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
Whether you’re new to the Paraplanner profession and want to find out more about CIPs or actively involved in a review of your business’ CIP, this session should help.
Learning objectives
In this session we covered…
- What is a CIP?
- CIP, PROD and client segmentation: How does it all fit together Is one CIP enough?
- Getting the measure of different types of CIPs
- CIP and CRP: Working together or in isolation?
- DIY or get a CIP in?
- Building a CIP
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.
DFM due diligence is a core task for many paraplanners and we explore that task here.
Learning objectives
In this session we covered…
- FCA and regulatory expectations
- Agent as client and the implications
- The difference between “research” and “due diligence” – and why it matters
- The various types of DFM service
- How these fit different PROD customer segments
- Establishing what’s important to the adviser and the client, and the questions you should ask
- Undertaking DFM due diligence
- The DD|hub approach Evidencing assessments and ongoing review under PROD
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at FOS and how it affects you and your role? We’re joined by FOS veteran, Chris Wells who now runs his own consultancy IFAs Included, to make sense of it all.
Learning objectives
In this session we covered…
- Learning points from FOS decisions
- Client and FOS friendly versus compliance and FCA friendly
- The importance of soft facts in a file and suitability report
- Challenging advisers where there’s insufficient soft facts for the paraplanner to do their job well
- Why next of kin often complain to FOS
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at FOS and how it affects you and your role? We’re joined by FOS veteran, Chris Wells who now runs his own consultancy IFAs Included, to make sense of it all.
Learning objectives
In this session we covered…
- Learning points from FOS decisions
- Client and FOS friendly versus compliance and FCA friendly
- The importance of soft facts in a file and suitability report
- Challenging advisers where there’s insufficient soft facts for the paraplanner to do their job well
- Why next of kin often complain to FOS
FE Analytics is one of the most popular tools in the paraplanning community, so we are happy to be joined one of the FE team to explore some of its features.
Learning objectives
In this session we covered…
- How to build a portfolio
- The importance of setting portfolio weighting dates
- Aligning portfolio asset mix to suggested allocation
- Representing cash in analysis and portfolios
- Ex-ante costs and charges calculator
- Account admin