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If you want to know what's on the minds of other paraplanners, then this is definitely the Assembly for you.
That’s because Scottish Widows's Craig Spittal joined host, Richard Allum, and guest Alison Neale of Principle Paraplanning, to exclusively reveal key findings of this year's Scottish Widows' Paraplanner Survey ahead of it's formal publication in November 2025.
During this recording of a lunch-hour online Assembly, Craig shares findings from a sample of 200 paraplanners who completed the third annual survey of paraplanners. Topics covered include:
Listen and you’ll hear practical insights, honest reflections, and a clear idea of where paraplanners like you think our profession is heading.
So tuck in to a helping of hot-of-the-press original research and take this chance to reflect on the attitudes and trends that are influencing paraplanning today.
Make sure to grab your CPD certificate for watching or listening to this Assembly by visiting the link below. You can also download the slides that Craig shared during this Assembly.
Download: Craig's slides (opens PDF in new tab)
Watch the Replay at Crowdcast (with Chat)
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As paraplanners, we have the power to transform retirement outcomes by understanding how product innovations can take these critical risks off the table. But are we truly using the full toolkit available to us? Or are we sticking with conventional approaches that might not deliver the stable, reliable income our clients need?
It matters because retirement planning has evolved beyond traditional drawdown strategies. The FCA expects us to distinguish between accumulation and decumulation approaches, and innovative product solutions now exist that can protect clients from running out of money.
This Assembly was the second part of our exploration into the retirement risk zone, focusing specifically on how product innovations can deliver better outcomes for your clients and featuring guest Connor Stewart from Standard Life in conversation with host Richard Allum.
Together, they explore what clients want from retirement, how regulatory expectations are driving change, and how you can use cutting-edge product solutions to deliver the security and growth your clients need.
This episode offers actionable insights into product innovations that can transform your retirement planning approach. You’ll understand how to match these solutions to specific client needs and circumstances, ensuring you can deliver genuinely tailored retirement strategies.
Here are useful links and downloads from this event. Standard Life have created a dedicated page for this event where you can access your CPD. Just follow the link.
CPD: Download your certificate
Watch the Replay of this Assembly at Crowdcast (with Chat)
Video: watch this Assembly at Vimeo (does not include Chat)
Web: Event page at paraplannersassembly.co.uk
Part one in this series
Web: Part one at paraplannersassembly.co.uk
Watch the Replay of part one at Crowdcast (with Chat)
Video: watch part one at Vimeo (does not include Chat)
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In this bonus episode, The Big Day Out 2025 hosts, Aleks Sasin and Chris Wormell, join one of the Paraplanners' Assembly organisers, Maxine Cameron, to look forward to our annual gathering at FarmED near Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds.
In 20 minutes you'll learn all about:
There are a handful of tickets left if you'd like to take part in this year's annual gathering. To grab a ticket, visit The Big Day Out 2025
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Whether you’re just starting out in paraplanning or looking to make your next move, having a clear career plan makes all the difference. But how do you actually build one that works?
That’s what this Assembly is all about: the practicalities of creating a plan for your career; an approach that you can use no matter what stage you’re at in your professional life.
Caroline Stuart, owner and founder of Sparrow Paraplanning, hosted the conversation which featured four brilliant guests: Ellie Welling paraplanning team leader at Succession Wealth, Joe Jacob, paraplanner at FLP, Peter Spence, advice and paraplanning team leader at Fintuity, and Sarah Purves, learning and development expert at Aegon.
Together, they explored a practical framework for career planning that goes beyond wishful thinking to create actionable next steps.
During this Assembly we:
You’ll leave with a practical framework that you can use immediately to plan your next career step – plus real-world insights from paraplanners who’ve successfully navigated their own career transitions at different stages.
Most importantly, you’ll have a clear action plan rather than just good intentions. So if you’ve been thinking about where you go next in your paraplanning career, this session is the perfect place to turn those ideas into practical actions.
This Assembly would not be possible without the generous support of Aegon. Thank you to the team at Aegon for supporting and for backing the development of paraplanners and paraplanning in the UK through their support of the Paraplanners’ Assembly.
Here are the links mentioned in this Assembly. Once you’ve watched or listened, make sure you tap the link to receive your CPD certificate (first link below).
Download: Career plan template
Episode 1 in this careers series
Episode 2 in this careers series
Episode 3 in this careers series
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The last time the UK government convened a Pensions Commission it resulted in the equalisation of the State Pension Age between men and women, the launch of auto-enrolment plus the creation of the National Employment Savings Trust – better known as NEST.
So will the recently re-constituted Pensions Commission prove to be as consequential as the last?
To answer that question, we invited Barnett Waddingham’s self-invested pensions specialist, James Jones-Tinsley, to join host Richard Allum, to share his thoughts on the scope of the Commission and what it could mean for paraplanners and clients.
In 20 minutes, James explains why it has been necessary to revive the Pensions Commission and what problem it has been asked to address.
As well as considering the big trends driving reform - such as demographic pressures - the conversation covers:
Plus James and Richard discuss how advice professionals can influence the Commission's work through upcoming consultations.
All in all, this episode is a fantastic backgrounder for paraplanners who want to stay ahead of changes in pensions and pension policy.
Alongside the Pensions Commission, the Government has also launched a review of State Pension Age. James has also recorded a podcast on that too. You can find the podcast on Spotify, Apple and Acast, or by searching 'Paraplanners' Assembly' on your podcast app.
James has recently published posts and comment articles on the topic of the Pensions Commission and State Pension Age review. Here are the links:
Sipps Professional
James Jones-Tinsley: State Pension Age of 68 may move nearer
Barnett Waddingham blog
Will the Pensions Commission fix pension under-saving?
State Pension Age review: what advisers need to know
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Here's a question that might keep you awake at night: what do you tell clients who've spent years building pension pots specifically because they were IHT-free, only to discover that's all changed?
On 21 July 2025, HMRC published their response to the pension IHT consultation, along with draft legislation that will bring unused pension pots into the inheritance tax net from April 2027. The writing's been on the wall since Rachel Reeves' October 2024 Budget announcement, but now we have the detail and it's time to work out what this means for our clients.
As paraplanners, we're about to face some of the most fundamental shifts in retirement and estate planning strategy we've seen in years. The days of treating pensions as the IHT-free golden goose are numbered, and clients will be looking to us for answers.
This isn't just about understanding the new rules. It's about completely rethinking how we approach pension planning, estate planning, and the delicate balance between the two.
We were joined by M&G's Les Cameron to eexplore the different options to mitigate pension-driven IHT liabilities including:
You'll leave this Assembly with a clear understanding of how the new IHT rules will work in practice and with strategies you can implement immediately to help clients navigate this changing landscape.
Fair warning: there's so much ground to cover that we may run slightly over our usual 60 minutes. If we do, we'll schedule a follow-up session to tackle any outstanding questions.
Here are useful links and downloads from this event. M&G Wealth have created a dedicated page for this event where you can take a quiz to receive a record for your CPD. Just follow the link to grab your certificate.
Receive your CPD: take the quiz at M&G's site
Download: Les's slides (opens PDF)
Video: watch the Replay at Crowdcast (with Chat)
Video: watch this Assembly on Vimeo (without Chat)
Watch or listen: Les Cameron on pensions, death and taxes
Watch or listen: A guide to investment bond essentials for paraplanners
Watch or listen: Tax wrappers: which, why and when
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Host Richard Allum is joined by Barnett Waddingham’s James Jones-Tinsley for a bonus episode exploring the government’s announcement of an independent review of the state pension age review and its potential consequences for retirement planning.
As well as considering the scope of the review, which is being led by Dr Suzy Morrissey, deputy director of the Pensions Policy Institute (PPI), and what it means for the future, Richard and James discuss
They discuss:
The review’s call for evidence closes on 24 October 2025. And with its focus on life expectancy and intergenerational equity, this episode is essential listening for paraplanners keen to stay ahead of the debate and its likely effects on retirement advice long into the future.
You'll find the Government's open call for evidence at the Review's webpage:
Third State Pension age review: independent report call for evidence
James's post about the State Pension age review is available at Barnett Waddingham's blog:
Government to reassess the State Pension age
Plus Sipps Professional published a comment article on the State Pension age at its site:
James Jones-Tinsley: State Pension age of 68 may move nearer
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You’ve established yourself as a paraplanner, but now you’re thinking: ‘What next?’
For many paraplanners, staying in paraplanning is exactly what they want to do. But what does career development look like within the profession? How have people built on their paraplanning skills and experience? And what about those considering a move into other areas like financial planning or specialising in research or operations?
This Assembly, recorded on 3 September explored some of the career routes within and from paraplanning.
Our host Caroline Stuart, owner and founder of Sparrow Paraplanning, is joined by Ellie Bailey, paraplanning team leader at Succession Wealth, Farida Hassanali, client manager at Paradigm Norton, Rebecca Tuck, operations director at FLP Financial Life Planning and Sian Greenhill, operations executive and centralised investment and product committee at Brooks Financial – all sharing their perspectives on career progression and specialisation.
You’ll leave this Assembly with your head full of good ideas for potential career development and a bucket load of insights from people who’ve successfully made these transitions and you can claim one hour’s CPD.
This continues our series on paraplanning career development. Don’t miss our previous sessions exploring how to break into paraplanning and choosing the right place to work for your early paraplanning career.
Join us online at 1pm on Wednesday 1st October 2025 for ‘Developing as a paraplanner: ‘How do I build a career?’’
This Assembly would not be possible without the generous support of Aegon. Thank you to the team at Aegon for supporting and for backing the development of paraplanners and paraplanning in the UK through their support of the Paraplanners’ Assembly.
Here are the links mentioned in this Assembly. Once you’ve watched or listened, make sure you tap the link to receive your CPD certificate (first link below).
Crowdcast: watch the Replay (with Chat)
Vimeo: watch video of this Assembly (without Chat)
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Once upon a time, when taxes were relatively low, ISAs and unwrapped investments seemed like pretty obvious choices for clients' money.
But the big cut in the capital gains tax allowance and rises in tax on gains and dividends has changed things. Tax wrappers that once seemed like more hassle than they were worth (like investment bonds) could now be the ideal vehicle – especially for higher rate taxpayers.
That’s the question that guest Neil Macleod from M&G's technical team was invited to answer when he joined host, Leanne Pickering, for this Assembly.
Over the course of one lunch hour, Leanne and Neil explored when bonds are more suitable, when offshore makes sense, and why the 'best' mathematical answer might not actually be the right choice for your client. In this Assembly you’ll:
You’ll discover that the right choice for your clients isn't just about what the spreadsheet says but about the broader thinking
What’s more, once you’ve listened, follow the link below and you can request a record of 1 hour’s worth CPD too.
Useful links
Here are useful links and downloads from this event. M&G Wealth have created a dedicated page for this event where you can take a quiz to receive a record for your CPD. Just follow the link to grab your certificate.
To receive a record of participation for CPD, follow this link ➜ https://bit.ly/47zAs6g
You can also download Neil's slides (opens PDF).
You can watch the Replay of this Assembly at Crowdcast (includes Chat) ➜ https://www.crowdcast.io/c/fgnir28tysqh
Or you can watch on Vimeo (without the chat) over here ➜ https://vimeo.com/1111664975
Leanne mentioned two Assemblies featuring M&G's technical team in 2025. Here’s the Les Cameron’s Assembly on pensions, death and taxes ➜ https://bit.ly/3RhZvl9
And here’s Barrie Dawson’s Assembly on investment bond essentials ➜ https://bit.ly/4cuQuPa
You’ll find the tax wrapper comparison tool here ➜ https://bit.ly/3JrGUSJ
Here’s M&G’s Bond School ➜ https://bit.ly/4mor2z0
You’ll find loads of tools and calculators at M&G’s Tech Matters site here ➜ https://bit.ly/3RkVNY0
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Whether you’re considering a move into paraplanning, just landed your first role or are just curious about the options, one question you might keep wondering about: ‘What kind of organisation should I work for?’
Do you choose in-house team or outsourced provider? A small boutique practice or large corporate? Whichever you choose, there will be pros and cons, so how do you decide which is most suitable for you?
This Assembly – recorded on 6 August 2025 – lifts the lid on different paraplanning career paths and workplace structures. It’s the second in a series of Assemblies looking at careers in paraplanning and supported by Aegon.
Our host Caroline Stuart of Sparrow Paraplanning is joined by Julie South, owner of Bee Paraplanning, Sarah Lees, senior paraplanner at Forvis Mazars and Jo Parkes, paraplanning manager at Navigatus – paraplanners with experience of working in all kinds of organisations and are ready to share what it’s meant for their careers.
Over the course of the Assembly, they discuss:
You’ll leave with a clearer picture of your paraplanning options, practical insights from experienced practitioners, and the confidence to take your next career step.
This Assembly would not be possible without the generous support of Aegon. Thank you to the team at Aegon for supporting and for backing the development of paraplanners and paraplanning in the UK through their support of the Paraplanners’ Assembly.
This is the second Assembly in a series on breaking into and developing your career in paraplanning. Discover the first in the series Breaking into paraplanning: where do I even start?.
Here are the links mentioned in this Assembly. Once you’ve watched or listened, make sure you tap the link to receive your CPD certificate (first link below).
Crowdcast: watch the Replay (with Chat)
Vimeo: watch video of this Assembly (without Chat)
Plannex (previously known as NextGen Planners)
Glassdoor - for employees’ opinions about employers
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Last Monday (21 July 2025), the UK Government published draft legislation which means that, from April 2027, most unused pension savings and death benefits will count towards your estate when you die.
If you're wondering…
...you're not alone.
So in this bonus podcast episode, host Richard Allum met up with Barnett Waddingham’s James Jones-Tinsley to talk through the Government’s planned changes, what they mean for paraplanners and your clients, and suggest practical steps that you can already take to help clients get ready for the change.
The measures, which feature in the Finance Bill 2025-26, could still change as the proposals make their way through Parliament from September. But if you're wondering where things stand right now and what you should be thinking about for clients with decent-sized pension pots, this is a fantastic update that gives you the current picture.
Speaking of the Finance Bill…
If you’ve ever wondered how Budget measures become law, James met up with Leanne Pickering of Pivotal Paraplanning last year to walk through each step in the process. Here's the podcast episode:
From Parliament to paraplanner: How do Budget measures become law?
And speaking of pensions…
James has recorded a series of really helpful jargon busters on new and old pensions exclusively for the Assembly:
New pensions jargon: part one
Listen: A plain English guide to new pensions jargon: part one
Watch: A plain English guide to old pensions jargon: part one
New pension jargon: part two
Listen: A plain English guide to new pensions jargon: part two
Watch: A plain English guide to old pensions jargon: part two
Old pensions jargon: parts one, two and three
Listen: A plain English guide to old pensions jargon: part one
Watch: A plain English guide to old pensions jargon: part one
Listen: A plain English guide to old pensions jargon: part two
Watch: A plain English guide to old pensions jargon: part two
Listen: A plain English guide to old pensions jargon: part three
Watch: A plain English guide to old pensions jargon: part three
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The choices clients make during the 5-10 years either side of retirement can decide how comfortable they’ll be once they stop working.
In fact, it’s such a distinctive stage in our financial lives that, among a growing number of advice professionals, it’s known as the ‘retirement risk zone’.
The data says – and you’ll know this yourself – that clients tend to become more risk-averse on their approach to retirement. Yet the likelihood of longer lifespans – and the costs associated with it – mean that ‘playing it safe’ could actually prove to be risky.
What’s more, persistent economic uncertainty and instability, not forgetting the FCA’s retirement income review exposing gaps in advice quality, means hatching a plan that helps clients swerve unnecessary risks around retirement has never been more important.
In this online Assembly Connor Stewart from Standard Life joins host, Richard Allum, to explore the features of the retirement risk zone.
Together they consider the risks that can trip clients up – things like the shift from accumulation to decumulation, sequencing returns, and adapting to changing financial priorities in an uncertain world – before considering practical ways to tackle them.
Listen and you’ll hear practical ideas to help guide clients through one of the trickiest phases of their financial lives. So how about it? Fancy zoning in on retirement risk? Then tune in now.
Here are the links mentioned in this Assembly. Once you’ve watched or listened, make sure you tap the link to receive your CPD certificate (first link below).
Connor's slides: retirement risk zone (PDF)
Vimeo: watch video of this Assembly (without Chat)
Crowdcast: watch the Replay (with Chat)
Annuities essentials: part one
Annuities essentials: part two
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With recent changes to capital gains tax rates reaching up to 24% and the CGT annual exemption frozen at just £3,000, many clients are looking for tax-efficient ways to structure their investments.
In his latest 'Technically speaking' session for the Paraplanners' Assembly, Utmost's Steve Sayer explores how offshore bonds and trust structures work together – offering inheritance tax planning options that provide flexibility for clients who want to be prepared for the 'what ifs' of life.
Steve brings the options to life with a series of examples of different trust arrangements and how they can be combined.
He’ll show you how discounted gift trusts can provide an immediate reduction in estate value, how loan trusts offer capital access, and why reversionary interest trusts might help hesitant clients take their first steps with inheritance tax planning.
The session includes a detailed case study showing how married clients in their sixties, with £3.5 million in assets, could use multiple trust structures to meet their annual income needs all while reducing their inheritance tax liability.
What's more, you'll learn about the planning opportunities that come with non-UK long term residence status and how offshore bonds can keep assets outside the UK inheritance tax net.
And to round off his session, Steve shares a decision-tree approach that you’re bound to find useful when you’re weighing up client needs.
Grab a copy of Steve’s slides - plus a certificate for your CPD
Slides: trusts and offshore bonds - options for IHT
Then make sure to take our quick quiz to receive a certificate for your CPD:
CPD: Take the quiz to receive your certificate
Other useful links
Steve mentions Utmost's conversion guide for discounted gift trusts. You can download it here:
Discounted gift trust: conversion guide (May 2025)
Fancy watching this Assembly instead? Then visit the event page at the Paraplanners' Assembly website:
Technically speaking: Trusts and offshore bonds - options for IHT planning
You can find all our previous technical sessions with Utmost here:
Utmost x Paraplanners' Assembly: all our previous sessions
And don't forget to take a look at Utmost's Technical Academy webinar series too.
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What knowledge, experience and skills will help you get hired? And, once you are hired, how will you know you’ve actually made the right choice?
Whether you want to get into paraplanning, are just starting out, or know someone who would love to get their break, this online Assembly – recorded on 9 July 2025 – is jam-packed with insights on making your move into paraplanning.
Host Caroline Stuart is joined by paraplanning guests Chris Wormwell, Ceetal Katechia and Kez Condy, plus personal development expert Sarah Purves of Aegon.
Over the course of one podcast, you’ll discover how each of our paraplanners took very different routes into the profession.
Among the topics covered are
Once you’ve listened to this Assembly, you can request a certificate for 1½ hours CPD. Just follow the link below.
This online Assembly would not be possible without the generous support of Aegon. Thank you to the team at Aegon for supporting next week’s Assembly – and for backing the development of paraplanners and paraplanning in the UK through their support of the Paraplanners’ Assembly.
There are loads of links following this Assembly. First of all, once you’ve listened to this episode, make sure you tap the link to receive your CPD certificate: https://paraplannersassembly.typeform.com/to/ocHx6IFO
You can also watch the Replay of this Assembly at Crowdcast (includes Chat): https://www.crowdcast.io/c/5xznwgskdxz9
Or view it on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/1100103967
Sarah mentioned the fantastic idea of picking people for your ‘personal boardroom’. Here’s a link that tells you more: https://www.personalboardroom.com/for-individuals/
Caroline recommended downloading the PFS’s booklet ‘Getting you started in paraplanning’ (opens a PDF)
Chris mentioned The Chimp Paradox – a ‘mind management model grounded in neuroscience’ by Prof Steve Peters.
Kez talked about her experience of a paraplanning apprenticeship. To find out more, visit the Skills England Apprenticeship finder, which tells you more about the new combined Financial Planning and Paraplanning apprenticeship. There is currently one provider – Skills Edge Training – but we understand there may be more entering.
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As paraplanners, we have the power to directly influence financial outcomes that are better for women – whether we’re reviewing fact finds, drafting recommendations, or creating financial plans.
But are we truly creating plans for the individuals in front of us? Or are we unwittingly relying on conventional thinking and assumptions which are actually more likely to be rooted in men’s experiences rather than women’s?
It matters because, more often than not, women’s financial lives are very different to men’s. So to deliver genuinely effective financial planning, it’s important to understand the differences and how to adapt our approach.
In the recording of this online Assembly, host Sam Tonks invited Sam Secomb of Women’s Wealth and Susan Hope of Scottish Widows to explore how paraplanners can better understand and address the unique financial planning needs of women. During the session Sam, Susan and Sam discuss
– what makes women’s financial experience so different from men’s
– the real-world impact of the ‘parenthood penalty’ on long-term financial planning
– our assumptions about vulnerabilities, risk profiles and investment preferences
– practical strategies paraplanners can implement to better serve female clients
There are loads of links following this Assembly. First of all, once you’ve listened to this episode, make sure you tap the link to receive your CPD certificate: https://emails.scottishwidows.co.uk/womens-finances-webinar-CPD
You can also watch the Replay of this Assembly at Crowdcast: https://www.crowdcast.io/c/sk0o36kcb5fn or on Vimeo instead: https://vimeo.com/1096332315
There are a number of items of research referred to during this Assembly or which offer valuable background reading including:
Sam Secomb: Women’s career progression in the UK financial planning sector: https://bit.ly/4lckHFZ
Research from TISA that includes language around risk warnings: https://bit.ly/45qwoUU
Download Sam Secomb’s ‘Million Pound Difference’ case study here: https://bit.ly/4nfrwIy (opens PDF)
Plus there are some excellent stats and insights from Scottish Widows’s ‘Women & Retirement Report 2024’: https://bit.ly/449mKDZ
You’ll also find lots of valuable tools at Scottish Widows site including:
Beat the Gap tool: https://bit.ly/4n00oNE
The Pension Mirror: https://bit.ly/4ejrnju
Meet your future self: https://bit.ly/3HLSUhj
Plus Caroline Criado Perez’s fantastic Invisible Women was a must-read mention in the Chat.
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Remember our Assembly on annuity essentials back in March?
Over the course of one lunch-hour, Andy Powell from Standard Life walked us through the basics of annuities – how they work, the differences between pension and purchased life annuities, and the kinds of options available like inflation protection and guarantee periods.
Now annuity expert Andy is back and he’s taking things a little bit further.
In the second of his two-part guide to annuities essentials for paraplanners he talks to host, Richard Allum, about how annuities can feature as part of your clients’ retirement income strategies. For instance, among the practical planning tips that go beyond the basics, are things like:
– annuities can actually boost the value of the legacy client’s leave for loved ones
– annuities can be used as an asset class within broader portfolios
– and much more
After years of being out of fashion, annuities have been enjoying a bit of a renaissance lately. So what better time to refresh your annuities knowledge and - who knows? - maybe challenge your thinking about how they can contribute to a client's retirement strategy these days?
Fancy topping up your annuities knowledge? Then tune in now.
Useful links
Grab your CPD certificate for watching or listening to this Assembly by visiting the link below. There were plenty of useful links shared in the chat during the Assembly. Thanks to Rob Collins, Heather Fosker and Jon Young for sharing your links. If you want to speak to someone at Standard Life about their guaranteed life income annuity you can email GLI_sales@standardlife.com
Watch the Replay at Crowdcast (includes Chat)
Watch the video on Vimeo (doesn’t include Chat)
Standard Life’s guaranteed lifetime income annuity webpage
Map of healthy life expectancy
The Lang Cat’s ‘State of the Platform Nation 2025’ report
Steve Webb on pensioner spending research by LCP/Uni of Bath
Retirement Living Standard’s ‘Picture your future’ tool
Inheritance Tax guaranteed annuity calculator
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When it comes to the idea of innovation are you more likely to radiate Ted Lasso energy rather than Roy Kent? More Bandit than Bluey? Or put another way (that doesn’t rely on eclectic TV viewing habits): does the prospect of change make you feel more ‘Yeah!’ than ‘Meh!’?
The reason we ask is that we were inspired by paraplanner Zara Okoro’s recent thought-provoking article in Professional Paraplanner all about innovation. So we invited Zara from Abacus Associates, who’s also a PFS Paraplanner Panel member, to share her thoughts on how paraplanners can adapt rather than risk getting left behind.
Alongside Zara, we were joined by PSA Financial Services’ head of paraplanning, Ceetal Katechia, to join in the conversation. Ceetal has bags of practical experience in creating team environments in which new ideas flourish.
Together with host Richard Allum, this Assembly asked what innovation actually looks like, whether it’s always a good thing, what fuels it, and how can you influence it when you’re not the decision-maker?
It’s an Assembly that’s all about how you can embrace innovation and shape our profession rather than be subject to changes happening around you.
You’ll come away with practical ideas to try out, whether you’re looking to improve your processes and workflow, make better use of existing tools and tech, or create space for bigger changes in your work.
Most of all, this is a chance to step back from day-to-day demands and take a few moments for yourself to think about how even small changes can shape your role and influence the direction of your career in paraplanning.
Once you’ve listened, make sure you tap the link to receive your CPD certificate: https://paraplannersassembly.typeform.com/to/hR6mIizq
Here’s Zara’s article at Professional Paraplanner: https://bit.ly/4jA9WwQ
Watch the Replay at Crowdcast: https://www.crowdcast.io/c/6x1q91lqsgut (includes the Chat)
Or watch on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/1080253419?share=copy (doesn’t include the Chat)
The University of Helsinki's foundational online courses on AI cropped up as a recommendation during the discussion
So did the book The Art of Quiet Influence - subtitled 'Timeless wisdom for leading without authority'
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How often do you recommend investment bonds compared to ISAs or GIAs for non-pension money these days?
If it’s rarely or not at all, that’s not so surprising.
Because bonds seem to have become a bit neglected planning option in recent years haven’t they?
It’s a trend which means that paraplanners can be forgiven for being a bit rusty when it comes to the latest investment bond knowledge.
Yet they’re an option which offers plenty of planning potential. So we thought it was about time we hosted an online Assembly where you can rekindle your bond with bonds.
To guide us, we’re joined by investment bond expert Barrie Dawson from M&G. During this Assembly Barrie covers:
– What bonds actually are
– Common jargon (that’s often misunderstood)
– How bonds are taxed internally – and why the ‘20% tax rate’ misunderstanding persists
– When bonds make sense: practical comparisons with other investment options
Whether bonds are something you’re just getting to grips with, or you just need a refresher, this Assembly offers clarity about when and how bonds can feature in your planning recommendations.
Once you’ve listened, make sure you complete the quick quiz to receive your CPD certificate: CPD: Request your certificate
Here’s a link to download Barrie’s slides: Barrie’s slides on Bonds and OEICS (opens PDF)
Richard mentions Les Cameron’s Assembly on pensions, death and taxes. Here’s the event page which has lots of links. You can also listen to the episode on Acast or search for ‘Paraplanners’ Assembly’ on your favourite podcast app.
You’ll find the M&G Bonds School over here: M&G Bonds School
And there’s a trove of tools and calculators at M&G’s site: Tools and calculators
If you’d like to watch the Replay of this Assembly you can find it at its Crowdcast page.
You can also watch video of this event by visiting its Vimeo page. (Unlike the Replay, this version doesn’t include the contents of the live Chat. Here’s the link: A guide to investment bond essentials.)
If you’d like to watch the Replay of this Assembly you can find it at its Crowdcast page.
You can also watch video of this event by visiting its Vimeo page. (Unlike the Replay, this version doesn’t include the contents of the live Chat. Here’s the link: A guide to investment bond essentials.)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the second of two specially recorded bite-sized Assemblies, Barnett Waddingham’s James Jones-Tinsley returns to tackle six items of new pension terminology including:
For each item, expect an easy-to-understand definition that also offers a bit of background per term.
In a world that’s awash with word soups and acronyms, James’s jargon buster offers a welcome source of straightforward explanations of often quite complex ideas.
You can also watch the video of this episode on Vimeo or the event page at our website.
Then watch or listen to part one, where James will tackle more modern pension terms.
Listen: A plain English guide to new pensions jargon: part one
Watch: A plain English guide to old pensions jargon: part one
And if that's not enough and you want OLD pensions jargon, here are links to James's trio of episodes:
Listen to part one: A plain English guide to old pensions jargon: part one
Listen to part two: A plain English guide to old pensions jargon: part two
Listen to part three: A plain English guide to old pensions jargon: part three
Watch part one: A plain English guide to old pensions jargon: part one
Watch part two: A plain English guide to old pensions jargon: part two
Watch part three: A plain English guide to old pensions jargon: part three
Event details for part one: A plain English guide to old pensions jargon: part one
Event details for part two: A plain English guide to old pensions jargon: part two
Event details for part three: A plain English guide to old pensions jargon: part three
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Following his popular Assembly debut in February, Jon Hall returns to finish his exploration of protection essentials.
And this time it’s the essentials of business protection that the Scottish Widows’ protection expert will be focusing on.
The chances are you’ll have business owners among your clients. And plenty of you run your own businesses as outsourced and freelance paraplanners.
So what happens when someone running a business becomes critically ill or dies? What steps can you take to address the risk? How do you start a conversation about business protection?
Tune in to hear Jon as he shares his expertise on:
Whether you want to develop your knowledge or make sure clients with business have the right plans in place, you’ll find this Assembly really valuable.
Jon has shared a number of links and downloads – some of which he mentioned during his talk.
Jon's slides: Paraplanners Assembly - Business Protection Essentials (PDF)
Adviser guide to business protection
Protection tools and calculators
Conversation starters for clients with businesses
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