{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/63d6635d45284700118ac9cf/6a5649cb92be37cb7b22e864?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"And the winner is…paraplanning!","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/63d6635d45284700118ac9cf/1784045444119-382213fb-950a-4b28-8976-1b662a4b2f23.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>You'd be forgiven for thinking that a gathering of previous award winners could turn into a smugfest.</p><p>But it’s PARAPLANNERS that we’re talking about.</p><p>So this episode – recorded specially to mark the tenth annual <a href=\"https://professionalparaplanner.co.uk/events/the-wait-is-nearly-over-the-professional-paraplanner-awards-2026/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Professional Paraplanner Awards</a> – is far from self-congratulatory. In fact, it's packed with thinking that will inspire every paraplanner wherever you are in your career.</p><p>Why? Because it illustrates how entering an award – or even just thinking about it – is one of the most helpful ways to reflect on your career, what you’ve achieved and what you would like to achieve in the future.</p><p>Host <strong>Caroline Stuart </strong>of <a href=\"https://www.sparrowsols.co.uk/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Sparrow Solutions</a> is joined by <strong>Natalie Dawes</strong>, editor of <a href=\"https://professionalparaplanner.co.uk/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Professional Paraplanner</a>, along with three paraplanners who've been through the process themselves: <strong>Hannah Hirons</strong> of <a href=\"https://navigatus.co.uk/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Navigatus</a>, <strong>Luke Sparkes</strong> of <a href=\"https://www.sparkesparaplanning.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Sparkes Paraplanning</a>, and <strong>Hannah Wynick</strong> of <a href=\"https://www.corefinancialuk.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Core Financial Paraplanning</a>.</p><p>In an hour-long chat they talk about:</p><ul><li>overcoming your imposter syndrome</li><li>why nominating yourself is OK even when it might not feel like it</li><li>why being nominated by someone else feels ACE</li><li>whether there’s a difference entering awards when you’re in-house versus outsourced</li><li>why writing an award entry helps you realise what you're actually good at</li><li>what it's like to sit in an interview with judges – and why it’s so valuable</li></ul><p>What’s more, the conversation also recognises that some people just don’t want to enter awards or feel the need to do so and explores ways in which paraplanners can receive the recognition their work deserves.</p><p>Above all, this is an episode that shows how powerful it can be for paraplanning practitioners to reflect on their professional progress. And how the peer-led evaluation of entries has established the Professional Paraplanner Awards as the preeminent standard for the paraplanning profession.</p><p><br></p><h4>Useful links</h4><p><a href=\"https://professionalparaplanner.co.uk/events/the-wait-is-nearly-over-the-professional-paraplanner-awards-2026/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">The Professional Paraplanner Awards 2026 shortlist</a></p><p>Visit the <a href=\"https://paraplannersassembly.co.uk/event/and-the-winner-is-paraplanning/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">episode page</a> at the Assembly website</p>","author_name":"Paraplanners' Assembly"}