Global Investment Strategy Update

The first six months of the year have seen a startling rise in equity markets in spite of the lack of any real improvement in the wider economic environment. But the gains have been focused on certain sectors and geographic regions, while areas such as commodities have significantly lagged. In this panel we ask the following questions of the markets:

• Is there still value in equity markets and if so, where?
• What will be the key pinch points for the markets in the second half?
• Which trusts are best equipped to generate strong returns in that environment?

Moderator: Szymon Idzikowski, Morningstar will be joined by:
- Peter Walls, Unicorn Asset Management
- Phil Doel, F&C Investments
- Bruce Stout, Aberdeen Asset Management

What do you say to a grieving client? Do you really want to know how they are? Do you actually know how they feel? Amy Florian shares how best to communicate with a client who is going through a grieving process.

2013 is now a reality and very recent research is showing us that after getting the exams, many advisers are taking some time to review their business plan, their business goals and the business’s resource requirements.

In this webinar Derek Bradley, CEO of Panacea Adviser is joined by Roderic Rennison from consultancy, The Ideas Lab. Roderic will be sharing his insights into some of the challenges that intermediaries have been addressing in relation adviser charging and dealing with the new Regulator, the FCA, since the 31st December 2012, and his thoughts on how to address them.

This is an event not to be missed so register to attend now.

This session will include the reviewing and monitoring processes of client portfolios, how best to review a portfolio including closed-ended funds and the extra considerations that should be made, and how the selection of an appropriate benchmark for a fund or client portfolio is made.

The regulator requires you to demonstrate an ability to analyse the performance of investments. This session covers portfolio performance and portfolio review and administration:

• Methods of evaluating portfolio performance
• Selection and use of benchmarks
• New money and timing factors
• Changes in client circumstances
• Changes in financial environment
• New products and services available
• Maintenance of products and services
• Use of external services / benchmarking
• Rebalancing

Dave Grant, one of NAPFA's 30 most influential people in fee-only financial planning of 2013, shares best practices for attracting gen X & Y clients.

Dave Grant is one of the founders of NAPFA Genesis. NAPFA Genesis is a peer-to-peer networking group designed to encourage professional growth and development among NAPFA members and affiliates who are 33 years old and younger.

As businesses grow, they often face a number of issues. However the management information (MI) they collect, also known as "Vanity" metrics, doesn't provide the insight required to identify what the real issues are. As the old saying goes "Turnover is Vanity. Profit is Sanity".

When I ask for a copy of their management information, most firms can produce loads of evidence although they struggle to pinpoint what this information reveals about their business. In this video, I discuss the quick fixes many firms adopt to resolve their business issues, but tend to not work out.

Pricing your advice correctly in a post RDR world is essential for survival and success. Yet there are still firms grappling with this difficult issue. This presentation can help you put it to bed once anf for all and get on with doing great work at great margin.

The use of audio, images, video and other interactive content continues to be easier to create every day. The widespread adoption and use of social media provides an ever expanding palette upon which to share and consume this content. Our panel of experts, from across the financial services industry spectrum, will sound in on how interactive content plays a role in their own business and subsequently, their customers.

What does your office say about you? Is it an inviting area where clients feel comfortable having conversations about money? Mary Gresham shares research that'll make you consider a new look to your office layout.

How advisers can and should use social media to widen their network? How quickly can you get results from social media?
How can social media help with search and getting top of Google?
Why is online video important?

Hear from Bridget Greenwood, Financial Social Media as she answers the above in this quick two minute video.

The investment trust industry is changing: Routes to market are becoming more effective, and platforms more receptive; charging structures are improving; discount mechanisms are modernising; and the structures of trusts themselves are changing. We talk about some of the innovations in the sector, analyse new launches and show how it is meeting the needs of investors.

Panel:
- Cherry Reynard (moderator)
- Hugo Thorman, Ascentric
- James Saunders Watson, J.P. Morgan
- Annabel Brodie-Smith, The AIC

The cornerstone to building a strong differentiated value proposition is the very beginning. The relationship is constructed from the first communication.

It’s the structure and process of client engagement that is critical.
This is the second of a two part webinar, ‘OPTIMUM ADVICE – The Client Engagement Conversation’, that will take you through how you can establish a robust, equitable and profitable client relationship, based on a partnership with a prospective client, setting out to achieve their own personal goals and outcomes.

It will enable you to:
• differentiate yourself
• present a robust value proposition
• charge fees for the work you do
• develop long term comprehensive client relationships
• engage new clients and uncover new opportunities with existing clients
• triple your revenue

Michael Kitces shares his success factors on building an audience and connection through Twitter.

John Greenwood, Chief Economist from Invesco Ltd. will provide his insights on the overwhelming theme in the major developed economies of balance sheet repair. He will also share his views on the global economy for the remainder of 2013 and answer questions from the intermediary community put to him by Paul Burden, Independent Financial Journalist.

Ever wondered why clients are not more excited about what you can do for them? It may have to do with the package of services you are offering and a failure to hit their most important issues. Tune in to find out how to design service packages that will really resonate with your client base.