The CISI’s annual Paraplanner Conference is under way and has attracted more than 120 attendees.

The conference was opened this morning by Farida Hassanali CFP APP Chartered MCSI, Paraplanner, UBS Wealth Management and chair of the CISI Paraplanner Interest Group Committee and Dan Atkinson APP MCSI, head of technical, EQ Investors and member of the CISI Paraplanner Interest Group Committee.

Day one of the event, at the Jurys Inn Hinckley Island Hotel, Hinckley, Leicestershire, yesterday featured pre-conference workshops on ‘how your personality affects you’ and ‘interpreting body language.’

Today will feature sessions on a wide range of technical subjects including behavioural biases and the markets.

Alexandra Sasin, chief Paraplanner at Navigatus, will deliver a presentation entitled ‘How Paraplanning has changed my life and lets me do what I love - helping clients get the right outcomes.’

Michelle Meredith, of Paradigm Norton and Martin Ruskin CFP Chartered MCSI, also of Paradigm Norton and chair of the Financial Planning Forum Committee, will speak about working relationships with Financial Planners and overcoming differences of opinion.

Further sessions will explore Paraplanning after divorce, risk and uncertainty, later life planning and protection, before a motivational session with polar explorer and obstetrician Dr Ed Coats.

Mr Coats, who has previously journeyed to the South Pole with TV presenter Ben Fogle and former Olympic rower James Cracknell, spoke briefly at the opening of the event.

He drew comparisons in his role in the NHS with Paraplanning, saying “planning is vital to what I do.”

• Financial Planning Today is covering the conference and tweeting from the event at @FPTodayMagazine - keep an eye out for our coverage.