I was lucky enough to see Dr Maria Nemeth's presentation at IFP's Paraplanner conference in 2011, and found her a source of inspiration, reports Jane Holt, Paraplanner and director with Mackenzie Financial Planning in Bury.
So when suggestions were requested for the 2013 Lancashire & Cumbria branch programme, I was eager to help my peers be as inspired by her as I had been. With her agreement, we went on to arrange our North West Financial Planning Event – The Art of Financial Planning – Life Coaching over Afternoon Tea.
Conscious that many members may be a little cynical as to its relevance, we invited Duncan Glassey CFPCM to speak alongside Maria. Duncan, who runs his own Financial Planning practice, Wealthflow, has worked with Maria for many years.
When corresponding with Maria before the meeting, I noted all her e-mails are signed "warmly, Maria". There could not be a better word to describe Maria and her presentation.
Maria generously shared her experience and her wisdom, including an overview of her life- planning approach, as well as personal anecdotes to add colour and dimension.
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While modest, and deliberately leaving the bulk of the presentation to Maria, Duncan Glassey proved to be a hidden diamond. He candidly shared his experience of using the life planning approach within his practice in Scotland and made suggestions in response to individual questions posed during the afternoon.
Maria and Duncan shared their 'Life Intentions Inventory'; developed by Maria's Academy for Coaching Excellence and used by Duncan with his clients.
They took time to explain its value to clients and show how it can be used in practice, illustrating very clearly how the inventory can be used to embrace a person- centric Financial Planning process from the first meeting, rather than a focus on a client's money.
They took time to answer questions from individuals over tea and scones and after the meeting, spontaneously initiated a session for those who wished to stay behind and hear more.
The meeting was well attended, and copies of Maria's books and DVD sold like hot cakes. There was also considerable interest expressed in attending Maria's forthcoming 'Mastering Life's Energies' Life- Coaching events in Sweden and Edinburgh. Surely this is evidence of a hunger for this person-centric approach to Financial Planning here in the UK.

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