New research looking at the key factors which make IFP Accredited Financial Planning Firms stand out will be revealed tomorrow.
Results of a study will be presented at the IFP's Accredited Financial Planning Firms Conference at the Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel in London.

Phil Billingham CFPCM and Susan Jordan from The Phil Billingham Partnership will present to delegates the accredited firms' benchmarking survey – 12 months on.

They will summarise the key findings and compare and contrast changes over the last 12 months.

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Kevin Deamer CFPCM will provide an update on the activities and objectives of the Accredited Financial Planning Firms committee in the first address of the day.

Rory Percival, technical specialist at the FCA, will explore what it means to be a professional firm in financial services.

Guests will also listen to a presentation on investment trusts, assessing the impact of RDR and future implications for Financial Planners.

Annabel Brodie-Smith and Nick Britton from AIC will examine key factors for Financial Planning firms' due diligence in this important area.

These include performance, the advantages of the closed ended structure, the never-ending desire for income, alternative assets and the way fee structures have changed. They'll also highlight elements of potential practitioner concerns around volatility, lack of research, compliance and integration with platforms as well as taking a look ahead at the impact of pensions' freedom.

A Q&A session about best practice is among the other highlights of the day, featuring Gini Bolton CFPCM from Fiscal Engineers, Gordon Wilson CFPCM of Carbon Financial Partners and Carolyn Gowen CFPCM of Bloomsbury.
There will be a conference dinner tonight, before the main event tomorrow, which starts at 9am.