Paraplanners' Assembly

As paraplanners, many of us hold memberships with Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI), Personal Finance Society (PFS), or pay for LIBF courses.So we pay our fees, collect our CPD, and maybe sit an exam or two. But are we really getting the most from these organisations? What do they offer that can support us in our careers? And is one more suited to me than another? Or are all three much the same?That’s what this Assembly was all about. We invited Chris Morris from CISI, Nicola Mellor from the PFS, and Sally Plant from LIBF to field questions posed in advance and in the chat by paraplanners.Note: Because technology didn’t work the way it’s supposed to, Sally wasn’t able to join us on screen BUT she did join us in the Chat while her colleague (and director of financial services at the LIBF) John Somerville, was able to join Richard, Chris and Nicola on screen (from about 15 minutes in).It’s a great conversation from start to finish and comprehensively explored:What specific support does each body offer paraplanners – and what makes the difference between themHow can paraplanners influence the work of the organisations and how to get involvedWhether there’s a place for paraplanner-specific qualificationsHow does membership work, what are the costs involved, and why do you need to maintain a membership (for PFS and CISI)Plus plenty more.What can you expect to take away?Once you’ve listened or watched, you’ll have a much clearer understanding of what each professional body offers, which could be the right one for you, and how you can get more value from your membership.Look out for another installment in 2026There was so much to talk about that we didn’t manage to address even 50% of the questions that paraplanners had submitted so we’ll be setting up a second session featuring Chris, Nicola and - hopefully - Sally early in 2026.Useful linksWatch the Replay at Crowdcast (with Chat)CPD: Request your certificateCISI’s websitePFS’s websiteLIBF’s website

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.Useful linksDuring the podcast, Richard mentions James's article for FT Adviser, which you can find here:Lump sum cancellations: members have been left vulnerable to misunderstanding

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 guest 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.Original insights on the big issuesDuring 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.Useful linksMake sure to grab your CPD certificate for watching or listening to this Assembly by visiting the link below. You can also download the slides that Craig shared during this Assembly.CPD: Request your certificateScottish Widows Paraplanner Survey Report 2025Download: Craig's slides (opens PDF in new tab)Watch the Replay at Crowdcast (with Chat)Listen to the podcast episode

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.Expand your knowledge in one hourThis Assembly 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 and featuring guest Connor Stewart from Standard Life in conversation with host Richard Allum.Together, they explore what clients want from retirement, how regulatory expectations are driving change, and how you can use cutting-edge product solutions to deliver the security and growth your clients need.What can you expect to take away?This episode offers 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.Useful linksHere are useful links and downloads from this event. Standard Life have created a dedicated page for this event where you can access your CPD. Just follow the link.CPD: Download your certificateWatch the Replay of this Assembly at Crowdcast (with Chat)Video: watch this Assembly at Vimeo (does not include Chat)Download: Connor's slidesWeb: Event page at paraplannersassembly.co.ukPart one in this seriesWeb: Part one at paraplannersassembly.co.ukWatch the Replay of part one at Crowdcast (with Chat)Video: watch part one at Vimeo (does not include Chat)Podcast: listen to part one

In this bonus episode, The Big Day Out 2025 hosts, Aleks Sasin and Chris Wormell, join one of the Paraplanners' Assembly organisers, Maxine Cameron, to look forward to our annual gathering at FarmED near Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds.In 20 minutes you'll learn all about:the practical AI session with Harriet Mayer that's focused on hands-on writing tools that work for all experience levels, from complete beginners to regular AI users.the technical sessions which allows participants to pick-and-mix between essential and advanced level scenarios for IHT and retirement income planning, allowing you to tailor your learning to your current skill level.Zara Okoro's career development session that will helps you identify next steps for your professional growth, regardless of whether you're in-house, outsourced, or still figuring out your path.why connections at The Big Day Out —even small ones—can create lasting professional relationships – and the informal, friendly atmosphere makes it easier to join conversations even if you're naturally introverted.just how The Big Day Out is designed by paraplanners for paraplanners, creating an inclusive environment where nobody is trying to sell you anything and experts from our supporters participate as equalsThere are a handful of tickets left if you'd like to take part in this year's annual gathering. To grab a ticket, visit The Big Day Out 2025

Whether you’re just starting out in paraplanning or looking to make your next move, having a clear career plan makes all the difference. But how do you actually build one that works?That’s what this Assembly is all about: the practicalities of creating a plan for your career; an approach that you can use no matter what stage you’re at in your professional life.Your career roadmap in just one lunch hourCaroline Stuart, owner and founder of Sparrow Paraplanning, hosted the conversation which featured four brilliant guests: Ellie Welling paraplanning team leader at Succession Wealth, Joe Jacob, paraplanner at FLP, Peter Spence, advice and paraplanning team leader at Fintuity, and Sarah Purves, learning and development expert at Aegon.Together, they explored a practical framework for career planning that goes beyond wishful thinking to create actionable next steps.What can you expect when you watch and listen?During this Assembly we:Explored your career aspirations and help you define what type of role you actually wantIdentified the constraints and opportunities that will shape your path (including your non-negotiables)Considered objectives to move you forwardProvided a template to help you build out your personal career action planLearned from our guests’ experience of starting out and developing as paraplannersWhat you will take awayYou’ll leave with a practical framework that you can use immediately to plan your next career step – plus real-world insights from paraplanners who’ve successfully navigated their own career transitions at different stages.Most importantly, you’ll have a clear action plan rather than just good intentions. So if you’ve been thinking about where you go next in your paraplanning career, this session is the perfect place to turn those ideas into practical actions.A big ‘thank you’ to AegonThis Assembly would not be possible without the generous support of Aegon. Thank you to the team at Aegon for supporting and for backing the development of paraplanners and paraplanning in the UK through their support of the Paraplanners’ Assembly.Useful linksHere are the links mentioned in this Assembly. Once you’ve watched or listened, make sure you tap the link to receive your CPD certificate (first link below).Request your CPD certificateDownload: Sarah's slidesDownload: Career plan templateWatch the replay at CrowdcastEpisode 1 in this careers seriesEpisode 2 in this careers seriesEpisode 3 in this careers series

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 consolidationpension dashboardsminimum contributionssolutions to inequalities in retirement outcomes for lower earners, women, carers, and the self-employedPlus 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.Useful linksAlongside the Pensions Commission, the Government has also launched a review of State Pension Age. James has also recorded a podcast on that too. You can find the podcast on Spotify, Apple and Acast, or by searching 'Paraplanners' Assembly' on your podcast app.James has recently published posts and comment articles on the topic of the Pensions Commission and State Pension Age review. Here are the links:Sipps ProfessionalJames Jones-Tinsley: State Pension Age of 68 may move nearerBarnett Waddingham blogWill the Pensions Commission fix pension under-saving?State Pension Age review: what advisers need to know

Here's a question that might keep you awake at night: what do you tell clients who've spent years building pension pots specifically because they were IHT-free, only to discover that's all changed?On 21 July 2025, HMRC published their response to the pension IHT consultation, along with draft legislation that will bring unused pension pots into the inheritance tax net from April 2027. The writing's been on the wall since Rachel Reeves' October 2024 Budget announcement, but now we have the detail and it's time to work out what this means for our clients.As paraplanners, we're about to face some of the most fundamental shifts in retirement and estate planning strategy we've seen in years. The days of treating pensions as the IHT-free golden goose are numbered, and clients will be looking to us for answers.This isn't just about understanding the new rules. It's about completely rethinking how we approach pension planning, estate planning, and the delicate balance between the two.Your crash course on the new pension IHT landscapeWe were joined by M&G's Les Cameron to eexplore the different options to mitigate pension-driven IHT liabilities including:Are pensions dead? Separating the headlines from the reality for long-term retirement planningIs whole of life the answer? When life assurance might fill the IHT gapMoving client money – the practical considerations of reshuffling portfoliosAnnuities vs drawdown – how the IHT changes affect this fundamental choiceBypass trusts – exploring whether trust structures can still provide solutionsWhat can you expect to take away?You'll leave this Assembly with a clear understanding of how the new IHT rules will work in practice and with strategies you can implement immediately to help clients navigate this changing landscape.Fair warning: there's so much ground to cover that we may run slightly over our usual 60 minutes. If we do, we'll schedule a follow-up session to tackle any outstanding questions.Useful linksHere are useful links and downloads from this event. M&G Wealth have created a dedicated page for this event where you can take a quiz to receive a record for your CPD. Just follow the link to grab your certificate.Receive your CPD: take the quiz at M&G's siteDownload: Les's slides (opens PDF)Video: watch the Replay at Crowdcast (with Chat)Video: watch this Assembly on Vimeo (without Chat)M&G tools and calculatorsWatch or listen: Les Cameron on pensions, death and taxesWatch or listen: A guide to investment bond essentials for paraplannersWatch or listen: Tax wrappers: which, why and when