Online symposium using interactive Zoom.
Wednesday, November 11th from 6:00pm until 8:00pm, UK time
If you are ready to book your place, use the button below;
Otherwise read on for further details…
For any queries please contact us.
Sponsorship opportunities available – please get in touch
Executive summary; scroll down for the programme
In this symposium we will be discussing the FCA‘s Call for Input (CFI) on how to improve the consumer investment market, which it believes is suffering from too many scams and scandals.
The CFI is seeking views on the following key questions:
- What more can they do to help the market offer a range of products that meet straightforward investment needs?
- How can they better ensure that those who have the financial resources to accept the risks of higher-risk investments can do so if they wish, but in a way that ensures they understand the risk they are taking?
- How can they use the regulation of financial promotions to make it easier for people to understand the level of regulatory protections afforded to them when they invest?
- What more can they do to ensure that when people lose money because of an act or omission of a regulated firm, they are appropriately compensated and that it is paid for fairly by those who cause the loss?
- How can people be better protected from scams?
- How do they help this market to be competitive, with firms striving to offer better products and services?
This issue is of great interest to the TTF because we want to do all we can to help protect consumers’ interests, hence our symposium and of course we’ll also be responding to the consultation itself.
Scroll down for further info, speaker details and to make bookings
Who should participate?
This online event will be of particular interest to individuals and organisations that authentically align with the idea that the financial services sector is important and that there is scope for improvement in how it works.
You can expect to be amongst progressively minded and collaboratively minded people.
On the basis that “progress begins with realism” we’ll be running the event as a forum to enable everybody to “say it as they see it.” We will be facilitating the kind of candid yet constructive discussion that is needed to help move matters forward.
We don’t think any one person or organisation has all the answers; and we also think that all answers are worth listening to, so if you’ve got a point of view that you’d like to share, and are keen to hear the views of others, this is definitely an event for you.
This symposium will cover important topics that will be of particular interest to:
- Pro-consumer campaigners
- Investment Consultants
- Financial Services Trade Bodies and Professional Associations
- Regulation and Compliance Professionals
- Investment Companies
- Think Tanks and Civil Society Groups with an interest in the financial ecosystem
- Economists
- Industry Observers, Commentators; the Media in General
- Policymakers
- Politicians interested in the financial services sector
- Market Conduct Professionals
- Bankers and representatives of Banking organisations
- Risk Management Professionals
- Compliance Professionals
- Fiduciaries
- Academics and researchers in governance, stewardship, ethics, conduct and compliance throughout the financial services sector.
Format
We will be using Zoom.
We will be structuring the event in such a way that it will be as engaging and as interactive as we can possibly make it. We’ll be working hard to create as “life-like” an event as possible, with every opportunity taken to create interaction and engagement.
There will be several presentations with Q&A sessions and an open discussion and debate session towards the end.
Here’s the programme and timings, so far*
6:00pm GMT
Welcome to the symposium, introductions and initial exploration of the main issues; plus “Why we must rebuild trustworthiness and confidence in financial services; and how we can do it” by
Andy Agathangelou FRSA
Founder, Transparency Task Force; Governor, Pensions Policy Institute; Chair of the Secretariat Committee to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Pension Scams; former Founding Chair, Friends of Automatic Enrolment; former Founding Chair, Association of Member Nominated Trustees
6:20pm GMT
Presentation #1, for 10 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A with facilitated discussion, by
Shane Norman
Business Development for Fund Managers
Shane’s work is founded on some 40 years’ experience as an investment manager or adviser in the UK, Asia, and continental Europe, including 15 years spent in performing intensive research and due diligence on all types of investment management companies for institutional and other professional investors.
6:35pm GMT
Presentation #2, for 10 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A with facilitated discussion, by
Peter O’Donnell
Director, New South Law Solicitors
For the first 11 years Peter was an army infantry officer serving in South Vietnam, the Australian Special Air Service and an instructor at the Officer Cadet School Melbourne. H left to join IBM as a marketing representative before starting his first business in computer industry search and selection.
He moved to the UK in 1991 and in 1994 opened the first European computer consultancy dedicated to Microsoft technologies for large firms. After selling the company in 1999, he worked as a management consultant for IT and recruitment companies until starting New South Law, where he is currently the commercial director and chairman.
Peter was a victim of a Ponzi scheme recommended to him by his bank manager in 2001, from which he became familiar with how banks and financial advisers work the system and its loopholes to defraud unsuspecting people into trusting but losing their entire retirement savings, generating billions for happy scammers who know they are inviolate.
He has dedicated the remainder of his working life to helping victims of pension fraud and changing how large scale white-collar crime is viewed and corrected.
6:50pm GMT
Short leg-stretch and comfort break, for 10 minutes
7:00pm GMT
Presentation #3, for 10 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A with facilitated discussion, by
Mike Stafford
Director & Certified Planner, Stafford Wealth Management
Mike Stafford is a Director of Stafford Wealth Management, an FCA regulated firm which is based in Hertford town, 26 miles due north of London.
The firm commenced trading as a traditional Independent Financial Adviser (IFA) in 1986 and progressed to financial planning in 1990. It was the first firm in the UK to qualify as an Accredited Financial Planning Firm by the CISI, in 2011. In 2012 the firm’s two directors were awarded the ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award from Lloyds Bank/ Scottish Widows, for services to financial planning.
In 2002 Mike qualified as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), the highest international qualification in financial planning. He qualified as a Chartered Wealth Manager in 2016.
Mike has recently picked up the 2020 Tony Sellon Good Egg award from the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) which is awarded to the individual judged to have contributed most to the financial planning profession over the year.
On the personal side Mike is married with two children and two grandchildren, with another on the way! He is member of MENSA and enjoys most sports (watching these days!) and music.
7:15pm GMT
Presentation #4, for 10 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A with facilitated discussion, by
Steve Conley
Founder & CEO, The Academy of Life Planning
Steve Conley is the founding CEO of the Academy of Life Planning since 2012, the global non-intermediating financial planning network. Steve was the former head of investments at HSBC, RBS Group and Santander, and former Chair of the British Bankers Association’s Bancassurance Steering Group in the run up to RDR.
He is an Ambassador for TTF and the founding lead of its Market Integrity Team.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenjamesconley/?originalSubdomain=uk
7:30pm GMT
The “Just a Minute” Round
Inspired by the BBC Radio 4 programme, we have asked a selection of our attendees to spend just a minute sharing their thoughts on what has been covered during the symposium.
But unlike the Radio 4 programme our speakers won’t be penalised for hesitation, repetition or deviation!
Sue Lewis
Independent Board Member & Financial Services Consumer Consultant
Mark Taber
Professional Fixed Income Investor, Analyst, Campaigner & Researcher
Robert Davies
Lead Manager and Business Developer for the VT Munro Smart-Beta UK Fund, Valu-Trac Investment Management
Sital Cheema
Sustainability Investment Consultant, Jaanu Consulting
7:40pm GMT
Open discussion & debate, 15 minutes
7:55pm GMT until 8:00pm GMT
Final conclusions; suggested next steps and close to the formal proceedings.
However, for those that want it…
8:00pm GMT until 8:30pm GMT
Please click below to book your place
For any queries please contact us.
