Giving the opening keynote speech at the 2014 IFP Paraplanner Conference today, Ms Siddle of Eldon Financial Planning, said the profession of Paraplanning was "in its infancy" and now was the time for all Paraplanners to help shape its future for the benefit of Paraplanners and clients alike.
She told a packed conference of 150 Parpalanners and other delegates: "We're making it happen together but Paraplanning as a profession is in its infancy and we have a responsibility to shape it. We need to be seen as professionals in our own right."
She said Paraplanning could be hugely beneficial to clients and a force for good.
Ms Siddle, Paraplanner of the Year in 2013, said she had realised the power of the Paraplanning profession recently she had helped clients who been been through personal trauma such as bereavement and other challenges.
She said: "I recently helped a lady get her life back on track after she was robbed by a fraudulent financial adviser."
She urged delegates to take away from the conference the "ability to become a better Paraplanner, not just for yourself but also for your clients as well."
The conference is lead sponsored by Just Retirement with over a dozen other sponsors and exhibitors including ETF Securities, Prestwood, Morningstar, Architas, AXA Wealth, Cornelian, Henderson Global Investors, James Hay, NS&I, Nucleus, Prudential and Transact.
Conference chairman Martin Vaughan CFP^CM opened the conference with an upbeat message about the growing maturity about the Paraplanning profession, underlined by the sell-out conference enjoying a record attendance of more than 150 in total. He urged delegates to talk to and share ideas with other Parplanners as the "best thing you can do."