The new President of the Personal Finance Society Caroline Stuart has urged members to help build the profession by spreading the word about careers in Financial Planning and Paraplanning.

She urged PFS members to also help teach young people about the importance of good money management.

In a keynote to attendees at the PFS Festival of Financial Planning this week, Ms Stuart spoke about her pride in becoming the first Paraplanner to become President of the Personal Finance Society.

She told delegates: "It’s truly an honour to be representing Paraplanning, a part of our profession I’m hugely proud to be part of."

Paraplanning had evolved from a "sales-led industry" to a "service-driven profession, with our clients at the heart, front and centre of what we do," she told hundreds of PFS members at the packed opening session.

She added: "Paraplanning has also seen its own evolution over the same period, changing  from what many viewed as an administrative or compliance function to being a highly respected role and fundamental part of the client's Financial Planning journey."

She said Paraplanning had become, "a career in its own right, as well as an excellent foundation for any of the many and varied roles our great profession has to offer."

"Standards, professionalism and trust are at the very core of the Financial Planning profession and the principles on which the Personal Finance Society is built."

A key goal for her Presidency is to attract more new people to the profession, she said.

She wants to raise the profile of Financial Planning, "not only as a service that is accessible to anyone but also as a worthwhile career choice for all."

She played a video to delegates showing interviews with the public in Birmingham. It illustrated, she said, that many people did not know where to turn for advice.

She said: "So what does this tell us? It tells us that people are really concerned about their current and future finances, and are not sure where to turn for help. It also tells us that many either do not know, or have misconceptions about what we do, and just how much we can help."

She said: "I want all people thinking about their professional future to seriously consider Financial Planning and its many different roles, not just as an option but an aspirational career. But this again leads us back to the age old quandary we hear so often – how do we attract new people to our profession?

"I believe that one way is to talk about it more. A lot more, and with people outside of our Financial Planning sphere. If we want to encourage people to join our profession, we all need to work together, telling our stories to the wider public. I believe we can inspire them by showing them just what a fantastic and worthwhile career Financial Planning is for anyone. So my challenge to you all is do just that, and you can start here, today.

"And just how rewarding and fulfilling that is. But we do not just help our clients; the PFS has a virtual army of members who volunteer thousands of hours of their time to help make a difference to the communities they live and work in, and further the profession they love."

She said: "In the 2021/22 academic year alone, 1,000 volunteers held 700 My Personal Finance Skills workshops, reaching 21,000 students nationwide, helping to give children and young people, the skills they need to build understanding and confidence for their own financial future."

Ms Stuart was speaking on the first day of the Personal Finance Society’s Festival of Financial Planning. More than 2,100 had already arrived at the event by late morning at the NEC Birmingham with more than 2,800 signed up to attend the two-day event, the largest in the Financial Planning calendar.

The event is being held today and tomorrow, Wednesday 2 November. It was last held in 2017. 

This year, Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson is the keynote speaker at the end of the first day and will talk about her life and overcoming challenges.

The full programme is on www.pfsfestival2022.org and includes technical skills and learning sessions from specialists and practitioners.

The event’s hashtag is: #PFSFestival 

• Financial Planning Today will be bringing coverage from the event. Check back for further updates and follow us on Twitter @_FPToday