Join us online at 1pm on Wednesday 10 December when Les Cameron from M&G Wealth – always a popular guest – returns to share his thoughts on the Budget delivered just two weeks earlier on 26 November.

So what actually happened when Rachel Reeves delivered Labour’s second Budget?

Whatever emerges from the red box, Les will be on hand to share what he’s learned from dissecting the Budget detail – offering his thoughts, insights, and answering your questions about what it all means for your work.

But that’s not all…

As well as unpicking the Budget, Les will be sharing some of the common themes that landed in his technical mailbox throughout 2025. Expect to hear about the questions that kept cropping up, the interesting technical puzzles that emerged, and yes – perhaps even a few howlers that made the team pause for thought.

Save your spot now

Whether the Budget turns out to be transformative, a damp squib, or something else entirely, this is your chance to make sense of it all and hear what’s been keeping M&G’s technical team busy throughout the year.

Save your spot and find out what Les learned.

When a client dies, their will isn’t necessarily the final word on how their estate gets distributed. Deeds of variation and disclaimers give beneficiaries a valuable window – two years from death – to reshape inheritances in ways that can reduce tax bills and improve family outcomes – often both.

In the latest episode in our ‘Technically speaking’ series, we invited Steve Sayer from Utmost to join host Richard Allum, to cast his expert gaze on the post-death planning issues that paraplanners need to consider.

During the hour-long session, Steve explains:

• how deeds of variation work;
• the conditions needed for them to be effective for IHT and CGT purposes;
• practical situations where they make sense;
• related settlements;
• ‘reading back’ provisions; and
• CGT planning opportunities that variations can create.

What’s more, the session also explores disclaimers – the simpler but more restrictive alternative to variations. Steve clarifies:

• the ‘all or nothing’ rule;
• when disclaimers work best; and
• how they differ from deeds of variation in practice.

Throughout the episode, Steve offers examples to help illustrate concepts such as periodic charges and ten-year anniversaries.

If you’re working on suitability reports that cover post-death planning options, are supporting a client following a death, or would just like to give your technical knowledge a boost, this is the ideal ‘Technically speaking’ episode for you.

It’s more than a year since speculation ahead of last autumn’s Budget led to a surge of savers raiding their pension pots in a bid to beat rumoured changes to tax-free lump sums. 

But when no changes were announced and people sought to reverse their withdrawals, they discovered that the 30-day cancellation rule didn’t apply. Or did it?

That confusion over conduct of business rules led to calls for HMRC and the FCA to clarify whether or not savers could cancel – and they’ve now responded.

In this episode of the Paraplanners’ Assembly podcast popular Assembly expert, James Jones-Tinsley of Barnett Waddingham explains how cancellations became an issue, what the clarification means for clients, what regulatory issues the statement throws up, and what paraplanners need to know from now on.

As paraplanners, many of us hold memberships with Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI), Personal Finance Society (PFS), or LIBF. We pay our fees, collect our CPD, maybe sit an exam or two. But are we really getting the most from these organisations? And with three professional bodies all operating in this space, how do we know which one best serves our needs? 

We want to know. What do the professional bodies think of and do for paraplanners? 

This Assembly is your chance to ask directly.

Your questions. Their answers. One lunch hour.

Join us online at 1.00 pm on Tuesday 25 November for a conversation that puts your questions front and centre.

We’re bringing together representatives from all three professional bodies – Chris Morris from CISI, Nicola Mellor from the PFS, and Sally Plant from LIBF – to answer the questions that matter to paraplanners.

Host Richard Allum will be asking the questions you’ve told us you want answered, including:

• What specific support does each body offer paraplanners, and what makes them different?
• Why do we have three professional bodies when most professions have one?
• How can paraplanners influence what these organisations do and offer?
• Why can’t we have paraplanner-specific credentials and a chartered paraplanner title?
• What’s the deal with exam structures that feel designed to catch us out rather than test applied knowledge?

And of course, there’ll be plenty of time for you to share your experiences and ask further questions at the Assembly.

What can you expect to take away?

You’ll leave this Assembly with a much clearer understanding of what each professional body offers, which one might be right for you (or whether you need more than one), and how you can get more value from your membership.

Most importantly, you’ll have the chance to hear directly from the people who shape these organisations – and to understand how you can influence the future direction of professional recognition for paraplanners.

Sound like it’s worth an hour of your time? Save your spot now.

If you want to know what’s on the minds of other paraplanners, then this is definitely the Assembly for you.

That’s because Scottish Widows’s Craig Spittal joined host, Richard Allum, and guests Alison Neale of Principle Paraplanning, to exclusively reveal key findings of this year’s Scottish Widows‘ Paraplanner Survey ahead of it’s formal publication in November 2025.

Since recording the results have been published and you’ll find them here.

Original  insights on the big issues

During this recording of a lunch-hour online Assembly, Craig shares findings from a sample of 200 paraplanners who completed the third annual survey of paraplanners. Topics covered include:

• Job satisfaction – Do your paraplanning peers feel supported in their current role? And how eager are they to gain greater recognition and influence, and clarity over possible career paths? How high is confidence in the profession overall – and is it the same for everyone at every age?
• Platforms and due diligence – How many platforms do paraplanners use day to day? And what are the issues that grind paraplanners gears? Tune in to hear Alison, Craig and Richard’s thoughts.
• AI and tech – Is the desire for automation matched by tech adoption in paraplanners firms? Or are things moving far slower than the hype suggests? What – if anything – is holding paraplanners back from AI adoption? And how convinced is the community by the promise of AI? Does the carrot of greater efficiency dilute concerns about accuracy and data security?

What can you expect to take away?

Listen and you’ll hear practical insights, honest reflections, and a clear idea of where paraplanners like you think our profession is heading.

So tuck in to a helping of hot-of-the-press original research and take this chance to reflect on the attitudes and trends that are influencing paraplanning today.

The last time the UK government convened a Pensions Commission it resulted in the equalisation of the State Pension Age between men and women, the launch of auto-enrolment plus the creation of the National Employment Savings Trust – better known as NEST.

So will the recently re-constituted Pensions Commission prove to be as consequential as the last? 

To answer that question, we invited Barnett Waddingham’s self-invested pensions specialist, James Jones-Tinsley, to join host Richard Allum, to share his thoughts on the scope of the Commission and what it could mean for paraplanners and clients. 

In 20 minutes, James explains why it has been necessary to revive the Pensions Commission and what problem it has been asked to address.

As well as considering the big trends driving reform – such as demographic pressures – the conversation covers:

• small pots consolidation
• pension dashboards
• minimum contributions
• solutions to inequalities in retirement outcomes for lower earners, women, carers, and the self-employed

Plus James and Richard discuss how advice professionals can influence the Commission’s work through upcoming consultations. 

All in all, this episode is a fantastic backgrounder for paraplanners who want to stay ahead of changes in pensions and pension policy.

Here’s a question that might hit close to home: when you’re crafting retirement recommendations, are you addressing the three big risks that keep clients awake at night — or are you unknowingly leaving them exposed to sequence of returns risk, longevity risk, and inflation erosion?

As paraplanners, we have the power to transform retirement outcomes by understanding how product innovations can take these critical risks off the table. But are we truly using the full toolkit available to us? Or are we sticking with conventional approaches that might not deliver the stable, reliable income our clients need?

It matters because retirement planning has evolved beyond traditional drawdown strategies. The FCA expects us to distinguish between accumulation and decumulation approaches, and innovative product solutions now exist that can protect clients from running out of money — even if they live to 100.

Expand your knowledge in one hour

This Assembly – originally recorded on 1pm on 15 October 2025 – was the second part of our exploration into the retirement risk zone, focusing specifically on how product innovations can deliver better outcomes for your clients. You’ll find part one here.

In this online Assembly Connor Stewart from Standard Life joined host, Richard Allum, to explore this facet of the retirement risk zone.

Together, they explore what clients truly want from retirement (and what terrifies them), how regulatory expectations are driving change, and most importantly, how you can use cutting-edge product solutions to deliver the security and growth your clients need.

During this Assembly we:

• revisit what clients want from retirement and what keeps them awake at night
• understand how FCA guidance shapes our approach to retirement risk zone planning
• explore how sequence of returns risk, longevity risk, and inflation can be effectively managed
• examine innovative product solutions including smooth funds and guaranteed lifetime income
• work through real case studies that bring these concepts to life
• discover practical strategies for incorporating these innovations into your recommendations

What can you expect to take away?

You’ll leave this Assembly with actionable insights into product innovations that can transform your retirement planning approach. You’ll understand how to match these solutions to specific client needs and circumstances, ensuring you can deliver genuinely tailored retirement strategies.

Most of all, this session will equip you with practical tools and case study examples so you can confidently recommend product innovations that protect clients from the major retirement risks while helping them achieve their long-term goals.

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 Friday 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.

Host Richard Allum is joined by Barnett Waddingham’s James Jones-Tinsley for a bonus episode exploring the government’s announcement of an independent review of the state pension age review and its potential consequences for retirement planning. 

As well as considering the scope of the review, which is being led by Dr Suzy Morrissey, deputy director of the Pensions Policy Institute (PPI), and what it means for the future, Richard and James discuss 

They discuss:

• increases to the state pension age – and why the rise to an SPA of 67 by 2028 is unlikely to be the end of the story
• how the ‘triple lock’ came about – and why its future is uncertain
• why approaches adopted by other governments could offer inspiration to provision of the UK State Pension in future

The review’s call for evidence closes on 24 October 2025. And with its focus on life expectancy and intergenerational equity, this episode is essential listening for paraplanners keen to stay ahead of the debate and its likely effects on retirement advice long into the future.

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 16 October 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.