More than 300 attendees have taken part in the two-day CISI Annual Financial Planning Conference which ended today.

There were 300 Financial Planning delegates plus an additional 20 exhibitor delegates who attended the major event in Surrey, one of the biggest in the Financial Planning calendar.

Speaking to Financial Planning Today, conference chairman Martin Ruskin CFP, client director at Paradigm Norton, said the sold-out event had been hugely enjoyable and provided a perfect example of "collaborative learning."

He said: "It's gone really well. It's been highly collaborative with friends learning from each other. It's people coming together to want to do better for their clients."

He said the "vibe" had been excellent this year and similar to the conferences of the Institute of Financial Planning, which merged with the CISI in 2015.

"In the last couple of years we've returned to our roots and the same vibe as before," he said.

Mr Ruskin said the conference highlights for him had been sessions from leading global thinkers on business management and client insight, the tribute to the 'godfather' of Financial Planning Paul Etheridge and a focus on topical areas of interest such as Paraplanning and AI.

Referring to the late Paul Etheridge he said: "Paul Etheridge would be so pleased about where we have got to and where we are going. All that he stood for we continue to stand for and continue to want to do the best for our clients, encouraging them to live life to the full."

The CISI’s flagship annual two-day Financial Planning conference has been taking place this week at Wotton House conference centre, near Dorking, Surrey. It features dozens of expert and distinguished speakers and, this year, a focus on technology.

Next year's conference will be held in Manchester.

•Conference hashtag: #financialplanning23 

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Fast-growing Financial Planner and wealth manager Kingswood Group has ruled out a sale of the business after a strategic review.

Investment expert Fraser Donaldson of Defaqto writes a regular column on DFMs for Financial Planning Today magazine, our sister publication and this is his latest column in the current issue to give you a taste of the column. To view Fraser's past columns and lots more content in the magazine register and subscribe to the magazine. If you are not yet registered for Financial Planning Today website do so now to find out more. Registration is free.

Investment expert Fraser Donaldson reviews the FCA's latest 'Dear CEO' letter on cash interest. Mr Donaldson, Insight Consultant at Defaqto, writes a regular column on DFMs for Financial Planning Today magazine with the latest column reproduced below. To view Fraser's past columns and lots more content in the magazine register and subscribe to the magazine. If you are not yet registered for Financial Planning Today website do so now to find out more. Registration is free.