14th October 2011

3rd annual Ascentric Conference to focus on Managing Change

Independent wrap platform Ascentric has announced the dates of its third annual November Conference - Mere Golf & Country Club in Manchester (22nd November)Watershed in Bristol (24th November) and Dexter House in London (28th November).

Aimed at practice principals, wealth managers, financial planners and paraplanners, the theme at this year’s Ascentric Conference is about ‘managing change’ and will bring together a number of influential distributors, commentators, industry experts and product providers to deliver an agenda that supports and drives the decisions that advisers are having to make around RDR and beyond.

Chaired by Ascentric Managing Director Hugo Thorman, the Ascentric Conference will cover three main topics:

1. Supporting business change
   As the market moves towards a post RDR ‘fee for service’ world, it has never been more critical that clients understand the value that advisers deliver. Consultant Steve Billingham, Philip Calvert (Founder of IFA Life) and Nick Cann (Chief Executive of Institute of Financial Planning) will provide advisers with practical frameworks for developing post RDR propositions, detail ways to attract and add value to their customer interactions through a mix of communications and examine the training plans needed to support the industry requirement for qualifications going forward.
   
2. The impact on investment solutions
   With markets undergoing a period of sustained volatility the need for a robust investment strategy is paramount. M&G, iShares, BNY Mellon and Ashcourt Rowan will deliver a series of Masterclasses covering a variety of investment approaches and styles to support advisers in their investment decision making.
   A debate involving a panel of industry experts will follow covering the key issues raised during the day, drawing on their experiences of running adviser practices during times of significant change and debating their views on the wider IFA market.
   
3. Putting strategies in place to cope with change
   Our headline speaker will be Corporal Andy Reid. In autumn 2009 Andy Reid suffered devastating injuries whilst serving in Afghanistan. He has since astounded his doctors with remarkable achievements that have inspired all those around him. In an interactive interview, Andy will share with us the skills needed to succeed when confronted by significant obstacles.
   Andy Reid commented, “Wherever we look today, we see the signs. Business resources are being stretched and abilities being tested to the extreme. Transformation, transition and changes in the world about us seem to be constantly in the news, happening to other people, other businesses.
   “But what about when the change impacts on us personally, when it dramatically changes all our points of reference? What are the skills needed to adapt, improvise and overcome and succeed in times of change?”
   Andy’s session will examine the key attributes to help you cope with change: the skills required, the ways to develop them, and the ability to remain focussed and overcome real adversity.
   Dominic Ventham, Head of Marketing at Ascentric commented, “With the market currently undergoing such a huge amount of turbulence and set against a difficult economic backdrop, I wanted to put together a speaker line up that could focus on the significant opportunities that change can bring. I hope attendees will come away armed with a range of strategies that they can use to shape their future business plans and draw real inspiration from the speakers to implement them successfully.”

Advisers wanting to attend or obtain more information should contact Ascentric Marketing at marketing@ascentric.co.uk or click here. The event carries CPD (Continuing Professional Development) points.

Investments