The IFP's Scottish Conference has taken place this week in Edinburgh and earned praise for the quality of its speakers.
The event took place at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Edinburgh with more than 70 professionals and financial experts taking part from across Scotland and further afield.
Attendees were welcomed by IFP chief executive Steve Gazzard CFP^CM who gave the opening address and there were many expert speakers covering topics as diverse as social media, networking skills, investment trusts, IHT planning and retirement planning.
Alliance Trust Savings' Evan Bruce-Gardyne covered the pros and cons of investing in investment trusts and how investment trusts have risen to the challenge of competing with Oeics.
There was also an interactive exhibition and plenty of opportunities to network with planners, Paraplanners, speakers and the exhibitors throughout the conference.
One highlight was a keynote speech from Everest climber Ian Woodall talking and the triumphs and tragedies of climbing one of the world's great mountains.
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The one day conference, preceded by a dinner the evening before, was sponsored this year by Alliance Trust Savings.
Nicola Coates CFP^CM, Scotland Branch Chair, said: "This year's Scottish Conference was excellent – a great balance of hard and soft skills, with technical sessions from Neil MacGillivray of James Hay and Bob Gordon of Standard Life bringing us bang up to date with topical pension issues and detail on the IHT simplification proposals.
"Paul Lothian of Verus Wealth and A2B Wealth put us all to the test in a most enjoyable session exploring how to adapt our style to communicate more effectively.
"There was a fascinating and invaluable insight from Mike Brown from Anderson Anderson & Brown on consideration of and then pursuit of an integrated wealth management proposition for his business. We all enjoyed two informative sessions from Simon Bain and Bridget Greenwood."
"All in all, the venue was superb with excellent food and amenities, the day was excellently organised and ran very smoothly with fantastic networking opportunities and sharing of ideas and superb speakers. I am already looking forward to next year."