The PFS’s Annual Conference and Personal Finance Awards will be entirely digital, with the professional body making a phased return to smaller face-to-face events later this year ahead of a full return in 2022.

The financial freedom theme will be explored in relation to helping clients regain control of their financial destiny after the shock of a global pandemic plus protection advice will feature along with retirement planning and socially responsible investing.

There will also be a focus on skills development, with practitioner sessions dedicated to the power of coaching and cash flow.

Speakers confirmed so far include award-winning broadcaster and adventurer Ben Fogle and market commentator and 7IM co-founder Justin Urquhart-Stewart.

Sarah Lord, president of the PFS, said: “As the world evolves following the Covid-19 pandemic, now more than ever consumers are looking to take control of their financial security and ensure their own financial freedom.

“This presents opportunities for practitioners to engage existing and new clients and provide expert guidance and advice to put them in control of their own financial futures.

“We are pulling out all the stops to deliver an event Personal Finance Society members can be proud of and we look forward to welcoming our members to the virtual conference in November.”

The PFS has come under a lot of pressure recently to prove its value to its members due to coming under fire from PFS members, including a number of past presidents, for plans to deregister the PFS as a separate company and bring the organisation much closer into line with the CII.

The Chartered Insurance Institute board has shelved, at least temporarily, any plans to deregister its Chartered Financial Planner-body, the Personal Finance Society, until the results of a major review are known next year.

In an exclusive interview with Financial Planning Today published in July, CII CEO Sian Fisher said the CII board had “committed not to make any decisions about the PFS” until the consultation was complete. 

The CII plans a major consultation initiative over the next few month with its 125,000 members, with Ms Fisher and other senior CII figures meeting with members, local institutes and regional committees to seek detailed feedback on the plans and the future direction of the CII.

In the Q&A with Financial Planning Today, Ms Fisher reiterated her apology about the communication of the PFS plans and apologised for any “anxiety or confusion” caused to members.

She said she also regretted using the word “deregistration” in connection with the PFS plans.