Any Financial Planning members of the CISI acting like “Mr Grumpy’ have been urged to give the organisation a chance, as a the first year anniversary of the merger with the IFP draws near.

Jackie Lockie CFPTM Chartered FSCI, CISI deputy head of Financial Planning, issued a rallying call to members this morning.

She told old IFP members that “it takes two to tango and we need you to dance with us.”

The CISI team have got “will and commitment” to make it work, she said.

She told delegates at the CISI Financial Planning Annual Conference she had come across many people sitting on the fence and a number who were ‘grumpy’ about the new era after the IFP.

She said: “I don’t blame you at all because I was doing a bit of this before May.
(when she took up the job).

“It is different but it doesn’t have to be bad different, just different.

“For those of you who’ve not been silent, you have been doing this (a bit of grumbling)… tell us what’s happening where you are.

“Give us a chance. Campbell and I are doing our best and we want you to join us.

“I think we’ve made some real progress since we arrived 5 months ago, some things behind the scenes you won’t see and some things like at the conference you will see.

“During my days at the IFP nothing was perfect either. Things happen, things will get fixed and we will make progress, we will all do it together.”

Ms Lockie revealed the CISI is working to increase the ‘robustness’ of the case study assessment process.

Regarding grumbles over IT and communications, she said they were working to improve it and asked members to get in touch, though warning the process wouldn’t be instant necessarily

She said: “If I had a magic wand I’d wave it but I haven’t unfortunately.”

Before conference she told FP Today she was pleased with turn out from members.

A total of 302 planners, including members and non-members, were reported to be at the event this year, compared to 360 in 2015. There are 31 fewer members attending, the CISI said.