Members of the Institute of Financial Planning's conference committee have spoken out about what we can expect from this year's annual conference.
The conference, the highlight of the Financial Planning calendar, is being held from 30 September to 2 October at the Celtic Manor Resort.
The conference committee is made up of Financial Planners and IFP staff and sets the speakers and agenda for the three days.
Representing Financial Planners for 2013 is Tina Weeks from Serenity Financial Planning, Damien Rylett from Brunel Capital Partners, Dennis Hall from Yellowtail Financial Planning and Mike MacLeod from Everett MacLeod. Cathi Harrison from outsourced Paraplanning firm Para-Sols also sits on the committee representing the needs of Paraplanners.
This year's theme is 'Back to the Future' and will explore how the IFP has been RDR-ready for many years and how businesses can learn from past best practice.
Mr Rylett said: "We think lots of the IFP members have already been running their businesses as RDR-ready for many years. A lot of this conference is about looking at what's working well for established people and introducing them to new entrants."
Ms Weeks said: "The theme will highlight how much change we have gone through and how much optimism and excitement there is in the world of Financial Planning. I am hearing day after day that advisers are more excited about the role and having more fun than ever before. This year's conference aims to take that enthusiasm and spread it as far as we can."
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Speakers at this year's event include Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller, former head of the MI5, Bill Bachrach and Derek Mills. Track session speakers include Mark Polson from the lang cat, Michelle Hoskin from Standards International and Daniel Priestley of a Key Person of Influence.
There will also be a special track session with former IFP presidents and former David Norton award winners who will be sharing their best practice from their time in the profession.
When asked how he would convince people to attend, Mr Hall said: "If you want continuous improvement then you need to commit to lifelong learning. The conference provides a concentrated 'shot in the arm' of some of the best information for today's forward-thinking Financial Planner."
Mr Rylett said: "People need to stop thinking about it and get themselves here, all of it is going to be great and we've got some cracking keynote speakers lined up. It's the one event each year that's a cast iron guarantee in my diary to attend. It's not just the sessions and the speakers but the community who are more than willing to share ideas and best practice."

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