PFS Local Plymouth & Cornwall Autumn Conference 2026

A full day of 5 topical speakers from Business Protection & IHT Mitigation, Cash Flow Modelling & Investment Bonds, AI within Financial Advice, Effective Estate Planning and the Practical Use of Trusts & a Soft Skills session on winning solid rapport in seconds, master soft questioning skills, and influencing clients with integrity.

*Michaela Pashley FPFS PoFP - Practical Financial Exams Limited. The Maths Behind the Models: How Cashflow Modelling Works. 

While packaged cashflow modelling tools appear to have won the market over, it is essential that Financial Planners understand what's going on 'behind the scenes', both when producing a cashflow model for testing the achievability and sustainability of a plan, and when producing and evaluating a numerical capacity for loss figure.

Michaela will also provide a session on Investment Bonds.

* Dave Upton - Focus Advice; AI

Cutting through the AI noise, where technology actually matters in financial advice. Our mission is to help firms streamline delivery, cut unnecessary admin and use data and automation in ways that support – not replace – professional advice.

At Focus, we help firms connect people, processes and technology so advice can thrive consistently, compliantly and at scale. We help you:

• Extend your client reach without compromising on quality.

• Reduce administration and operational costs so the business can thrive and focus and what really matters

• Attract and retain talent with tools that make advice delivery efficient and rewarding.
• Innovate with confidence, knowing compliance and client trust are built in.
• Engage every generation with flexible, transparent, human-centred advice.

*Bernie De Souza - The Global Coaching Company: Winning solid rapport in seconds, master soft questioning skills, and influencing clients with integrity.

During this presentation, Bernie De Souza will share some tried and tested techniques in a fast paced, interactive, field-based presentation. This keynote will leave the delegates with the exact words to use and how to deliver them, to help their clients to say ‘yes’ in a comfortable manner, using the exact 12 Magic Words. The presentation will demonstrate how to keep the client in their comfort zone using soft skills throughout the process. In this entertaining presentation, Bernie will help you to perfectly match what is in our potential client's mind and how to avoid the words and actions that usually delay decisions. He will share the skills of handling uncertainty and delays from potential clients. Finally, Bernie will demonstrate how to build solid trust and rapport in the first 15 seconds with the exact words to use with only 2 simple steps.

*Dave Lardner- Adeptli; Effective Estate Planning and the Practical Use of Trusts

This session will explore how effective estate planning starts with understanding the client’s wider circumstances, objectives and estate, rather than simply focusing on reducing an inheritance tax liability.

It will consider the factors that influence inheritance tax exposure and the range of planning strategies available, with particular focus on the practical use of trusts, lifetime gifting, exemptions and reliefs. The session will examine how different approaches can affect control, access, flexibility and the eventual transfer of wealth, and why these considerations are important when assessing suitability.

Using practical scenarios, the session will also consider how estate planning should evolve as a client’s circumstances change, and the importance of regularly revisiting existing arrangements to ensure they continue to support the client’s objectives and deliver appropriate outcomes.

*Robert Betts - Royal London; Business Protection - A new Direction

This session is designed to provide a clear introduction to business protection advice, covering principles, main solutions, and the importance of safeguarding businesses. It also explains how to identify and address risks linked to debt, profits, ownership, and impacts on families. Additionally, it will cover best practice approaches for communicating complex protection concepts in an accessible manner, ensuring advisers can confidently help businesses make informed decisions.