The three day annual get-together attracted more than almost 400 Financial Planners, Paraplanners and wealth managers plus 250 other attendees including exhibitors, expert speakers, other advisers, regulators, journalists and invited guests. There were also planners from Australia and South Africa. Highlights of the Gala Dinner are in a separate gallery.
The conference included several key note speeches including from Steve Gazzard CFP^CM, IFP chief executive, IFP President Rebecca Taylor FIFP CFP^CM and Mike Allard, chief executive of AXA Wealth. There were also dozens of UK and international speakers including Financial Planning guru Bill Bachrach from the US, track sessions, workshops, an exhibition featuring over 60 providers and organisations, welcome and Las Vegas-themed Gala Dinner evenings and a huge amoung of network in the spacious resort hotel.
Next year's event will take place from 6-8 October at Celtic Manor again. There was a special booking offer for conference delegates for the 2014 event and dozens have already booked their place.
This year's event has received acclaim for the quality of the sessions and IFP interim chief executive Steve Gazzard said he was "overhwhelmed" by the positive feedback for the event.
The event was lead sponsored by AXA Wealth and Architas, has received positive reviews for the keynote addresses, seminars and other.
Highlights included top keynote speakers, a Las Vegas-themed Gala Dinner evening and an appearance from Nick Cann, IFP chief executive, who is recovering from stroke. Other highlights included a conference "fringe" lunchtime event allowing all types of speakers to have their say.
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Tina Weeks, conference committee chair, said: "This year's conference was the best ever and I have had so many people come up to me to tell me what an amazing time they had and much they gained from attending the conference.
"There's a buzz and atmosphere around the IFP conference that I haven't seen at any other event. Everyone feels 'part of the family' and is welcomed. And it's in this friendly environment that magic happens!"
This was the year when social media became a key part of the conference and there was a huge volume of Tweets using the hashtag #ifpconf – over 1400 Tweets were sent.
President Rebecca Taylor's choice to support The Stroke Association as this year's charity during the black tie Gala Dinner was also very much applauded. The final total raised is expected to be significant, as the gala dinner crowd dug deep into their pockets to support the worthy cause following a powerful and highly emotive speech from 24 year old Annabelle Jones who herself suffered a stroke at a young age. The total raised will be announced shortly.
Steve Gazzard, interim chief executive, said: "I'm overwhelmed by the huge amount of positive feedback and thanks we've received from those who have attended the IFP annual conference over the past few days."
• Don't miss our Gala Dinner gallery coming shortly online plus extended conference coverage in the next issue of Financial Planner magazine to be published in mid-October.There is also extended coverage on the event on Financial Planner Online - just check for conference stories below.