The speech marked the start of the biggest Financial Planning event in the UK.
More than 600 delegates and exhibitors are in attendance at the conference, held at the Celtic Manor Resort in South Wales.
Ms Shalton spoke highly of campaigns such as the Accredited Financial Planning Firms^TM initiative, which she hopes to grow from 48 to 60 firms by the end of the year, the Question of Trust campaign led by Shane Mullins and the Graduate Foundation College.
She also spoke of educational priorities such as the IFP's work on helping members prepare for RDR, the two-day Integrated Financial Planning Programme and development of FPSB UK.

She said the organisation now has 2,020 members but had lost a small number due to RDR requirements being a priority and general consolidation in the adviser community.
She said: "Much work has been undertaken to reap growth from 2013 and beyond and we have recognised an increasing appetite for the business model of the six-stage process of Financial Planning and how readily it fits with the RDR requirements."
She assured members she would still be involved with the IFP but would be handing over Presidential duties to the "very capable" hands of Rebecca Taylor FIFP CFP^CM and Vice-President Alan Dick CFP^CM
She ended her speech by saying: "The IFP belongs to you - and as a member you have a responsibility to secure the growth and development of this amazing Institute.
"Look after it well and nurture it. Keep it safe and promote it as if your life depended on it. That way we will ensure the professionalism of Financial Planning. That way we can be confident of satisfied careers and most important of all, our clients can lead more fulfilling lives."