The countdown has started to the first ever Paraplanner Powwow which will take place in Northamptonshire on 19 September under giant teepees.
The Powwow will bring together Paraplanners from all over the country to discuss shared issues in an informal and friendly atmosphere. Due to demand, event capacity was increased from 60 to 70 but all spaces have now sold out.
Billed as an 'unconference', Powwow organiser Richard Allum, founder of outsourced Paraplannning company The Paraplanners and a board member of the Institute of Financial Planning, said the event would be as good as participants made it and he was looking forward to the get-together.
He told Financial Planner Online: "The idea behind the Powwow is that it's about Paraplanners designing and delivering their own day by choosing the date, location, topics and even the music (everyone coming has been able to choose two tracks for the day, for example)."
"I've never been to a financial services 'unconference' before and I suspect everyone coming hasn't either. (In fact, I don't think there's ever been a financial services unconference in the UK.) And although some people will be stepping up and giving talks, most of the day relies on everyone gathering together, mucking in, getting stuff off their chests and discovering things that amaze us all.
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"So whether the event is a soaring success or a dull disappointment depends on all the participants getting stuck in. We'll get out what we put in. Or put another way: with the Powwow, we're not putting on an event or conference; we are the conference. The good news is that lots of people have already come forward with ideas for discussion and there is a genuine air of excitement.
"The highlight for me will be if everyone leaves having had a great day, got some new ideas and felt able to join in and share their views and ideas. We have already seen the Powwow idea being embraced with local Paraplanners organising Powwow Up North in Leeds and more people interested in setting up their own local events.
Following suggestions from delegates, topics will include due diligence, report writing, clean share classes, cashflow modelling, technology and platforms.
Speakers include Mark Polson from the lang cat and Emma Napier from The Platforum. The main session will be a 60-minute plenary, the Powwow, for Paraplanners, to share issues and problems covering the Paraplanning sector.
There will also be a 'campfire session' with L&G. L&G have ideas about supporting Paraplanners and offering bespoke service so this will be a chance for Paraplanners to share their thoughts on service.
Delegates also suggested 'show and tell' sessions on software and technology usage. Paraplanners will have five minutes to share their favourite software. This will be followed by a guest from AXA Elevate listening to ideas and concerns about how to create the ideal platform software.
Full details are available via http://paraplannerspowwow.co.uk/event/
Financial Planner Online will be following the event so if you are taking part get in touch to tell us how it's going and what the highlights are. You can direct message us via our Twitter feed @fpm_online
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