Edinburgh Programme
The first half of 2024 has given the financial advice profession plenty to think about. The much-anticipated Retirement Income advice thematic review, renewed scrutiny of the delivery of ongoing advice services, and a shift in focus towards embedding Consumer Duty. Alongside these challenges, we have seen a new style of regulation, with a move towards outcomes-based regulation and a data-focussed approach. Join the SimplyBiz Compliance Leadership as we discuss the current and future regulatory landscape covering key regulatory changes, the challenges posed and opportunities presented.
Learning objectives:
By the end of the session you will be able to:
- explain the key regulatory challenges facing advisers in 2024
- related practical solutions to address within your business
- identify opportunities to engage further with clients as part of your solution
You work hard to keep your clients happy: Be it top-notch planning; well-trained support staff; or just the cracking biscuits in the meeting room, it’s all about making their ‘user experience’ as good as it can be.
But, in the blink of an eye, all that can be ruined by an ill-considered CIP.
In this session, we look at ways in which your choice of investment product can damage your users’ perception of your service or, if you get it right, enhance it.
Learning objectives:
By the end of this session, you will be able to explain how different types of investment product can help or prevent a client from completing the financial plan you have created for them.
You will be able to explain how, despite delivering its stated outcome, an investment product may still result in poor client outcomes on account of an undesirable user experience.
You will be able to state the two main ways in which a client’s resolve will be tested when holding a market-based investment, and how you might help them endure both sets of challenges.
The use of risk profilers and risk ratings have grown in popularity and influence over recent years. But what does that risk number actually mean?
Learning Objectives: In this session, Quilter’s investment experts will highlight that risk is more than just a number by explaining:
- The key difference between a risk rating and a risk target
- How a risk target focused on volatility can be used to support the advice process
- How managing investments with a risk target can result in positive client outcomes.
Investing involves taking risks—but not blindly. In financial markets, prices move daily, and higher prices both increase risk and raise the bar for further returns. In the real world, some risks are costly to protect against, and some offer little compensation for sticking your neck out. But others are underappreciated, providing opportunities to generate attractive returns and mitigate risk at the same time. As we look at the world, we see a few risks that offer both pitfalls and potential returns for investors: the energy transition, de-globalisation, chip scarcity, and ongoing government deficits. Against a backdrop of high stock market valuations and high apparent faith in central banks, these risks point to a cautious outlook for broad markets, particularly if inflation proves sticky. But for a bottom-up investor, these same risks offer attractive pockets of opportunity.
Learning Objectives:
• Understand how the semiconductor ecosystem works and why energy is an important consideration for chip manufacturers
• Explain how the energy system works and which companies are likely to benefit from the energy transition
• What impact government deficits have on opportunities within stock and bond markets
• Understand how inflation affects multi-asset portfolios and inflation-resilient assets
The 2020s have gotten off to a choppy start: a global pandemic and a major war between Russia and Ukraine have caused significant disruption in the global economy and financial markets. Looking forward, it seems that we are now embarking on a period of increased uncertainty compared to the relatively benign period following the fall of the Berlin Wall. Policymakers and investors face a series of challenges that will need tackled, including energy security, ageing populations, a reconfiguration of global trade and commerce, and greater geopolitical risk. It promises to be a difficult market environment. In this presentation, Adrian Lowcock from Evelyn Partners will attempt to shed some light on these themes, and provide some ideas for how investors might navigate them.
Learning objectives
1. To learn more about global trends and how these are shaping the investment landscape.
2. To be able to use this information with clients who are interested in learning more about where there assets may be invested and why.
3. To learn more about how Evelyn Partners managing portfolios.
Human biases influence your clients’ judgment and decision-making across all aspects of their life, none more so than when investing. At a time when making the wrong decision can have devastating consequences on their current lifestyle or plans for retirement, being able to recognise and understand these biases is essential to achieving positive client outcomes. During this session we will explore some of the biases influencing investment behaviour and explain how a disciplined but dynamic approach can better guide your clients towards sound financial decisions, improving client outcomes and strengthening your relationship with them.
Learning Objectives
• Understand the powerful biases your clients face when investing.
• Recognise and understand the impact of these biases on their investment decisions.
• Explain how an understanding of these biases can better inform your decision-making.
• Demonstrate why a dynamic, multi-asset investment strategy can be optimal.
