Laura Royle, Senior Paraplanner at Bourlet Consulting Chartered Financial Planners, considers the content and what she learned from the PFS’s Purely Paraplanning event in May 2025.
On 7th May, the PFS Purely Paraplanning 2025 conference took place at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. This was my second time attending and actively contributing to shaping the programme. The event came at a moment of career transition, between roles and eager to keep my skills sharp. Being part of the panel discussion alongside my colleagues in the PFS Paraplanner Panel and hosting a roundtable couldn’t have come at a better time for me.
Defining Success: Panel Reflection
The “Succeeding in Paraplanning” panel – myself alongside Rachel Whittaker, Hannah Winnick, Alan Gow and Luke Sparkes, and ably hosted by Zara Okoro – talked about what success means for each of us. I believe everyone should define success for themselves; for me, the moment I could honestly say, “I am good at my job,” was a true milestone.
We received insightful questions from the audience—ranging from how we see the role evolving and the potential impact of AI to practical tips for career development and establishing paraplanning as a profession in its own right. Having never done a panel session like this and feeling a fair amount of nerves beforehand, I found it empowering and would definitely recommend taking part if the opportunity arises.
Technical Nuggets
Zoe Taylor’s talk, “Red Flags: When Good Cases Go Bad,” was both amusing and informative. The session used case studies and bite-sized technical nuggets to highlight just how easily small details can unravel a case. The interactive format kept everyone engaged and added real-world nuance, from technical curveballs to the rise in POA fraud, something we must be mindful of in our duty of care to vulnerable clients.
Kirsty Anderson then reminded us that the 2027 IHT changes for pensions are on the horizon, which dovetailed nicely with Lindsay Spencer’s earlier session around decumulation. Both sessions reinforced how our technical know-how must evolve alongside regulation, especially amid the significant changes of late. I believe this is an opportunity for paraplanners to really shine by revising our usual approaches and supporting advisers as strategies evolve.
Reaching our potential
Becca Timmins’ workshop on challenging assumptions we have about ourselves also stood out for me. She spoke about the limiting beliefs we often hold about our own capabilities and shared strategies for reframing these, referencing Stephen Covey’s circles of concern (this is worth a read around if you’re not familiar with it). This resonated at a time of transition for me – both personally and professionally – reminding me to focus on what I can control as well as taking a good look at what incorrect assumptions may have mistakenly become embedded for me.
Later in the day, I hosted a roundtable where we discussed our exam journeys and shared tips.
This led on nicely to Lysette Offley’s session on “The Science of Exam Success.” Although some of the techniques discussed covered familiar ground for me, it was still interesting to hear them reframed through a scientific lens. As someone with ADHD I have needed to pay strong attention to how I learn best and find I work best with mixed modes – it seems that’s not just for the neurodivergent! Lysette provided a reminder to structure revision thoughtfully and build in breaks, along with the value of repetition. The Forgetting Curve is an interesting concept she brought up which I recommend looking into in more depth. I’ll be doing my best to harness these tips for J02 in September!
Final Reflections
As always, the value of days like this isn’t just in the sessions, but in the conversations and ideas they spark. I left with plenty of practical takeaways and a reminder that paraplanning events aren’t just about technical precision, but also about community, confidence, and continuous growth.
One of my favourite parts of the day was hearing an attendee say that they felt validated by hearing career paraplanning discussed as more than just a stepping stone to becoming a financial adviser. That feedback meant so much to me and it’s exactly why we do this!
Your thoughts on next year’s programme and location are welcome – drop me a message on LinkedIn (or in our LinkedIn group). The PFS Paraplanner Panel is also taking applications for new members until 18th July 2025.
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