🧇 The Weekly Waffle – Academy Town Hall Exposé May 24th, 2024 📅
Hey there, Waffler🌟
Grab a seat, because it's time for the latest episode of "What’s Burning at the Academy?" 🍽️. Our Friday Lunch Bunch has served up another round of overly dramatic updates that you absolutely can't live without. What’s cooking this week at the Academy of Life Planning's Town Hall? 🍽️ Spoiler alert: It's more of the same, but with extra flair.
Prepare yourself for a dish served piping hot with a side of saucy revelations and zesty quips. Because, let's face it, where else can you mix business with a hefty dose of office gossip, all while pretending to enjoy waffles? 🎯
Kick back, indulge, and get your fill of news that’s as tantalizing as a fresh-off-the-iron waffle, and just as likely to leave you with sticky fingers. Bon appétit—or should we say, gossip away! 😏🍽️
How The Advisory Industry Will Change In The Next Few Years
Ah, the financial advisory industry – evolving faster than your favorite tech gadgets. 📱💸 It's crucial to keep up with the latest trends unless you fancy being left in the digital dust. 🕰️
Check out this riveting video on the so-called "evolution" of the advisory industry. Spoiler: it's all about the rise of technology, the shifting roles of advisers, and the myth of market accessibility. 🎥✨ Apparently, we're witnessing advisers morph from number crunchers to life coaches, thanks to the magic of AI and automation. 🤖💼
Grab some popcorn and watch as advisers pretend to embrace their new roles, all while secretly cursing the robots stealing their jobs. 🍿😜 Enjoy the show, folks!
🚀 Who needs traditional financial advisers when you’ve got AI doing all the heavy lifting? 💼💡
Say goodbye to endless meetings and hello to self-service, AI-driven financial planning. 🤖✨ Ian Partington says it best: "Advisers' roles will shift to relationship managers while AI handles the analytics." Translation: let the bots crunch the numbers while humans do the talking. 💬
Curious about how AI is transforming our world and why independent, non-intermediating financial planning is the latest must-have trend? Spoiler: it’s because we’ve finally realised that humans are better at empathy than spreadsheets. Shocking, I know. 😏
Check it out and join the revolution, because who doesn’t want a bot to do their dirty work while they get all the glory? 🖤
Future-Proof Your Paraplanning Career: Embrace the AI Revolution and Side Hustles
The financial planning landscape is evolving at breakneck speed, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and globalisation. Because who wouldn’t want their financial future decided by a robot? 🤖✨ These changes present both challenges and opportunities for paraplanners, who now face the thrilling task of figuring out how to stay relevant.
As AI increasingly handles the analytical aspects of financial planning (bye-bye, spreadsheets!), paraplanners must consider how to adapt and thrive in this brave new world. One viable path is to develop a non-intermediating financial planning side hustle. Yes, you heard it right – time to embrace the gig economy. 🚀💼
Here’s how you can future-proof your career and align your professional goals with the evolving market:
Diversify Your Skills: Because who doesn’t want to add “jack-of-all-trades” to their resume?
Embrace Technology: Get cozy with AI tools. They’re not just here to take your job – they’re here to make you look good.
Start a Side Hustle: Non-intermediating financial planning is all the rage. It’s like the cool, rebellious cousin of traditional advising.
So, while the robots handle the number-crunching, you can focus on being the empathetic human clients still (occasionally) crave. It’s a win-win, right? 😏
In a world where change is the only constant, the best way to stay ahead is to ride the wave of innovation – and maybe pick up a side gig or two. 🌊👩💼👨💼
Partner Parade featuring PlannerPal
You're cordially invited (because who could resist such charm?) to endure a captivating hour at our Partner Parade featuring the oh-so-fabulous PlannerPal and its co-founder, Mark Whitcroft! 🚀
Lucky you, the video is available FREE on our VOD channel. Why should you join us, you ask? Well, PlannerPal isn’t just another tool to clutter your digital space; it’s a so-called "groundbreaking" AI assistant, here to revolutionise client interactions and documentation! 🤖✨
So, grab your popcorn (again) and get ready to be dazzled by yet another tech marvel promising to make your life easier while silently plotting to take over your job. Enjoy! 🎉😏
Timeline the Movie, featuring our very own Lance Barron as the Grandfather!
If you thought you knew the hustle of the finance world, think again. "Timeline: The Movie V4c" is here to prove you wrong. 🎬🔥 This cinematic gem showcases the saga of Timeline Portfolios, a company that didn’t just disrupt the status quo—they set it on fire and danced around the flames like it was a bonfire party. 🔥💃
This video is nothing short of a love letter to entrepreneurial audacity, featuring Abraham, the maverick mastermind who dared to ask, "Why can't we do it differently?" Spoiler: He did it differently, and now we're all here, watching his highlight reel. 📽️🙄 So, sit back and enjoy the show – because nothing says "I’m innovative" like burning down the old ways and roasting marshmallows over the embers. 🍿😏
The Vital Role of the FCA in the UK's Financial Sector
Ah, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) – the unsung hero of the UK's financial sector, tirelessly working to keep the ship afloat. At a recent event hosted by TheCityUK on May 20th, 2024, Sarah Pritchard, the FCA’s Executive Director of Markets and International, reminded us just how significant this sector really is. 🎉💼
With over 2.5 million people employed and churning out an impressive £278 billion in economic output, the financial sector accounts for a whopping 12% of the UK’s total economic output. 📊💰 That's right, folks – it’s the big cheese, the top dog, the sector that makes sure we all have something to gripe about when it comes to the economy.
Pritchard’s speech was a masterclass in stating the obvious, underscoring the fact that without this sector, we'd all probably be living in caves and trading seashells. 🐚🏦 So, let’s raise a glass to the FCA – the watchdog that ensures the financial sector keeps on ticking, so we can all keep pretending we understand what’s going on. Cheers! 🥂😏
Check out my comments because there’s a twist in the tale. 🕵️♂️ While the FCA aims to make the UK "the best place in the world to do business," 🌍 City regulators seem to go soft on City firms, fearing they'll damage London's reputation in global financial markets. 💼✨ Meanwhile, UK victims lost more than £1bn to fraud in 2023! 💸🔍 I knew there was a catch to this and a price the public had to pay. 🤦♂️💷
The Great LinkedIn Debate: Restricted vs. Independent Advisors
Ah, LinkedIn – the gladiatorial arena where professionals duke it out over who has the superior opinion. 🏟️ This week's spectacle featured an SJP guy proudly declaring his contentment as a restricted adviser. According to him, there's hardly any difference between restricted and independent advisers these days. I nodded along, chiming in that all the real value lies in the planning anyway. 🎯
Enter the product flogger, stage left, ready to challenge my sanity. He boldly proclaimed that I was nuts and clueless about platforms. 😱 I calmly reminded him that I was bringing platforms to the UK while he was still figuring out how to spell "adviser." In fact, while he was learning the ropes, I was heading up investments for his bank. Mic drop. 🎤
The punchline? Whether you're pushing SJP or Timeline products, the financial plan should be the same. The moral of the story: whether you're dishing out products or opinions, there's this little thing called due diligence. 🧐 So next time you feel like flexing your financial muscles on LinkedIn, remember – some of us have been there, done that, and got the corporate T-shirt. 😏👕
🌟 Are you fantasizing about retiring from your regulated financial advising role?🌟
Well, join the club! Nearly half of advisers are plotting their grand escape in the next two years, thanks to the delightful combo of retirement and compliance nightmares. 😵💫 But fear not, dear advisers, because there’s an exciting new path just around the corner! 🌈✨
🎣 Picture this: spending your days skiing, golfing, or fishing to your heart’s content, while still putting your financial expertise to use in a way that doesn’t make you want to pull your hair out. Welcome to the world of non-intermediating financial planning! 🌳📈
Yes, you heard right – you can have your cake and eat it too. Embrace the flexible and fulfilling encore career where you can ditch the red tape but keep the satisfaction of helping people navigate their finances. So go ahead, dust off those skis and fishing rods. Your stress-free future awaits! 😏🏌️♂️
🌟🤑 Oh look, another financial planning article! 🤑🌟
But wait, hold the eye-rolls, because this one's actually different. Instead of pandering to the super-rich (because, you know, they clearly need more financial advice 🙄), we're turning our attention to the underserved and marginalised communities. Imagine that! Helping people who actually need it. 🤯
👉 Dive into our latest piece on how we can deliver universal economic empowerment and lower the costs of essentials like housing, food, and healthcare. Because, brace yourself, everyone deserves a decent standard of living. Crazy concept, right? 😂
So go ahead, read on, and join us in this wild idea of making financial planning accessible to all. Who knew helping the many could be so revolutionary? 😏💡
💸💸 Think money is the be-all and end-all? Think again! 🚀
Check out this mind-blowing revelation: we’re all chasing cash straight into the grave. 💀 Who knew? Spoiler alert: it’s not about the money, it’s about what you do with it.
Financial advisers, wake up and smell the decumulation! 🌸💸 You can't just pile up cash and call it a day. Different stages of life need different plans. Shocker, right?
So stop hoarding those pennies like a dragon guarding its treasure. 🐉💰 Time to start planning for how you'll actually use that wealth to live a life worth living. Because, surprise surprise, money isn’t the goal – it’s just the means to get there. 🎯😏
🚨 Hey there, future retirees! 🚨
Guess what? Retirement isn't just about sipping cocktails on the beach anymore! 🍹🌴 It’s time to rethink your financial game plan. 💼💰
Our latest blog post is here to blow your mind 🤯 with the latest trends in retirement planning: 🔄 From accumulation to decumulation (yep, that’s a word, look it up) 💡 Tailored investment strategies for both basic needs (boring, but necessary) and lifestyle splurges (because, live a little, right?) 🤖 The rise of tech and non-intermediating advisers (hello, automation!)
Want to make sure your golden years are actually golden? 🌟👴👵 Check out the article and get ahead of the curve. Because nobody wants to spend retirement figuring out how to stretch those pennies while watching their dreams of beachside cocktails evaporate. Cheers to that! 😏🍸
🤑 To Sell or Not to Sell Your SJP Practice? That Is the Question! 🤑
Feeling like you're stuck between a rock and a hard place with your SJP practice? 📉 With share prices nosediving and regulatory watchdogs breathing down your neck, you might be wondering if now's the time to cash out before the ship sinks. 🚢
But hey, who needs peace of mind when you can juggle the chaos of setting up a new non-intermediating financial planning firm on the side? 🎪 Why not have your cake and eat it too? 🍰
Check out our latest deep dive on whether you should stay or sell. Your future self might just thank you (or curse you, but let's stay optimistic, shall we?). 🤔💼
So, sit back, pour yourself a stiff drink, and dive into our analysis. Because if there's one thing we all love, it's making life-altering decisions based on the opinions of total strangers on the internet. Cheers! 🥂
Ever wondered how to navigate the mind-boggling labyrinth of retirement planning, especially if you're a doctor or dentist?
Well, brace yourself for the epic saga of Martin, who boldly leapt from being an FCA-regulated financial adviser to an all-around retirement guru and life planner. 🌟
Check out his “inspiring” journey and how he's helping our medical heroes transition from the daily grind to a fulfilling retirement. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about the money! 💸 It’s about finding purpose, identity, and enjoying life beyond the hospital walls. 🏥👨⚕️👩⚕️
Dive into Martin’s story and see how his empathetic wisdom and holistic approach can help you or someone you know. Because who wouldn't want a former financial adviser telling them how to live their best life after the scrubs come off?
So, go on, indulge in Martin’s tale of transformation and get ready to be enlightened – or at least mildly entertained. 😏
🔄 Is Intermediation in Retirement Even Necessary? 💼
Feeling the strain of FCA regulations, only to discover your clients might not even need investment intermediation anymore? 😅 Maybe it’s time for a change!
Check out my latest blog post to see why shifting to non-intermediating financial planning could be your best move yet. 💡
Ready to stress less and help your clients more? Because, let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to cut out the middleman and actually simplify things for once?
🚀✨ Unlock Your Financial Potential! Introducing the Asset Audit tool! 🛠️🔍
This mighty gadget audits your tangible and intangible asset holdings, helping you manage your portfolio and boost your financial well-being. 🌟
🔑 Why Intangible Assets Matter: They can significantly impact your future financial stability! 📈 Who knew that stuff you can't even touch could be so important?
Our ChatGPT Prompt analyses your PDF report from the prestigious London Business School 100-Year Life Diagnostic Tool. 🏫📊 Because, clearly, nothing says financial success like a century-long plan.
Meet the Diagnostic Tool Interpreter - FINANCIAL STABILITY ADVISER 🧑💼💡, your expert guide to financial success! Ready to take control of your financial future? 🌟💪 Of course you are, because who isn't?
👉 Click here to get started: Financial Stability Adviser (upload your Diagnostic PDF!). The tool is also on the Google Sheet/Means Tab. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further assistance. We're here to help you succeed! 🙌💼 Because everyone needs a little push to greatness, right? 😏
🌱💸 Impact-Washing: The Latest Trend in Social Investing! 💸🌱
Guess what? Just when we thought we were making the world a better place with our investments, along comes impact-washing! It's like greenwashing but with more moral flair. 💼✨
Check out this eye-opening article from the Financial Inclusion Centre that dives into how some savvy investors are rebranding their profit-chasing ways as “social impact.” Because nothing says "I'm helping society" like demanding double-digit returns, right? 🙄📈
🔍 Read the full article and get the lowdown on how to spot the fakers from the real deal. Because if there’s one thing we need more of, it’s knowing how to distinguish between genuine do-gooders and those just out for a quick buck dressed up in virtue. 😏
So, grab your detective hat and get ready to see through the facade of impact-washing. 🌍💡
🌿🌟 Join us for the CPD Masterclass: The Financial Ecologist 🌟🌿
📅 Date: Tuesday, June 11⏰ Time: 3:00 PM📍 Location: Zoom
Dive into the intricate world of financial ecosystems! 🌊💰 Because who wouldn't want to spend their afternoon unraveling the mysteries of client inflows and outflows? 🔍
In this masterclass, you'll explore:
🏦 Strategic movement of assets from daily banking to liquid investing and illiquid management. Exciting, right?
❄️ The 'defrosting' process – transforming those pesky illiquid assets back to support lifestyle and needs. Spoiler: it's as thrilling as it sounds.
🌱 A green approach to financial decisions, because saving the planet while balancing spreadsheetsis the latest must-have.
By the end of this session, you'll be a master of creating and managing a sustainable, ecologically sound financial plan that aligns with your client's life goals and values. 🌍✨ Because nothing says "I care" like a plan that’s both financially savvy and environmentally conscious.
Don't miss out on this golden opportunity to enhance your financial planning skills! 📈🔧
👉 Register Now: CLICK THE LINK.
🎉 Exciting Update for All Academy Members! 🎉
Guess what, folks? We're thrilled to announce that until further notice, all members (mentees - wait for it!) will receive a whopping 90% discount on our CPD Masterclass LIVE sessions! 🎓✨ That's right, almost free – because who doesn't love a bargain?
Visit shop: AOLP Shop
There are 7 remaining sessions this year, plus you'll get free access to the recordings on our VOD Channel. 📺💼 So, if you miss the live excitement, you can always catch up later. How convenient!
But wait, there’s more! Starting today, all mentees (yes, that’s one-to-one sessions with yours truly, Steve) can attend all remaining 2024 Season 1 CPD Masterclass Sessions for FREE! 🆓🙌 Yes, you read that right – free as in no cost, zero, zilch.
Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to enhance your skills and knowledge. Check the schedule for 2024, and be sure to keep an eye on your emails and Lamplighters for meeting invites. 📅📧 Because nothing says "financial empowerment" like a fully booked calendar and a flood of emails.
Join us and continue your journey to financial empowerment! 🚀
🎉 Exciting News from the Academy of Life Planning! 🎉
Hold onto your hats, folks, because we're beyond thrilled to introduce our shiny new Membership page on the Academy website! For the bargain price of just £19/month (no commitments, because we’re not your clingy ex), you’ll gain access to a treasure trove of financial tools, education, and support to help you achieve your financial goals and build a sustainable livelihood. 🌱💰
👩💼 Whether you're a financial planning adviser dreaming of running your own firm or an individual aiming to be your own financial guru, we've got you covered with our comprehensive suite of services. Because who doesn’t love a good suite of services?
✨ Highlights include:
📚 An extensive financial education content library, perfect for those sleepless nights.
🔍 Financial activation measurement tools, whatever that means.
💸 Cash flow forecasting applications to remind you where all your money went.
✉️ Unlimited email Q&A support, because who doesn’t love writing long emails to strangers?
📊 Business planning templates and support, because we all need a template in our lives.
🎥 Regular updates, webinars, and exclusive events. Who needs Netflix when you’ve got this?
🤖 An AI Life Planner for personalised guidance. Yes, robots are taking over everything, including your life planning.
💼 Ongoing support for creating a sustainable livelihood. Because sustainability is is the latest thing everyone pretends to understand.
Join our community today and take control of your financial planning future! 🚀 Seriously, what are you waiting for?
🔗 Join Now
And remember, access to one-to-one mentorship sessions is totally optional. No pressure, but we’re here if you need us. 😏
🚨 Breaking News: Apparently, You CAN Afford a Better Life! 🤑✨🚨
Check out this Planning My Life groundbreaking article on how lifting a quarter billion people to economic empowerment is as simple as lowering the cost of basic goods and services. 💸🍔🏠
📉 Spoiler Alert: It’s not that simple. But hey, they’ve got some fancy concepts like the “empowerment line” 🧙♂️ which measures if you can afford essentials like food, housing, and—wait for it—communication! 📱📡 Because who doesn't need WiFi to survive, right?
Want to learn how not to get left behind in this economic game? 🏃♂️💨 Check out how "Planning My Life" is making financial planning accessible and transparent. 💪📈 For just £19 a month, you get:
AI Life Planner 🤖📋
Unlimited expert Q&A 💬👨🏫
A treasure trove of resources 📚🔑
And a community that gets it 🙌🌍
Join us and see how we’re empowering people to take control of their finances and their future. 🌟🔮
Because nothing says “financial freedom” like a subscription service and a bunch of buzzwords, right?
Note: Results may vary. The empowerment line might not solve your WiFi problems. 🌐🙃
Misleading Narratives in Financial Planning: The Truth Behind the Hype 🎭💼📉
In the world of financial planning, industry pundits often misinterpret surveys and statistics to paint an overly simplistic picture of the benefits of financial advice. One of the most persistent misconceptions is the assertion that clients who receive financial advice are inherently wealthier than those who do not. Because, clearly, the magic of financial advice turns everyone into millionaires overnight, right? 🤑✨
Take this gem of an article: "People taking advice from loved ones £42k worse off!" Oh, the horror! 😱 According to this narrative, if you're not paying for professional advice, you might as well throw your money into the wind.
But let’s pump the brakes for a moment. This overly dramatic story fails to consider several critical factors that shape the financial landscape for advised and non-advised clients alike. Maybe, just maybe, there’s more to financial success than shelling out for advice. Like, I don’t know, economic background, education, or even plain old luck? 🤷♂️
So, before you rush to blame Aunt Sally’s well-meaning tips for your financial woes, remember that wealth accumulation is a bit more complicated than the pundits would have you believe. Shocking, I know. 😏
Stay savvy, folks. Sometimes, the best advice is to take all advice with a grain of salt. 🧂
Tony's Testimonial: Wow!! 3 years old today! 🤩🎈
"I remember it like yesterday. The day I decided to take a chance and set up my business... because who doesn't love a good existential gamble?"
Apologies Tony! It is Friday and I've given your excellent news a "waffle makeover" (real post is here).
🍷🚪 Curtain Call at the Academy! 🎬
Hats off and glasses up, Town Hall warriors! You’ve just survived another round of the Academy’s infamous Friday Lunch Bunch. 🏆 Scatter freely, but oh—plot twist: there's homework. Because of course, there is. 📚 Check out the hyperlinks we’ve tossed around like a trail of digital breadcrumbs. 📎
Consider the gossip mill officially closed for the week. If you’re craving a blast from the past, browse through our legendary pranks or book your seat for the next session of chaos on May 31st, 2024, at 12 PM London time. 🎟️🕛 That’s British Summer Time for the geographically challenged among us. 🌍🕛 Expect a spectacle of snark and chuckles.
That’s it for today’s banter broadcast. Until next time, keep those waffles waving! 🧇
Cheerio,
Steve ConleyThe Big Cheese, Academy of Life Planning 🧀
Email: steve.conley@aolp.co.uk
P.S. Well, buckle up, financial adventurers, and click on over to a riveting blog update from the Academy of Life Planning (AoLP), your self-proclaimed partner in the mystical art of transformational financial life planning. 🌟📚 Here, in this treasure trove of wisdom, they're not just doling out financial advice; they're transforming lives with the subtlety of a life coach armed with a spreadsheet. It's not just about money; it's about finding your inner financial peace in a world where peace usually comes with a price tag. So, dive deep into their latest post and find out how you too can turn your financial dreams into reality—or at least into a well-organized plan. Happy navigating! 🚀💼 Link to the enlightenment: Academy of Life Planning: Your Partner in Transformational Financial Life Planning
P.P.S. If you know anyone who would like to be added to our mailing list, please share this link.
Websites: Academy of Life Planning, Planning My Life, Financial Life Coach, Steve's Blog.
Copyright the Academy of Life Planning Limited 2023. Contact us by email at info@aolp.co. The Academy of Life Planning Limited is a service sector trading company regulated by the Competition and Markets Authority and Registered in England and Wales number 8016568. Registered office address 9 Franklin Way, Spilsby, Lincolnshire, PE23 5GG, United Kingdom. Information Commissioner's Office reference number ZA502687.