The CISI’s annual Paraplanner Conference heard this morning how Paraplanning can change lives.

Aleksandra Sasin, chief Paraplanner at Navigatus, delivered a personal perspective on the sector entitled ‘How Paraplanning has changed my life and lets me do what I love - helping clients get the right outcomes.’

Ms Sasin spoke movingly about the challenges she has faced in her life, moving to the UK from Poland in 2004, changing working environments and the transformative effect of Paraplanning.

She highlighted the varied role of a Paraplanner and how they can make a difference to the lives of clients in allowing them to achieve “financial independence.”

Speaking about her first experiences in Paraplanning some years ago she said: “For the first time I had a job that made me come alive.

“I knew I was on the right path, I knew where I was heading and what I had to do to get there.”

She spoke about the role’s opportunities for autonomy, creativity and self-improvement and the opportunity it allows for “discovering and utilising your strengths.”

Ms Sasin also spoke about setting up Navigatus and how her changing Paraplanning roles have helped her achieve a work-life balance.

She added: “Paraplanning has had a profound impact on my life.”

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.’

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