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Paraplanners' Assembly

Why is it all kicking off in the world of retirement income planning?

Season 1, Ep. 9

Years of stability in the retirement income planning world changed abruptly on 23 September 2022 when former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Kwasi Kwarteng, presented his ‘mini budget’.


Ever since, uncertainty about rising interest rates, anxieties about inflation, and even worries over the stability of pension funds themselves, have led paraplanners to rethink how clients can achieve the outcome they want from their financial plan.


One consequence of all this? Secure lifetime income has become a thing. And annuities are back in fashion.


In the first of a three-part series, Richard was joined by Karl Steadman from Just to explore what’s changed in the world of retirement income planning and what it means to paraplanners.

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  • 3. What do new residency rules mean for your IHT planning?

    01:05:16||Season 3, Ep. 3
    From April 2025, the rules determining who pays UK inheritance tax are changing. Instead of the complex domicile rules, a new ‘long-term residency’ test will decide whether someone’s worldwide assets fall into the IHT net.Discover what’s changingIn this episode, Utmost’s international technical sales manager, Steve Sayer, explores how the new rules could affect clients in a range of scenarios – whether they’re UK residents planning to retire abroad or people returning home after years overseas.Using worked examples, Steve demonstrates how changes affect trust planning, and explains when trusts might shift between excluded and relevant property status. He also touches on the implications of pension death benefits becoming subject to IHT from 2027.Who is this Assembly for?Whether you’re already dealing with cross-border IHT planning or want to understand how these changes might create new planning opportunities, this session is a great way to get to grips with the new framework.What are the learning objectivesBy the end of this podcast, you'll understand the post April 2025 changes to:Inheritance Tax (IHT), andThe taxation of non domicilesHow trusts can help to mitigate IHT liabilitiesDiscuss and explain these with a client in a clear and concise wayApply this knowledge to appropriate, individual, client scenariosWant to learn more? Then tune in now.Download Steve's slides and follow alongSlides: download Steve's slidedeckOnce you've listened, grab your CPDCPD: Take the quiz to receive your certificateMore useful linksPodcast: Listen on AcastUtmost x Paraplanners' Assembly: all our previous sessionsUtmost Technical Academy webinar series
  • 2. A guide to protection essentials for paraplanners

    59:11||Season 3, Ep. 2
    Do you find that, even though you spend each and every day working on financial plans for clients, you hardly ever get mixed up in protection? Well you’re not alone. Because despite being a foundational long-term financial security, for paraplanners, the topic of protection often takes a back seat compared to consideration of investment and retirement strategies.Which invites the question: what happens to that carefully crafted financial plan if a client’s income falls or they’re faced with the financial consequences of a bout of serious illness or worse? To find out tune into the recording of this Assembly held online on 5 February 2025 when Jon Hall, protection specialist at Scottish Widows, joined us to explore protection essentials for paraplanners including:Why protection deserves a place in holistic financial planning (and how to make the case for it)Current trends in the protection market and how to tackle common misconceptionsThe fundamentals: from product types and processes to remuneration optionsPractical tools and technology that can help you research and recommend solutionsStraight after the event, Jon popped over to The Big Tent and created a thread where he answered questions that paraplanners had raised during the gathering but he hadn’t had time to answer live. Be sure to take a look at his responses.Useful linksJon has shared a number of links and downloads – some of which he mentioned during his talk.CPD: request your certificateJon's post-Assembly Q&A in The Big TentProtection factsBetter protection conversationsScottish Widows' protection recommendation toolFive protection mythsGuide to Scottish Widows’ Protect propositionJon also mentioned these tools which paraplanners should know about (if you don't already):UnderwriteMeCI ExpertProtectionGuru ProDefaqto Matrix
  • 1. Lifetime allowance abolition: are we there yet?

    57:22||Season 3, Ep. 1
    For our very first online Assembly of 2025, we asked whether we'd absolutely definitely seen the back of all the corrective legislation, clear-as-mud HMRC guidance, and lifetime allowance (LTA) limbo that paraplanners, advisers and clients endured for long periods over the previous two years.So for those who wanted to be certain where things stood, and confirm for themselves that the LTA saga was absolutely definitely over, James Jones-Tinsley from Barnett Waddingham and Transact's Brian Radbone joined us to put us all straight – once and for all.Over the course of one lunch hour, James and Brian offered their insights on all the corrections, clarifications and considerations that you could possibly want to know when it comes to the lifetime allowance.Paraplanners came armed with their questions and comments to share in the chat, and tuned in to hear what our experts – and paraplanners just like them – learned from the saga of the LTA abolition.Useful linksHere are some useful downloads and links from this Assembly. You’ll find PDF and PNG images of the LTA saga timeline visual that James talked through. Plus we’ve provided links to the podcast and video of James’s conversation with Pivotal Paraplanning’s Leanne Pickering about how Budgets become law (which includes quite a lot of LTA chat).CPD: request your certificateLTA abolition legislative timeline (PNG image)LTA abolition legislative timeline (PDF)Podcast - From Parliament to paraplanner: How do Budget measures become law?Video - From Parliament to paraplanner: how do Budget measures become law?
  • 30. A paraplanner's guide to giving

    58:57||Season 2, Ep. 30
    Each of us shares an ever more complex and connected planet. One where we’re all facing the consequences of a human-made climate emergency and conflicts. A world of profound inequalities in health, economic and social outcomes between – and within – populations. So it shouldn’t be a surprise to learn that more and more clients are looking for returns that aren’t measured financially, but by effecting positive economic, social and environmental change.But how many of your clients think this way? And if you did know how many, how confident are you that you can help clients make their social and charitable ambitions part of a practical financial plan? What you’ll learn at this AssemblyTo explore this topic we gathered together three wise people (appropriate for the time of year) to help us:look at different ways in which clients can give these dayswhy they might want to give in the first place; andthe evidence that clients do want to give but their advisers don’t seem to realiseHost Richard Allum is joined by pioneering ethical investing advocate and financial planner Jeannie Boyle of EQ Investors, Jack Chellman chief project officer of the innovative Global Returns Project and David McIntosh of chief executive of ShareGift – a brilliant service that has turned the shareholding equivalent of spare change into more than £50 million in donations to UK charities since 1996.Listen nowOnce upon a time, philanthropy was something that only the very wealthiest would consider. But in this season of goodwill – and in a world that doesn’t half need it – find out why that’s no longer true – and how paraplanners can help clients put their money to work in powerfully positive ways more easily than ever before.Useful linksGrab your CPD certificate for watching or listening to this Assembly by visiting the link below. We’ve also included a PDF of Jack's stats plus link to the podcast episode.CPD: Request your certificateDownload: Jack's stats on client appetite for giving (opens PDF in new browser tab)Watch the Replay on Crowdcast (includes Chat) or on Vimeo (no Chat)Visit the event page
  • 29. Becoming a leader in paraplanning: your questions answered

    58:09||Season 2, Ep. 29
    Aegon UK’s Sarah Purves and Succession Wealth’s Ellie Welling return for a follow-up to last month’s ‘What kind of paraplanning leader will I be?’ Assembly.Picking up where they left off in November, Sarah, Ellie and host, Richard Allum, explore a topic that every aspiring and existing leader will experience during their career: difficult conversations. Sarah shares ideas and techniques that can help paraplanning leaders successfully prepare for and navigate discussions that you might otherwise dread.During the second half of this episode, our guests focused on questions, ideas and topics raised by paraplanners during the first Assembly.  But whether or not you joined Sarah and Ellie last time, and haven’t had a chance to listen or watch it on catch up yet, you’re sure to gain plenty to inform your reflections on successful leadership by tuning into this discussion.Useful linksMake sure you grab your CPD certificate for watching or listening to this Assembly by visiting the link below. We’ve also included links and downloads that Sarah, Ellie and Richard mentioned during this Assembly.CPD: Request certificateSlides: What kind of paraplanning leader could I be?Watch this Assembly on CrowdcastWatch this Assembly on VimeoTo catch up with the first Assembly in this series you can watch the replay on Crowdcast or listen to the podcast episode. You find all the links mentioned in that episode at the event page.
  • 28. The five tech security tips paraplanners shouldn’t do without

    25:32||Season 2, Ep. 28
    Think you know how to stay safe online? No matter how savvy you think you are, even people who have never known a world without the web can fall victim to sophisticated scams (listen out for the case of a 20 year old digital native who nearly lost £000s in a fake HMRC email scam). Which is why you should tune in to this eye-opening conversation with Sarah Coles, Parmenion’s head of cyber and resilience. As a seasoned cybersecurity expert, whose blog posts have acquired almost cult status among readers of the Assembly's monthly newsletter, Sarah has spent a decade protecting wealth management professionals and practices. In this conversation with host Richard Allum, Sarah shares five practical tips that will help shield you and your business from a world of cyber threats.Want to know why storing passwords in your browser might be riskier than you think? Or why relying on SMS codes for two-factor authentication could leave you vulnerable? Sarah breaks down complex security concepts into actionable steps you can implement right away.In fewer than 30 minutes, you'll discover:Why length matters more than complexity for password securityThe truth about backup solutions (no, Dropbox sync isn't enough)How to spot sophisticated phishing attempts that can fool even expertsSimple ways to protect client data that meet regulatory requirementsReal-world examples of common security mistakes and how to avoid themWhether you're a solo paraplanner or part of a larger team, this conversation offers valuable insights for protecting not only your practice and your clients' sensitive information but your personal information too. These days, good security isn't just about the tech you use. It's about developing smart habits that become second nature. Tune in and, in half an hour, you could be setting out on a lifetime of freshly minted healthy cyber security habits.Useful linksCatch up with Sarah’s cyber security posts at Parmenion’s blogSarah mentioned Parmenion’s regular email. To subscribe, visit Parmenion’s homepage, scroll down and click the link under ‘Sign up to our latest insights’ section.Richard mentioned 1Password a number of times – even though he’s not on their payroll! – which is a password manager app that works on any of your devices as an app and in your browser.
  • 27. A second helping of ‘Is there a recipe for successful retirement income advice?’

    59:17||Season 2, Ep. 27
    Scottish Widows’ pensions specialist (and Big Day Out 2024 ‘Quiz the Expert’ alumnus), Gareth Davies, joins host, Richard Allum, for the follow-up to his popular ‘Is there a recipe for successful retirement income advice?‘ Assembly which we held back in June.Why a second helping?An unbelievably busy Chat meant that Gareth fielded a fair few comments and questions which left too much ground to cover in just one lunch hour. So Gareth agreed to come back later in the year to conclude his survey of the retirement advice landscape.In this concluding Assembly, Gareth and Richard…Revisit the annuities vs. drawdown debate - examining the case for ‘annuities plus drawdown’, exploring the latest annuity features, and discussing strategies for annuitising fully crystallised pension pots.Dig into pension death benefits: they’ll consider the options and potential pitfalls of death benefits – plus focus on the importance of nomination forms and their regular review.Assess the effect of regulatory change: if there’s time, they’ll consider how the FCA’s thematic review is influencing retirement income advice, what it may mean for centralised retirement propositions, and what it means for your ongoing assessment of suitability.It makes for a lunch-hour Assembly that’s packed with valuable insights and practical ideas that you can apply to client cases right away.Useful linksDon't forget to grab your CPD for tuning into this Assembly. Just add your details to the survey and the certificate will be emailed to you within an hour.In case you haven't heard it, you can hear Gareth's appearance in Is there a recipe for successful retirement income advice? from June 2024. You can also find all the links for that session at the event page.Gareth mentioned HMRC's technical consultation on IHT on pensions and, in the chat, Nick Bromhall posted a link to the HMRC IHT Manual which has helpful information about gifting out of income.
  • 26. What kind of paraplanning leader could I be?

    01:26:00||Season 2, Ep. 26
    This online Assembly focusing on professional development would not be possible without the generous support of Aegon UK. Thanks to the team at Aegon for supporting this week’s event – and for supporting the development of paraplanners and paraplanning in the UK through their support of the Paraplanners’ Assembly.---Perhaps you’ve been thinking about stepping into a leadership role in paraplanning. Or you’re already managing others and want to build your skills. Either way, this specially extended Assembly is for you.Why?Over 90 minutes, Aegon UK’s learning and organisational consultant, Sarah Purves, and Succession Wealth’s recently appointed paraplanning team leader, Ellie Welling, joined host, Richard Allum, to explore the paraplanning leadership and how you can make the step into that role with confidenceThroughout the Assembly, Sarah invited Ellie and Richard (and the Chat) to try out a series of exercises to help you:identify the paraplanning leadership qualities you already have (you might be surprised)discover your natural management style by learning from what’s worked (and what hasn’t) with your own managersget better at those tricky conversations that come with leading othersbuild a practical toolkit you can use straight away to have more impact in your rolePlus Ellie and Richard shared their own experience of moving into leadership roles – what they’ve learned, what they wish they’d known, and how they have developed their own approach to managing a team.It’s an Assembly that’s specially designed so you can:reflect on the challenges of leadership withoutlearn from the experience of others at different stages of their careergain practical tips you can actually use right awaywork out if leadership is right for you and what it could look likeask questions you’ve always wanted to ask about managing othersTune in nowThere’s no magic formula for becoming a leader. But there are tools and techniques that really work. No matter whether you’re a freshly minted paraplanning leader or have many years’ experience behind you, there are bound to be ideas and insights in this conversation that will help you.Useful linksThere are loads of links from this Assembly and we’ve listed them below. Most important though: make sure to grab your CPD certificate for watching or listening to this Assembly. Follow the first link in the list,CPD: Request your certificateSlidesSarah's slides: What kind of paraplanning leader could I be? (downloads a PDF)Sarah’s slides mention lots of recommended books, courses, talks and listens. You'll find links to them all (plus every other conceivable link for this Assembly) at the event page. (Scroll all the way down and you'll spot the list.)Watch this AssemblyIf you'd like, you can watch the Replay on Crowdcast (includes the Chat) or view the video on Vimeo too.
  • 25. What did Les Cameron learn from Labour’s Budget?

    01:08:11||Season 2, Ep. 25
    Perennial Assembly favourite, Les Cameron of M&G Wealth, joined us to share his thoughts on Labour’s Budget on 30 October.As well as the fact that Rachel Reeves made history by becoming the first woman to deliver a budget as Chancellor of the Exchequer, were there measures that are sure to feature when Budget history is written?Or were the widespread jitters among savers and investors ill-founded as Labour delivered its first Budget since Alistair Darling’s on 20 April 2010 – no fewer than 5,334 days earlier.What actually happened?Were the headlines screaming about capital gains and inheritance tax? How about pension tax relief and fuel duty? Or national insurance and the British ISA? Perhaps even VAT on school fees or measures affecting non-doms? And what about a wealth tax?Les was on hand to offer his thoughts and insights, and address lots of questions and comments posted by paraplanners in the Chat.So did it turn out to be one of the most consequential Budgets of recent years? Was it more of a ‘pitch-rolling’ statement in preparation for future measures? Or something else altogether?Tune in and find out.Useful linksOnce you’ve listened to the podcast, take the quiz at M&G Wealth’s site to receive a certificate for your CPD records:Take the quiz at M&G Wealth’s episode siteIf you'd like, you can watch the Replay on Crowdcast (includes the Chat) or view the video recording on Vimeo too.Other useful downloads mentioned during this Assembly include:M&G Autumn Budget SummaryM&G tool for extracting company profitsM&G Tax Wrapper Comparison ToolLes also mentioned HMRC’s Technical consultation - inheritance tax on pensions. That link will take you straight to seven worked examples in Annex 6.In addition, Les mentioned M&G Wealth’s Adviser guide: Financial Planning with small and medium-sized enterprises (opens a PDF) and briefly referred to last August’s online Assembly on Investing for business these days