The CISI’s Financial Planning Annual Conference, including the gala and awards evening, takes place from Monday to Wednesday at Celtic Manor.
It is the first time the event has been run by the CISI since it merged with the IFP last November. The CISI has placed a strong emphasis on technical and topical Financial Planning content, with a stream dedicated to the six step process being brought back.
A total of 302 planners, including members and non-members, are set to be there this year, compared to 360 in 2015. There are 31 fewer members attending, the CISI said.
Jackie Lockie CFPTM Chartered FSCI, CISI deputy head of Financial Planning, said she was pleased with turn out from members.
She said: “Overall there will be 458 people at the conference this year. This is down compared to over 600 in 2015 but there has been a significant reduction in ‘free’ guest places and numbers of staff on top of the international delegate reduction.
“The drop (in Financial Planners) is mainly attributable to not as many international delegates this year as there were international FPSB meetings and other conferences that were close in date.
“So it’ll feel smaller no doubt, but as far as members are concerned the number are only 31 fewer than 2015.”
There are 13 more speakers compared to 2015.
Ms Lockie said there would be a “slightly wider audience”, with 50 to 60 members from the CISI’s other non-Financial Planning forums.
Ms Lockie was pleased to report that a number of long time IFP members who haven’t attended for a while will be back this year.
She promised delegates “three action packed days” with “lots of fun stuff going on”, including competitions for best exhibitors in different categories.
There will be over 30 exhibitors, slightly fewer than last year.
Among the keynote speakers during the three days will be Noel Maye, CEO of the Financial Planning Standards Board, who Ms Lockie described as “a big supporter of the merger” with the IFP. He is set to address delegates on Tuesday.
Former IFP presidents Campbell Edgar CFPTM Chartered FCSI, Julie Lord CFPTM Chartered FCSI and Marlene Outrim CFPTM Chartered FCSI will also be among those presenting at the event.
Ms Lockie has brought back a specific Financial Planning stream for “the first time in a long time” in order to “bring it back to its roots”, she said.
These sessions on the six-step Financial Planning process, primarily run by veteran IFP Fellows, will take place through Tuesday and Wednesday.
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Read more on the conference on Financial Planning Today later this week.
Visit Financial Planning Today next week for live coverage directly from the event in Wales.