The Business Advice Conference hosted by PFS.

Yesterday I spent the day in London at The Business Advice Conference hosted by PFS. 

 

As always, they had a packed agenda, with speakers on the platform every 30 minutes. 

I loved the ‘Movement Time’ built into the agenda. I don’t know about you but trying to focus all morning is difficult for me. Having this break allowed for free thinking and stretching of legs, even if it was just for a few minutes. 

The PFS (Personal Finance Society) is the professional body for the financial planning profession in the UK and I try to attend their events if I can. It supports my personal CPD as well as keeps me abreast with industry trends. 

As I mentioned, the day was crammed with speakers from the moment it kicked off. Every speaker brought something newsworthy to the event but my personal headliners were: 

 

Naomi Greatorex I loved her strategic approach to building her business. She focused primarily on building her brand, connecting at events to ‘introducers’ and clearly has a plan to improve her digital and press PR presence. One phrase stuck with me, “the more press you do, the more they ask” Great session. 

 

Louise Jeffries from Gunner and Co gave some food for thought. Although I feel some years away from even thinking about retiring, her presentation will have pricked the ears of some colleagues in the room. Louise reviewed what to consider when you start to think about selling your business as it can take up to 2 years from the start of negotiations to a completed sale. Cracking 30 minutes, Louise! 

 

And my final headliner was Anne Butcher, MD of Soundfp.co.uk, Anna really got me thinking. I have chosen an outsourcing model in my business; marketing, paraplanning and admin are sourced via external partners, but Anna shared her experiences of running a business built around her team. I feel I am fortunate with the external partners I work with now. Anna impressed with her personal story which took her from literally the tea girl to top dog! Brilliant! 

 

Finally, it was good to bump into Mike Morrow, the CCO at Parmenion. I’ll see him again at the Valid Path Conference in November as Parmenion are a main sponsor. That will be an awesome event – at The Dorchester no less! 

I look forward to catching up with my Valid Path peers in November.