If you’re a paraplanner who lives or works in Bristol, north Somerset, south Gloucestershire, west Wiltshire or just across the bridge in Wales then our Bristol Assembly at 9.30am on Wednesday 12 June 2024 will be right up your street.
Organised by Plan Works’ Sian Davies Cole and Maddy Gooding of In Step Paraplanning this is your chance to catch up with paraplanners from your neck of the woods.
When you book your spot, you’ll be invited to shape the agenda by suggesting topics that you’d like the Assembly cover during the get-together at Little Stoke Community Hall, Little Stoke in north Bristol. (Why a community centre? Take a look at our recent blog post.)
To give you an idea of what to expect, at last October’s gathering of paraplanners at the equivalent event in London (The Other London Assembly), we exchanged ideas and perspectives on:
- the role of AI in paraplanning
- how The Consumer Duty was going in each others’ firms
- Recruitment
- Qualifications
- how to help new paraplanners joining your firm get on board and still be able to do your day job; and
- practical ideas about how to progress in your career when exams and you just don’t get on.
It’s the ideal chance to learn what’s going on in each other’s worlds, share ideas, and discover practical tips and illuminating insights – and tackle any other paraplanning topics that are on your mind when we gather.
Expect the same kind of thing from the Bristol Assembly on 12 June.
So how about it? Book your spot now.
If you’re a paraplanner who lives or works in striking distance of central London, then The Other London Assembly from 10am on Thursday 2 May 2023 will be right up your street.
Hosted by Dan Atkinson and Andy Schleider – and generously hosted by Barnett Waddingham at their London Wall Place office – this is your chance to catch up with paraplanners from your neck of the woods.
When you book your spot, you’ll be invited to shape the agenda by suggesting topics that you’d like the Assembly cover during the get-together.
At last October’s event, we exchanged ideas and perspectives on the two topics voted for by participants:
- the role of AI in paraplanning; and
- how The Consumer Duty was going in each others’ firms.
And in an open floor session to conclude the get together, topics raised included
- Recruitment
- Qualifications
- how to help new paraplanners joining your firm get on board and still be able to do your day job; and
- practical ideas about how to progress in your career when exams and you just don’t get on.
It’s the ideal chance to learn what’s going on in each other’s worlds, share ideas, and discover practical tips and illuminating insights – and tackle any other paraplanning topics that are on your mind when we gather.
Expect the same kind of thing from The Other London Assembly on 2 May.
So how about it? Book your spot now.
Richard Allum and Paradigm Norton’s Dan Atkinson get to grips with the topic of planning assumptions.
For what seemed like AGES, low interest rates and low inflation rates gave the impression that the factors affecting a client’s future were pretty predictable.
But more recently, roller-coaster interest and inflation rates, combined with pandemics and wars, could leave you thinking that the future is altogether more unpredictable.
But is it?
Assumptions that are fit for purpose
During this online Assembly, Dan and Richard explored ways to think about planning assumptions in future.
They considered the kind of indicators you can use to form a set of assumptions with the durability to withstand those periodic headwinds sparked by social, economic and environmental events – the kind that have dominated our lives lately.
Of course investments are important but healthspans, death, inflation, spending, retirement, care and more have the potential to feature.
And then there are clients with specific outcomes in mind to add to the mix – for instance, meeting school fees, saving to offset childrens’ university tuition fees or deposits for their first homes.
Don’t miss out
Tune in and you’ll discover you’re in good company. Not only is Dan responsible for Paradigm Norton’s financial planning assumptions, he also owns a crystal ball (he actually does) so – one way or another – he’ll have all bases covered.
Listen now
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Host Caroline Stuart from Sparrow Paraplanning is joined by Heather Hopkins of NextWealth to explore how financial advice practices have addressed – and continue to address – the demands of The Consumer Duty.
What did we cover?
As well as recapping what firms are expected to do about the Duty, Caroline and Heather consider the opportunities it presents. Over the course of the lunch-hour session two significant themes emerge:
- how firms are demonstrating the value of their advice; and
- how to prove that clients really understand what they can expect from their financial plan
To bring the topic to life, Heather shares insights from consumer research recently carried out by NextWealth that reveals what clients value – essential intel for paraplanners crafting suitability reports and reviews.
With its focus on practicalities of implementation illuminated by evidence from original research, it promises to be a really informative and engaging hour.
The team from Transact recently joined us to record a series of fantastic 5-10 minute audio treats. We hope you enjoy them.
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes when you place a trade on a platform? In this bite-sized Paraplanners’ Assembly Transact’s head of distribution, Glen Sweet, does just that.
In just FIVE minutes, Glen tells host, Richard Allum, all about trading points, settlement periods (including the difference between settlement of equities and funds), reconciliations, execution prices, trading windows…you get the idea.
When you consider the intro takes about 60 seconds it’s AMAZING how much insight and knowledge Glen packs in to his remaining 4 minutes and 23 seconds.
So if you’ve ever wanted to lift the lid on the workings of a platform, tune in to this episode for insights galore!
Ever-popular Assembly regular, Les Cameron of M&G Wealth, joined us to answer the question ‘What’s going on with the lifetime allowance?’
Why? Because in his Budget statement to the House of Commons earlier this year, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, announced the removal of the amount you could hold in pension savings before becoming liable for tax.
And that’s quite the change. Because it’s not all that long since Hunt’s predecessors stood accused of levying ‘stealth taxes’ by freezing the LTA at to £1,073,100 – potentially exposing an influx of pension savers to tax liabilities thanks to the effect of inflation.
So with proposed legislation removing the LTA and introducing a rise in the annual allowance, doesn’t the future look rosey for pension savers and their pots?
Or do other proposed measures – like setting a limit of £268,275 on tax-free lump sums – muddy the waters a bit?
Well, that’s where Les came in. Because over the lunch-hour session he:
- recapped the saga of the lifetime allowance so far
- explained the changes that the government has proposed
- explored what’s already happened (and what’s still left to happen); and
- considered what it all means for paraplanners working on retirement planning cases for clients.
Be honest. This stuff is like catnip to a paraplanner isn’t it?
Listen now
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If you’re a paraplanner who lives or works in striking distance of central London, then The Other London Assembly from 10am on Friday 20 October 2023 will be right up your street.
Hosted by Dan Atkinson and Andy Schleider, this is your chance to gather with paraplanners from your neck of the woods to learn what’s going on in each other’s worlds, share ideas, and discover practical tips and illuminating insights.
Book your spot and you’ll be able to shape the agenda for the two-hour get-together but – right now – we expect paraplanners taking part to exchange ideas on report writing and, now that the consumer duty is a feature of daily life, explore how we’re demonstrating ‘fair value’ in annual reviews.
Plus, the chance to tackle any other paraplanning topic that’s on your mind when we gather at the London Wall Place office of Barnett Waddingham.
From our very first meeting in 2013, the Paraplanners’ Assembly has created gatherings – in person and online and all over the UK – that spark collaboration and conversation.
Expect the same from The Other London Assembly.
After all, Assemblies only happen because paraplanners show up. You’ll feel you belong at The Other London Assembly because The Other London Assembly belongs to you.
So how about it? Book your spot now.
Capacity for loss. What is it? What isn’t it? And why it should be a paraplanner’s BFF* (if it isn’t already)?
To explore the topic, the Assembly’s own BFF, Patrick Ingram from Parmenion, joined us for a lunch-hour Assembly during which we covered some really interesting stuff including:
Capacity for loss and attitude to risk. What’s the difference?
Even though the combination of a client’s capacity for loss and their attitude to risk are significant factors when you’re working on a case, Patrick showed us why both ideas are so different – and what that means for clients.
Get busy with client balance sheets
We dug into ideas like ‘client balance sheet’ and ‘wealth ratios’, and explored how they offer both strategic and practical ways to settle on an investment approach that fits their financial position.
Safety first
We explored the idea of a ‘safety margin’. What is it? And how does the idea help insulate clients from financial risks while still allowing them the flexibility to adapt their strategy through life’s ups and downs?
When capacity for loss is such a significant feature of the day job, this was a great chance to catch up with the latest thinking.
*BFF = best friend forever
There are times when we’re recording an online Assembly or bitesize video or dedicated podcast episode and we just think OMG EVERYONE IS GOING TO ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS.
And that’s the case with this interview with consultant and founding director of About Consulting Group, Jon Dunckley.
Because this podcast is all about neurodiversity.
(Its origins lie in this comment by Planner12 posted at The Big Tent last year.)
And, as Jon (who is autistic) says very early on in the episode, neurodiversity matters to me, you and everyone.
After all, we each have a way of thinking that’s unique to us. We all occupy our place in a neurodiverse world.
But if the way we think is plotted on a spectrum, most of us would be considered ‘neurotypical’.
Yet plenty of us – at least 1 in 10 in the UK – function, learn and process information differently from the neurotypical.
Neurodifference and work
We may be neurodifferent but, despite thinking differently, we’re expected to adapt and succeed in a world that’s geared towards neurotypical people.
And that’s why we thought Planner12’s question – and the thread that their comment sparked – was such a great starting point to consider neurodiversity and its consequences personally and professionally whether we’re neurodivergent or neurotypical.
Because even if we’re not neurodifferent ourselves, people we work with will be. Either way, what do we need to consider about day-to-day working life so we each get the chance to thrive, contribute and gain fulfilment from work?
What do we mean by neurodifferent? What conditions are considered neurodifferent? If you’re neurodifferent, do you mention it to your employer? Do you need a diagnosis? What’s your approach to studying and sitting exams? How should you adapt your leadership style for a range of neurodifferent conditions? And how does your condition influence the way you manage your team?
Invaluable insights and practical tips
In just under an hour, host Richard Allum and Jon explore just about everything you could possibly want to cover.
Expect talk of autism, ADHD, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, dyslexia and dysgraphia. Learn about TIC syndrome, the ‘Pygmalion effect’, why people with ‘spiky profiles’ are good for business. Plus why job adverts should (a) encourage applicants with spiky profiles and (b) be really clear about what a job will actually involve.
And there’s so much more.
In fact, this is an area we’re going to explore more – and not leave it too long before we do. So if you think of anything that the Assembly could explore once you’ve listened please get in touch and tell us what you think.
Now, tuck in to this latest episode. We think you’re going to love it.
Listen to the Assembly
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A few of links mentioned by Jon during the episode
British Dyslexia Association: Dyslexia-friendly style guide
The Neurodiverse Workplace by Victoria Honeybourne
Think Human Business Writing course
BTS podcast: Neurodiversity and studying for regulated exams
PFS Power: Working with vulnerable clients
Cornell note-taking system (YouTube video)
Online Assembly: Design principles for reports
Host Richard Allum was joined by experts Rachel Geary and Murray Smith from Barnett Waddingham for a lunch-hour session exploring what clients need to know if they want to invest in property as part of their pension
Together, they covered the technical, regulatory and legal issues that influence pensions and property, and served up really valuable insights along the way.
Among the topics covered were:
- Why buy a commercial property with a pension?
- SIPP vs SSAS. What, why and when?
- Rules about property in a pension
- Technical and legal things to know about investing in commercial property with a pension
- FAQs. Which things crop up time and again?
- What can go wrong – and how to avoid it happening
Listen now
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