Among the speakers announced are former US Army officer Mark Horstman and neuropsychologist Dr Moira Somers.

The two-day event themed on ‘Changing Lives’ takes place this year at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, a move from the usual venue of Celtic Manor Resort in South Wales.

It features a wide array array of technical speaker and experts and three key Financial Planning streams covering clients, business and technical expertise. One of the highlights will be the 2018 Financial Planning Gala Awards Dinner on 1 October.

Gold sponsors of the event include Aegon and Standard Life whose speakers will focus on the ‘Changing Lives’ theme.

In ‘Focus On Your Clients’ stream, sessions will include:

•Interpreting body language – with Bob Malloney, Business Coach, Malloney Associates

•Using blended human and digitally-assisted advice with clients – with Keith Butten, CFP Chartered MCSI, Chartered Wealth Manager, Myers Davison Ginger and Warren Shute CFP Chartered FCSI, Lexington Wealth Management

The ‘Spotlight On Your Business’ stream includes:

•Are you leading as a nit-picker or as a critical thinker? Presented by former bomb disposal expert Dominic Brittain of Cognitive Bias Solutions.

•How to cope with serious illness in the senior management of a Financial Planning business and still prosper, based on a planner’s personal experience and led by Julian Gilbert CFP Chartered MCSI, director, Wealth Matters.

•Attracting new talent and recruiting: ensuring the right people are on the bus and in the right seats! – with David Burridge of Paradigm Norton and Josh Butten CFP Chartered MCSI, Financial Planner, Myers Davison Ginger.

The ‘Get Ahead Technically’ stream includes:

•Dancing with the devil of sequence risk – with Professor Andrew Clare, associates Dean, chair in Asset Management, Cass Business School and Stephen Thomas, Cass Business School.

•MiFID II – The impact on Financial Planning and wealth management firms, both large and small – presented by Paul Grainger, CEO, Complyport and Marc van Poeteren, chairman, FPSB Europe

•Philanthropy workshop – presented by Tom Murray, founder of Charityflow, Wealthflow.

•Employee ownership trusts – led by Graeme Nuttall OBE, Partner, Tax and Structuring, Field Fisher

The important areas of integrity and behaviour will be discussed during the ‘What would you do?’ ethics discussion and voting on a real Financial Planner’s dilemma, led by Rebecca Aston, Chartered MCSI, CISI head of professional standard.

Robin Keyte CFP Chartered MCSI, director, Chartered Financial Planners and member of the FCA Financial Advisory Panel, will lead a session on What we can learn from British Steel and ‘How we can offer Financial Planning advice to those who need it but cannot afford an upfront fee’, with Gretchen Betts CFP Chartered MCSI, Magenta Financial Planning and Wales branch president.

Jacqueline Lockie CFP Chartered FCSI, CISI head of Financial Planning said: “This year’s conference has been designed by Financial Planners for Financial Planners and this is very much reflected in our fantastic line up of speakers and content.

“We have worked hard with our membership to provide a balance of soft and technical skill sessions. In addition to these must-attend streams we have some fun sessions planned and Alistair Humphreys, adventurer and author will share his insights and challenges experienced from his inspirational cycling journey around the world. We are also looking forward to being joined during the Conference by CISI’s incoming Chairman, Michael Cole-Fontayn.”

More information and details of how to book can be found on the CISI website.