aegon
This online Assembly would not be possible without the generous support of Aegon. Thank you to the team at Aegon for supporting next week’s Assembly – and for backing the development of paraplanners and paraplanning in the UK through their support of the Paraplanners’ Assembly.
Now don’t take this the wrong way, but is there a chance that last time you put together recommendations or financial plans for a woman, the approach was unknowingly influenced by assumptions that generally apply to a man?
As paraplanners, we have the power to directly influence financial outcomes that are better for women – whether we’re reviewing fact finds, drafting recommendations, or creating financial plans.
But are we truly creating plans for the individuals in front of us? Or are we unwittingly relying on conventional thinking and assumptions which are actually more likely to be rooted in men’s experiences rather than women’s?
It matters because, more often than not, women’s financial lives are very different to men’s. So to deliver genuinely effective financial planning, it’s important to understand the differences and how to adapt our approach.
A chance to challenge your thinking
In the recording of this online Assembly, host Sam Tonks invited Sam Secomb of Women’s Wealth and Susan Hope of Scottish Widows to explore how paraplanners can better understand and address the unique financial planning needs of women.
Together, they discussed women’s distinctive financial journeys and the stark disparities that exist – including the startling 30 per cent gender pension gap – and asked how paraplanners can help create better financial outcomes for female clients. During the session Sam, Susan and Sam discuss
– what makes women’s financial experience so different from men’s
– the real-world impact of the ‘parenthood penalty’ on long-term financial planning
– our assumptions about vulnerabilities, risk profiles and investment preferences
– practical strategies paraplanners can implement to better serve female clients
What will you learn from this Assembly?
You’ll gain actionable insights that we’re certain will help you improve your paraplanning approach, challenge conventional thinking and assumptions, and help deliver more tailored financial plans for your female clients.
Plus, you’ll discover practical tools and ideas so you’re equipped to improve financial outcomes for women right away.
Interested? Then tune in now.
Are you an outsourced paraplanner?
Whether you’re the only employee of your paraplanning practice, or you lead a paraplanning powerhouse with employees and a hefty bank of clients, outsourced paraplanners share lots of things in common.
You just do.
But here’s the thing: despite the growing number of outsourced paraplanners in the UK these days, opportunities to get together to talk only about things that matter in the outsourced world, are surprisingly few and far between.
Switch off. Show up. Join in.
So, if you’re an outsourced paraplanner, here’s our invitation: at 1pm on Thursday 19 June 2025, set your notifications to ‘do not disturb’, click on the Zoom link in your event invitation and gather with other outsourced paraplanners across the UK for an hour of conversation, ideas and practical insights.
There’s nothing to prepare. Just come along ready to share your answer to one question:
‘What’s on your mind today?’
Spaces are limited. To save a spot hit ‘Book Event’ and look out for the calendar invitation in your inbox.
Remember our Assembly on annuity essentials back in March?
Over the course of one lunch-hour, Andy Powell from Standard Life walked us through the basics of annuities – how they work, the differences between pension and purchased life annuities, and the kinds of options available like inflation protection and guarantee periods.
Now annuity expert Andy is back and he’s taking things a little bit further.
In the second of his two-part guide to annuities essentials for paraplanners he talks to host, Richard Allum, about how annuities can feature as part of your clients’ retirement income strategies. For instance, among the practical planning tips that go beyond the basics, are things like:
- annuities can actually boost the value of the legacy client’s leave for loved ones
- annuities can be used as an asset class within broader portfolios
- and much more
After years of being out of fashion, annuities have been enjoying a bit of a renaissance lately. So what better time to refresh your annuities knowledge and – who knows? – maybe challenge your thinking about how they can contribute to a client’s retirement strategy these days?
Fancy topping up your annuities knowledge? Then tune in now.
When it comes to the idea of innovation are you more likely to radiate Ted Lasso energy rather than Roy Kent? More Bandit than Bluey? Or put another way (that doesn’t rely on eclectic TV viewing habits): does the prospect of change make you feel more ‘Yeah!’ than ‘Meh!’?
The reason we ask is that we were inspired by paraplanner Zara Okoro’s recent thought-provoking article in Professional Paraplanner all about innovation. So we invited Zara from Abacus Associates, who’s also a PFS Paraplanner Panel member, to share her thoughts on how paraplanners can adapt rather than risk getting left behind.
Alongside Zara, we were joined by PSA Financial Services’ head of paraplanning, Ceetal Katechia, to join in the conversation. Ceetal has bags of practical experience in creating team environments in which new ideas flourish.
Together with host Richard Allum, this Assembly asked what innovation actually looks like, whether it’s always a good thing, what fuels it, and how can you influence it when you’re not the decision-maker?
It’s an Assembly that’s all about how you can embrace innovation and shape our profession rather than be subject to changes happening around you.
What can you expect when you listen?
You’ll come away with practical ideas to try out, whether you’re looking to improve your processes and workflow, make better use of existing tools and tech, or create space for bigger changes in your work.
Most of all, this is a chance to step back from day-to-day demands and take a few moments for yourself to think about how even small changes can shape your role and influence the direction of your career in paraplanning.
How often do you recommend investment bonds compared to ISAs or GIAs for non-pension money these days?
If it’s rarely or not at all, that’s not so surprising.
Because bonds seem to have become a bit neglected planning option in recent years haven’t they?
It’s a trend which means that paraplanners can be forgiven for being a bit rusty when it comes to the latest investment bond knowledge.
Yet they’re an option which offers plenty of planning potential. So we thought it was about time we hosted an online Assembly where you can rekindle your bond with bonds.
So you’re invited to join us online at 1pm on Wednesday 16th April for a lunch-hour refresher on the essentials of investment bonds.
To guide us, we’ll be joined by bond expert, M&G’s Barrie Dawson, who plans to cover:
- What bonds actually are
- Common jargon (that’s often misunderstood)
- How bonds are taxed internally – and why the ‘20% tax rate’ misunderstanding persists
- When bonds make sense: practical comparisons with other investment options
Whether bonds are something you’re just getting to grips with, or you just need a refresher, this Assembly will offer clarity about when and how bonds bonds can feature in your planning recommendations.
Learn, fix, share
It’s an Assembly, so feel free to ask questions and share ideas with other paraplanners in the chat. Oh and CPD certificates will be available for all attendees (just look out for the link at the conclusion of this Assembly).
Book your spot now.
Sound interesting? Then tap ‘Book event’ to save your spot and we’ll see you there!
Are you an outsourced paraplanner?
Whether you’re the only employee of your paraplanning practice, or you lead a paraplanning powerhouse with employees and a hefty bank of clients, outsourced paraplanners share lots of things in common.
You just do.
But here’s the thing: despite the growing number of outsourced paraplanners in the UK these days, opportunities to get together to talk only about things that matter in the outsourced world, are surprisingly few and far between.
Switch off. Show up. Join in.
So, if you’re an outsourced paraplanner, here’s our invitation: at 1pm on Thursday 24 April 2025, set your notifications to ‘do not disturb’, click on the Zoom link in your event invitation and gather with other outsourced paraplanners across the UK for an hour of conversation, ideas and practical insights.
There’s nothing to prepare. Just come along ready to share your answer to one question:
‘What’s on your mind today?’
Spaces are limited. To save a spot hit ‘Book Event’ and look out for the calendar invitation in your inbox.