The IFP will become a heavyweight organisation following the merger with the CISI, the IFP’s new president told the annual conference this morning.
Alan Dick CFP^CM, who formally took the reins from Rebecca Taylor FIFP CFP^CM at the AGM yesterday afternoon, spoke of his optimism, saying the IFP can finally not be forced to punch above its weight.

He hailed the body’s “great team” of staff for their professionalism despite the uncertainty about their futures, which has arisen from the merger, and also praised outgoing chief executives Nick Cann CFP^CM and Steve Gazzard CFP^CM.

Addressing concerns expressed by some that the culture of the IFP would be diluted by the merger with the CISI, he said: “I have a dream that the IFP will no longer be the best kept secret in town, no longer a small body punching above our weight. We will move up to the heavy weight division.

“We are IFP, we are still the same people with the same culture and same belief. Is our culture under threat? I see the complete opposite, a chance to spread it wider.”

He made a special mention for the IFP’s staff, saying they had been crucial to the development of the organisation.

He said: “We have been blessed for years to have an incredible staffing team, a team who goes above and beyond anything we have a right to ask from them.

“Despite uncertainty over their own futures they still show themselves to be the consummate professionals we know they are. I’d like you to join me for a second to say thank you to them for the great work they do for us.”

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Turning his attention to Mr Cann, he said: “Nick was the face of Financial Planning for many years, you couldn’t think if Financial Planning without thinking of Nick.”

When Mr Cann suffered a stroke and was unable to work, Mr Dick said: “Big shoes needed to be filled and someone needed to fill them.”

He said the IFP were fortunate to have Mr Gazzard to step into the role and said he had made “huge personal sacrifices to shoulder burdens for our IFP”.

Mr Gazzard, who left the IFP last week, joined the body to get a better work life balance, Mr Dick explained, yet, he said: “When the chips were down he stepped up and showed himself to be the great leader he was.”

He added: “It’s been humbling to work with him along the years and I wish him all the best for what he does next.”

He said: “I do genuinely believe this is my IFP, not just today but every day since I started as a member. It’s been my second family, my business family. “Undoubtedly this the best Financial Planning conference in the world, bar none. Every year we say it can’t be better, but it is. It’s no more my IFP than anyone else here. Every single member who attends branch meetings up and down the country. We are the IFP and we should be proud of that.”