One of the more challenging areas of CPD for IFP members is the subject of ethics.

Currently, IFP members and CFP^CM professionals are required to accumulate nine points on this topic – which will change to five hours under the new rules in 2012. With this in mind, the September meeting of the IFP’s Bath branch was arranged as a round table discussion on this subject.

It clearly hit a nerve as the branch welcomed one of its largest attendances of the year to date. Either that or the meeting leader (chairman Andy Page took the chair) was the best on offer this year!

The meeting took the format of a discussion based around a case study provided by one of the two new IFP board members, Andrew Brook-Dobson CFP^CM. His hard work on this subject was much appreciated and valued by all those attending. A great deal of discussion arose from the points raised in the case study, although it was sometimes difficult to stick precisely to the subject.

Delegates found it was easy to be distracted by the practicalities of the situations discussed rather than the ethical aspects. The consensus was that ethics has nothing to do with regulation - it’s more about one’s own moral compass.

One key point delegates took from the discussion was the best way to judge our own conduct – “If all we did was published would we still do it?” A great mantra to work and live by.

Branch chairman Andy Page CFP^CM said “This meeting was different to our normal presentation format. The wide ranging discussion seemed to go down well with attendees and all in all it was a very useful way of getting those elusive structured CPD points. As more than one attendee commented, it was a very thought provoking meeting.

“Looking ahead, I’d like to remind members that at our next meeting which takes place during Financial Planning Week on 24 November when we welcome marketing guru Abbie Tanner of A Business Innovation. Whether or not you attended her session at conference last month, make sure you book your place asap. You’ll be guaranteed lots of thought provoking ideas on how you can improve your marketing strategy – and gain some useful tips on using social media too. Members from other branches are welcome too.”