London National Financial Planning Symposium

Keith Richards

A recognised leader within the insurance and financial services sector’s, Keith has over 30 years experience operating at executive level across both manufacturing and distribution. He has an established media profile and is a visible figurehead, regularly called upon for comment both home and abroad by various organisations, including Trade and National press. Keith established a strong media profile whilst representing one of the UK’s largest Independent Networks (Tenet Group) as Group Distribution and Development Director, prior to which he was Head of Retail for the largest mutual insurance company in the UK, Royal London Group. Actively engaged in the promotion of insurance and financial services within the UK and internationally, he has contributed to the boards of both AIFA (now PIMFA) and AMI. He sits on the board of the European Financial Planning Association (EFPA), a member of various government and regulatory working groups and is Chairman of TISA Exco for Adviser Protocol having also represented the profession over many years on several panels and strategic leadership forums. Keith was appointed Chief Executive of the Personal Finance Society (PFS) in May 2013 and subsequently appointed as Managing Director of Engagement for the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) on 1st August 2016. In addition to guiding the operational and strategic evolution of the PFS he has developed greater government and regulatory engagement for the FS and Insurance profession’s, brought about enhancements to membership benefits and its national CPD programmes. Keith has also introduced a number of key consumer and Professional Standards initiatives which include a consumer website, the largest accredited adviser director in the UK, a pro-bono programme in partnership with Citizens Advice as well as a national anti-scam, consumer confidence and United Profession Campaigns.

Keith Richards

A recognised leader within the insurance and financial services sector’s, Keith has over 30 years experience operating at executive level across both manufacturing and distribution. He has an established media profile and is a visible figurehead, regularly called upon for comment both home and abroad by various organisations, including Trade and National press. Keith established a strong media profile whilst representing one of the UK’s largest Independent Networks (Tenet Group) as Group Distribution and Development Director, prior to which he was Head of Retail for the largest mutual insurance company in the UK, Royal London Group. Actively engaged in the promotion of insurance and financial services within the UK and internationally, he has contributed to the boards of both AIFA (now PIMFA) and AMI. He sits on the board of the European Financial Planning Association (EFPA), a member of various government and regulatory working groups and is Chairman of TISA Exco for Adviser Protocol having also represented the profession over many years on several panels and strategic leadership forums. Keith was appointed Chief Executive of the Personal Finance Society (PFS) in May 2013 and subsequently appointed as Managing Director of Engagement for the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) on 1st August 2016. In addition to guiding the operational and strategic evolution of the PFS he has developed greater government and regulatory engagement for the FS and Insurance profession’s, brought about enhancements to membership benefits and its national CPD programmes. Keith has also introduced a number of key consumer and Professional Standards initiatives which include a consumer website, the largest accredited adviser director in the UK, a pro-bono programme in partnership with Citizens Advice as well as a national anti-scam, consumer confidence and United Profession Campaigns.

Ian Hughes

Storytelling has always been the best way to communicate ideas, persuade others and get people to really listen to you. William Shakespeare, the greatest storyteller who ever lived, can still teach us much about harnessing the power of story to engage and inspire our listeners. In this engaging talk, award-winning actor, business coach and keynote speaker Ian Hughes explains why Shakespeare's stories are still being listened to 400 years after they were written and how each of us can use the power of storytelling to increase the impact we make when we tell our own story.

Ian Hughes

Storytelling has always been the best way to communicate ideas, persuade others and get people to really listen to you. William Shakespeare, the greatest storyteller who ever lived, can still teach us much about harnessing the power of story to engage and inspire our listeners. In this engaging talk, award-winning actor, business coach and keynote speaker Ian Hughes explains why Shakespeare's stories are still being listened to 400 years after they were written and how each of us can use the power of storytelling to increase the impact we make when we tell our own story.

Jason Butler

Company: Orchard Cottage, The Street

Jason was a financial adviser for 25 years and is a Fellow of both the Personal Finance Society and Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment and a visiting lecturer on financial planning and an honorary Fellow of Northampton University. In 1998 he founded Bloomsbury Wealth Management and built this to become a highly respected and successful wealth advice 'boutique', which has been regularly named as among the Top 25 UK financial advisory firms by Private Client Practitioner magazine. In 2015 Jason sold his stake in Bloomsbury to the other existing shareholders, to enable him to focus on researching, writing and speaking about financial wellness and inclusion, as well as being an angel investor in a number of innovative financial technology start-ups. Jason is author of editions 1 and 2 of The Financial Times Guide to Wealth Management: How to plan, invest and protect your financial assets. His new book (with Lien Luu, Jonquil Lowe & Tony Bryne) – Essential Personal Finance: A practical guide for students, is due out in late 2016. Jason is also a columnist for the Financial Times, where as 'The Wealthman', he writes about personal finance related issues. Jason is an engaging and entertaining speaker who has a deep understanding of the key issues which affect financial advisers and their clients, and he aims to deliver tangible delegate take-away value.

Jason Butler

Company: Orchard Cottage, The Street

Jason was a financial adviser for 25 years and is a Fellow of both the Personal Finance Society and Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment and a visiting lecturer on financial planning and an honorary Fellow of Northampton University. In 1998 he founded Bloomsbury Wealth Management and built this to become a highly respected and successful wealth advice 'boutique', which has been regularly named as among the Top 25 UK financial advisory firms by Private Client Practitioner magazine. In 2015 Jason sold his stake in Bloomsbury to the other existing shareholders, to enable him to focus on researching, writing and speaking about financial wellness and inclusion, as well as being an angel investor in a number of innovative financial technology start-ups. Jason is author of editions 1 and 2 of The Financial Times Guide to Wealth Management: How to plan, invest and protect your financial assets. His new book (with Lien Luu, Jonquil Lowe & Tony Bryne) – Essential Personal Finance: A practical guide for students, is due out in late 2016. Jason is also a columnist for the Financial Times, where as 'The Wealthman', he writes about personal finance related issues. Jason is an engaging and entertaining speaker who has a deep understanding of the key issues which affect financial advisers and their clients, and he aims to deliver tangible delegate take-away value.

Paulette Sopoci

Strategic Coach works with advisers and entrepreneurs all over the world, across a range of industries, to help them make their ambitions a reality. In her dynamic session Paulette will offer tips and insights to inspire you to take your business to the next level. Paulette joined Strategic Coach back when its team mem¬bers could be counted on one hand. During that time she has engaged in thousands of hours of con¬versation with highly successful business owners from a wide range of industries about their challenges and opportunities. As a result, few people know entrepre¬neurs like Paulette does. One of the best ways Paulette's found to connect with entrepreneurs is through what she calls "Wow Sto¬ries" - extraordinary accomplishments entrepreneurs have shared with her. Paulette has a talent for asking questions that make people think about their future and how they might reach their highest goals and loves having the opportunity to introduce these possibilities to new audiences.

Paulette Sopoci

Strategic Coach works with advisers and entrepreneurs all over the world, across a range of industries, to help them make their ambitions a reality. In her dynamic session Paulette will offer tips and insights to inspire you to take your business to the next level. Paulette joined Strategic Coach back when its team mem¬bers could be counted on one hand. During that time she has engaged in thousands of hours of con¬versation with highly successful business owners from a wide range of industries about their challenges and opportunities. As a result, few people know entrepre¬neurs like Paulette does. One of the best ways Paulette's found to connect with entrepreneurs is through what she calls "Wow Sto¬ries" - extraordinary accomplishments entrepreneurs have shared with her. Paulette has a talent for asking questions that make people think about their future and how they might reach their highest goals and loves having the opportunity to introduce these possibilities to new audiences.

Trevor Williams

Company: TW Consultancy

Trevor Williams is the former chief economist of Lloyds Bank. His experience covers financial markets, the UK and global economy, including issues such as global trade, demographics, productivity, the third industrial revolution and the future of the global economy, of manufacturing & industry etc. Trevor runs his own consultancy – TWC: www.trevorwilliams.biz. He blogs and presents at conferences and other client-focussed events, representing economic views on a range of topics. He is a visiting Professor at the university of Derby, Chairman of the Institute of Economic Affairs Shadow Monetary Policy Committee (SMPC), author of Trading Economics (Wiley), and writes a regular column in Moneyfacts.

Trevor Williams

Company: TW Consultancy

Trevor Williams is the former chief economist of Lloyds Bank. His experience covers financial markets, the UK and global economy, including issues such as global trade, demographics, productivity, the third industrial revolution and the future of the global economy, of manufacturing & industry etc. Trevor runs his own consultancy – TWC: www.trevorwilliams.biz. He blogs and presents at conferences and other client-focussed events, representing economic views on a range of topics. He is a visiting Professor at the university of Derby, Chairman of the Institute of Economic Affairs Shadow Monetary Policy Committee (SMPC), author of Trading Economics (Wiley), and writes a regular column in Moneyfacts.

Steve Gazzard

Steve has over 30 years experience in financial services including work for professional bodies, platforms, banks, advice businesses, and life & pension providers. He has operated a number of leadership roles including; board membership, operational management, financial management, education governance, policy, strategy, business development, and distribution across a range of channels. Following his seven years as COO and then Interim CEO at the Institute of Financial Planning, he set up S J Gazzard Consulting Ltd which offers consultancy services across a range of financial services disciplines including strategy, policy, professional standards, distribution, and governance.

Steve Gazzard

Steve has over 30 years experience in financial services including work for professional bodies, platforms, banks, advice businesses, and life & pension providers. He has operated a number of leadership roles including; board membership, operational management, financial management, education governance, policy, strategy, business development, and distribution across a range of channels. Following his seven years as COO and then Interim CEO at the Institute of Financial Planning, he set up S J Gazzard Consulting Ltd which offers consultancy services across a range of financial services disciplines including strategy, policy, professional standards, distribution, and governance.

David Thomas

After a troubled youth David Thomas took inspiration from a guy he saw on television memorising a pack of playing cards. He bought his book and three years later broke the Guinness memory world record. He has since won a plethora of international memory events, is an International Grandmaster of Memory and US Memory Champion. David can memorise and recite 100 packs of shuffled playing cards and can quote Pi to an incredible 22,500 digits! David has appeared on numerous TV shows including Oprah Winfrey, Richard and Judy, Alan Titchmarsh's The Today Programme and GMTV. He has written bestselling books on memory improvement and has developed a series of self improvement masterclasses. He works with a variety of clients, ranging from Olympic athletes to Government officials. David's own autobiography was published in 2007, quickly jumping to No.1 in The Sunday Times bestseller list; 1 million people have since read the book. David is certain to inspire you with his own personal story.

David Thomas

After a troubled youth David Thomas took inspiration from a guy he saw on television memorising a pack of playing cards. He bought his book and three years later broke the Guinness memory world record. He has since won a plethora of international memory events, is an International Grandmaster of Memory and US Memory Champion. David can memorise and recite 100 packs of shuffled playing cards and can quote Pi to an incredible 22,500 digits! David has appeared on numerous TV shows including Oprah Winfrey, Richard and Judy, Alan Titchmarsh's The Today Programme and GMTV. He has written bestselling books on memory improvement and has developed a series of self improvement masterclasses. He works with a variety of clients, ranging from Olympic athletes to Government officials. David's own autobiography was published in 2007, quickly jumping to No.1 in The Sunday Times bestseller list; 1 million people have since read the book. David is certain to inspire you with his own personal story.