Programme - Day 1 

Please note this programme is subject to change

Wed 14th May 2025
09:45
- 10:10
Registration & networking
10:10
- 10:20
Conference opens with Editor's remarks
Speaker
Editor
Professional Adviser
10:20
- 10:55
The evolution of excellence

The strive for excellence is real and a standard that many set for themselves and for others.

Michelle will share her extensive experiences to help you to realise that, in order to achieve your true potential, both personally and professionally, you need to turn your attention to the most important thing of all – your business.

Without a solid and scalable structure, growth and success will be limited, almost to the point of strangulation. She will enlighten the audience with an insight into several tried, tested and successfully proven concepts.

Michelle will take you on a journey through the key elements that will help you achieve your truest potential.

Speaker
Co-founder and Head of Development
Standards International
10:55
- 11:30
The Everything Model

Cogs and wheels, engines and thought processes, they interact and affect each other. In the recent update publication from the Regulator on Price and Value (September 2024) it was stated

“ It is important not to consider the price and value outcome in isolation. It should be considered alongside the other outcomes and cross-cutting obligations under the Consumer Duty”

How can a firm connect up charging structures, CIPs, CRPs, platform delivery, investments strategies, and PROD in an easy way and be able to use this productively within their business?

These interactions can be complex, there’s a lot of moving parts, for instance how does your choice of investment selection affect aggregate charging, and does this charge therefore represent fair value, if it does how do you consider the most appropriate financial instruments to use with your selected target market and what tools do you used to make that choice and are they fully researched with adequate due diligence?

Then there are the new innovated solutions that address issues such as the advice gap and intergenerational wealth. How do you build that into a proposition?

How do you align acquisitions into your business to ensure unity?

And how can you easily and effectively convey that to interested third parties, such as the regulator?

But that’s only one aspect, more importantly how can you harness it, so it becomes a valuable business tool and not just a regulatory exercise. This is The Everything Model.

In this session we will explore the issues in such as complex area and what the Model could look like, you’re all individual so each Model will be unique to you. The session will provide you with useful pointers and a basic framework to get you building your Model if you choose to do so.

Speaker
Principal
Open Door Policy
11:30
- 11:55
Coffee & networking
12:00
- 13:15
Workshops

Attend 35 minute boardroom sessions over the two days of the conference with leading players including Albemarle Street PartnersBenchmark CapitalOrbis, Quilter and Morningstar.


Albemarle Street Partners - Mindful markets

Social media is creating a generation of hyper-risk frenetic investors whose fear of missing out (FOMO) dominates all else. But could this dangerous force be harnessed for good by advisers to get more people investing sooner and with more conviction?

Speaker: Charlie Parker, Managing Director, Albemarle Street Partners


Quilter - Do passive multi-asset solutions exist?

We will be looking at multi-asset solutions and how these can be constructed using passive instruments. Even if you are an advocate of passive investing, many of the benefits of this approach are based on active decisions. For example: the asset allocation process, the passive instruments that are used, and how (or if) portfolios are rebalanced. Each of these decisions has an impact on the outcome for investors. In our session, we will consider three commonly used approaches and evaluate the pros and cons of each. Learning outcomes:

  • Understand how multi-asset solutions can be constructed using passive instruments
  • Identify the importance of active decisions in passive investing
  • Evaluate the pros and cons of three commonly used approaches in constructing multi-asset solutions

Speaker: Andrew Miller, Lead Investment Director, Quilter


Orbis -  Dependence On Great Expectations

In markets, great expectations have a tight relationship with great returns--if it's past returns you care about. If you're focused on the future, the reverse is true. When expectations are high, so is risk. As we look across markets today, we see all sorts of things that only make sense with great expectations: valuations in the US, crowding in stockmarkets, faith in low inflation, and concentrations in adviser portfolios, to name just a few. Looking at individual assets provides a different perspective. While expectations are high in some areas, they are depressed in others. For independent-minded investors, the neglected parts of markets provide opportunities to improve diversification, reduce risk, and enhance long-term returns.

  • Understand the types of expectations embedded in stockmarket prices
  • Articulate the link between those expectations and future returns
  • Explain the relationships between debt, inflation, and bond returns
  • Distinguish between name diversification and fundamental diversification

Speakers: Nicola Dormehl, Investment Counsellor, Orbis

                    Rob Perrone, Investment Counsellor, Orbis 


Morningstar Wealth - Investing in uncertainty: Portfolios that can handle the unknown

When the only certainty is uncertainty, how do you approach portfolio construction? Chris Bishun dives into how our 400+ strong research and investment teams navigate the unpredictable investing landscape, identify opportunities, and cut through the noise to build resilient portfolios.

  • When considering how to construct investment portfolios, understand what’s changed and changing in investment markets and economies
  • Understand what data points you can rely on when managing investment portfolios
  • Understand where today’s investment opportunities are.

Speaker: Chris Bishun, Head of Wealth Solutions, Morningstar Wealth Solutions


Benchmark Capital - Leveraging regulations to strengthen client trust and business outcomes

With Consumer Duty regulations now in effect, firms are shifting their focus from understanding compliance to delivering measurable benefits for clients. This session will examine how financial advisers can refine their approach, ensure adherence, and assess the progress of Consumer Duty implementation across the industry.

  • How firms can turn regulatory obligations into a competitive advantage by enhancing service quality and trust
  • Demonstrate how to address some of the required outcomes based on practical examples
  • Identify key performance indicators to measure the effectiveness of Consumer Duty initiatives and their impact on client satisfaction and loyalty.

Speaker: Gillian Hepburn, Commercial Director, Benchmark Capital


13:15
- 14:15
Lunch
14:20
- 15:35
Workshops

Attend 35 minute boardroom sessions over the two days of the conference with leading players including Albemarle Street Partners, Benchmark Capital, Orbis, Quilter and Morningstar.


15:35
- 15:55
Coffee & networking
15:55
- 16:30
Preparing and equipping your business for the next generation of advice

Join our business leaders as we explore the complexities of equipping and future-proofing a thriving financial advice practice.

  • Attracting and retaining talent: Exploring strategies to attract the best talent and retain them in a competitive market.
  • Engaging with the next generation of clients: Learn how to connect with and meet the expectations of younger clients.
  • Selecting, integrating, and keeping up with technological advancements: Discover how to choose and implement the right technologies to stay ahead.
  • Ensuring compliance in an ever-changing regulatory landscape: Understand how to remain compliant and thrive amidst evolving regulations.
Speakers
Chief Operating Officer
Foster Denovo
Founder
LCH Wealth
16:30
- 16:40
Day 1 round up
16:40
- 18:30
Time at leisure
18:30
- 19:15
Pre-dinner drinks & networking

Come and join us from six thirty onwards for drinks and networking.

19:15
- 21:30
Hosted dinner with guest speaker
Speaker
Bestselling author and former Foreign Affairs Editor, Sky News

Programme - Day 2 

Thu 15th May 2025
09:45
- 09:50
Conference opens with Editor's remarks
09:50
- 10:20
Social Media: Strategy, Compliance, and Best Practices

Social Media is an ever growing business hygiene, regardless of your business discipline or tenure, clients are migrating towards these platforms to seek validity of experience and gain knowledge.

This session is designed to help understand the business case for social media, identify key elements of an effective social media strategy, understanding of compliance and regulatory considerations for content and provide real life examples of what is and can be used. 

Speaker
Founder
SM Advice
10:20
- 10:50
Multi-Asset vs. MPS: Choosing the right investment solution for your business
Defaqto will explore the multi-asset versus MPS conundrum facing Advisers. With unparalleled insight and data coverage of the MPS arena, Defaqto will provide impartial analysis of both MPS activity and Adviser behaviour over the past several years. Sharing insight into the most frequently used search criteria from their Adviser platform ‘Engage, alongside the most commonly recommended solutions and key market trends.
Speaker
Head of Investment & Protection
Defaqto
10:50
- 11:20
Coffee & networking
11:20
- 12:35
Workshops

Attend 35 minute boardroom sessions over the two days of the conference with leading players including Albemarle Street Partners, Benchmark Capital, Orbis, Quilter and Morningstar.


12:40
- 13:10
Protecting your business from cyber attack
A cyber-attack is one of the biggest concerns and costs to an adviser business, with disruption to business, stolen client data, and reputational damage at stake.

Stay on top of this ever-evolving threat and develop strategies that will protect your clients and business.
13:10
- 13:15
Conference summary
13:15
- 14:15
Lunch
14:15
Close of PA Retreat