The PIMFA CASS Academy 2024
2024-05-14 09:00 - 12:30 (Europe/London)
Research shows that firms continue to fall foul of time-consuming and expensive CASS audits, and even those firms with a mature understanding of the CASS rules aren’t immune to escalating CASS audit fees. The problem often isn’t with knowing the CASS rules – many strategies are well understood – but with execution and application.
The PIMFA CASS Clients Academy is a unique learning experience for member firms who, not content to keep up with CASS requirements, seek to expand their knowledge and strengthen their internal capabilities to arrest rising CASS audit fees and ensure the number of incidences and breaches reported to the FCA continues to drop.
The PIMFA CASS Clients Academy (CCA) will change the way you and your firm approach CASS. You will emerge better able to tackle your firms toughest CASS audit challenges, lead with greater CASS knowledge, and inspire assurance at all levels in your firm that your next CASS audit is a success. CCA rapidly upskills CASS Officers, Operations, Compliance, Certification Function Holders, and Custodians to manage your next CASS audit and withstand scrutiny from regulators, auditors and senior managers.
Please visit our microsite to find out more
BOGOF OFFER!!!!
Please use Coupon CASS2024 at checkout for 50% OFF two tickets

PIMFA Live Online Learning: Masterclass: How to Prepare, Write and Review Your First Consumer Duty Board Report
2024-05-16 09:30 - 12:30
The FCA expects your first Consumer Duty Board report to be ‘signed, sealed, and delivered’ in less than five months. At their peril, firms underestimate the time, process, and planning required to produce a Board-approved report by 31 July 2024.
The stakes are high, and although there is a temptation to populate a template, your first Consumer Duty Board Report is a critical document that must be personalised to suit your firm.
The FCA has put firms on notice, reminding them that they will “need to be able to provide it [their Board Reports], and the management information that sits behind it, on request” – the key here being the evidence that sits behind it.
As time is of the essence, PIMFA, in partnership with consultancy firm Square 4, has designed this three-hour masterclass to help you compile your first Consumer Duty annual assessment report in line with FCA expectations.
Format
Part one of this online masterclass takes you step by step through how to best prepare, structure, format and populate your report. In part two, you will, with the support of regulatory experts, drill down into the 10 critical elements of your Board report that Square 4 has identified will attract greater FCA scrutiny.
Content
This live and interactive masterclass will address the ten critical elements of the Board report that firms must get right:
1. The Executive Summary
2. Customer outcome monitoring
3. Root cause analysis
4. Actions
5. 3LOD assurance
6. Culture and purpose
7. FCA engagement
8. Consumer Duty Champion
9. Business strategy
10. Board approval
Key questions this masterclass will answer includes, how your firm can:
1. What does a detailed and well evidenced Report Board Report look like?
2. Determine what resources you need to put the Board Report together
3. Reveal and address the gaps in your outcomes monitoring framework and Reporting
4. Obtain an appropriate range of relevant qualitative and quantitative metrics
5. Ensure that the report is effectively owned doesn’t get stuck in the second line
6. Retain a sense of proportionality, whilst retaining the quality and completeness the FCA expects
7. Evidence that your firm’s culture and purpose align with the Duty
8. Identify and document poor outcomes, detailing the remedial action(s) taken
9. Grasp what good practice looks like when it comes to documenting your approach to vulnerable customers
10. Demonstrate that there has been robust engagement, scrutiny and challenge from Senior Management, NEDS and the Consumer Duty Board champion
11. Construct a plan to improve outcomes and evolve compliance with the Duty
12. Assess how future business strategy is consistent with the Duty
By attending this masterclass, you will be able to:
1. Follow a clear plan of action to produce a Board Report that aligns to the FCA’s guidance
2. Compare your approach to Board Reporting with industry peers and regulatory expectations
3. Reflect, in your report, the perspectives and priorities of the Board/governing body
4. Develop a clear approach to writing a Report that is purposely, focused and more balanced
5. Employ proven design principles, in line with industry good practice
6. Avoid the trap of presenting too much data and too little information
7. Making the mistake of Reporting too much on what has happened
8. Reflect in your content, the areas the FCA will focus and scrutinise
9. Use the time to complete a robust ‘dry run’ to identify any gaps and issues
10. Create a plan of action up to July, to allow for any necessary reviews and governance steps
Who should attend this masterclass?
Consumer Duty Champions/ Non-Executive Director (NED) who need to know that the Board report reflects the concerns of the Board and contains the MI, evidence and supporting commentary for a robust discussion and debate to occur before the 31 July 2024.
Board members of firms who have already created their annual Board report or are advanced in their preparations and now seek assurance that the work undertaken to date is complete and aligned with regulatory expectations and industry good practice.
Senior executives concerned that their plans and preparations are falling behind schedule which now need a reboot with a clear set of roles and responsibilities and a plan of action to produce the report by 31 July 2024.

PIMFA Live Online Training: Reputation, Resilience and Risk: Are You Getting It Right?
2024-05-21 09:30 - 12:30
Will your firm still be trusted by your clients after a major disruption or even crisis has occurred?
Today, Wealth Managers face a confluence of interrelated environmental, economic, and geopolitical crises, magnified over TiKTok, Twitter and Instagram. A firm’s value, brand and credibility can be compromised in a matter of minutes. Government, regulators, investors, clients, and other stakeholders are increasingly considering risk and resilience from a more holistic perspective. For example, the proposed The Companies (Strategic Report and Directors’ Report) (Amendment) (the Regulations) 2023 (in draft for approval by Parliament), will oblige in-scope firms to provide a Resilience Statement and a separate Material Fraud statement.
Why you should attend
In this interactive session, you will examine the lessons learnt from recent reputational incidents to ensure your firm is prepared to tackle existing and potential threats. In addition, you’ll take away a toolkit of battle-tested frameworks, proven strategies, and key resources to better measure, manage, and monitor risk in your firm.
‘Bring your colleague along for FREE to this session’
By the end of the session, you’ll:
• Benchmark your firm’s approach to resilience against your peers
• Assess your firm’s potential risks, such as operations threats, reputation damage, cyber-attacks, and unexpected global events
• Test and strengthen your firm’s approach to managing both internal and external risks to align with FCA expectations
• Build and integrate processes that anticipates, prioritises, and mitigates threats
• Develop an action and implementation plan to better protect your firm’s reputation
Specific areas you will cover in this session include:
Strategic Analysis. A “what is going on here?” analysis of tectonic forces that are creating increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) business environment. How this can lead to challenges to firms’ reputation and trustworthiness, beyond operational disruptions envisaged by Operational Resilience regulations.
Integrated Approach. A set of guiding integrated principles and good practices that build upon and join the dots between existing regulatory obligations and can be developed and implemented by firms to enable and protect firms’ achievement of their purpose, value generation and strategy.
Culture. Consideration of culture, individual and collective knowledge, skills, attributes, and behaviours good practice. How these can build and maintain trust even when challenged, but also can enable thinking fast and right in VUCA environments.
Who should attend?
• CEO and board members who seek to develop a strategic approach to managing non-financial risk, building and maintaining business resilience, not just operational resilience compliance, over the short, medium and long-term
• Executive and senior leaders (COO, Financial, Risk, Strategy, Compliance, Technology, Security, HR, etc) who wish to breakdown silos to achieve shared understanding of managing risk and resilience.
This open session is aimed to provide a safe environment for peers to allow a diagnosis of the challenge and the key questions for boards and executives to ask themselves and their firms’. A more tailored closed session(s) can be provided for individual PIMFA members to workshop and scenario test specific challenges and to develop strategy accordingly.”

Bring a colleague along for free!
Please use Coupon BOGOF-RES2024 at checkout for 50% OFF two tickets

ETF Ecosystem Unwrapped 2024
2024-05-22 11:00 - 2024-05-23 17:00
Europe’s flagship ETF event provides investors and the wider ETF ecosystem with insights into the trends shaping the European ETF market over the next 12 months. This is an ecosystem that is experiencing dramatic growth and change so we believe it is crucial attendees gain an edge in an increasingly competitive market.
Day 1 is for professional investors only. Hear from leading experts on the latest ideas around asset allocation and portfolio construction, all through an ETF lens.
Topics include:
– The fixed income conundrum and the role of ETFs
– Analysing Europe’s ETF product pipeline
– What next when allocating to China?
– ETF investing in volatile markets
Day 2 is open to the wider ETF industry where we will explore the crucial developments from across the European ETF ecosystem.
Topics include:
– Key ETF regulatory developments
– Changes in Europe’s market structure
– The shifting indexing landscape
– The future of ETF trading
Contact information: –
Bob Shearwood:
bob.shearwood@etfstream.com
+44 20 3922 0877

The PIMFA HR Briefing 2024- Session 2
2024-06-13 11:00 - 12:00
This new duty creates a new risk area for employers, and adds to the onus on employers to take proactive steps to prevent sexual harassment occurring. There will be a corresponding new compensation uplift of up to 25%, for breach of the new duty although the implications of being found not to have complied with it are more likely to be material from a reputational standpoint.
The new duty comes hot on the heels of the Treasury Select Committee’s Sexism in the City inquiry and the PRA and FCA’s recent consultations on measures to improve diversity and inclusion and to revamp how firms should manage allegations of non-financial misconduct, which of course includes sexual misconduct and harassment.

This FREE 60-minute session will cover all these latest developments and focus on what HR and legal teams in members firms should be doing to prepare now.
This lively and interactive session will consider:

Why employers need to continue to take sexual harassment seriously
The FCA’s approach to non-financial misconduct
Anonymity protections which may apply to the complainant automatically where a criminal offence may have been committed
The proposed new duty, how it will apply and the consequences of breach
Proactive steps employers should start to take to prepare for the new duty

By attending this session, you will be able to:

Understand the legal, reputational and business risks associated with sexual harassment complaints
Learn about the FCA’s approach to non-financial misconduct and workplace culture
Appreciate why firms in the financial services industry must continue to take steps to address and improve workplace culture
Understand what taking proactive steps to prevent sexual harassment means in practice
Have a route map to take you through all of these changes

Who should attend this session?
Senior HR, legal, DEI, Talent and L&D professionals within PIMFA member firms

PIMFA ESG Seminar 2024
2024-06-19 09:00 - 16:30
Change is happening, both at a macro level and within our industry. Governments are legislating for mandatory sustainability disclosures and new rules and regulations are constantly being announced while impacts on firms are still being evaluated. The PIMFA ESG Seminar aims to provide attendees with the latest information firms will require to ensure they are ready for what is coming and the opportunities these changes will create for their clients and the sector.
Numbers will be restricted to ensure attendees not only benefit from hearing from subject matter experts addressing them, but also have the opportunity to participate in a discussion on the key themes with peers under the Chatham House Rule. Themes for the seminar will include…

The Regulatory Risk of Greenwashing
SDR & Investment Labels; Implementation & Challenges
ESG Data Challenges & Solutions

To access the PIMFA member discount you will need to log in to your account first.
Event Details:
Date: 19 June 2024
Times: 09:00 – 16:30
Venue: Fidelity International, 4 Cannon St, London EC4M 5AB
If you would like to discuss speaking or sponsorship opportunities please email events@pimfa.co.uk

EU Digital Operational Resilience Act – what is it and what do financial services businesses need to do?
2024-06-20 13:30 - 14:30
The EU Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) entered into force on 16 January 2023 and will be applicable from 17 January 2025. The deadline for financial services businesses to comply is fast approaching and some of DORA’s requirements will take time to meet, including remediating contracts to meet DORA’s prescriptive requirements.
In this webinar, our experts will provide you with the essential knowledge to navigate this new regulatory landscape. Topics covered will include:
*An overview of DORA: We will demystify DORA’s requirements, explain the context for the new regime and the impact it will have.
*DORA vs. the UK operational resilience regime: Our experts will compare and contrast DORA with the UK’s equivalent regime, highlighting key similarities and differences. This comparative analysis will provide a dual perspective, essential for businesses operating in the UK and the EU.
*Contracting requirements and the role of in-house legal: In-house legal teams will be at the forefront of ensuring compliance with DORA’s contracting requirements. We will share actionable tips and techniques on approaching DORA’s ICT contract requirements, as well as remediation exercises.
We hope you will be able to join us.
If you have any queries please contact the DAC Beachcroft Events Team at events@dacbeachcroft.com.

PIMFA Webinar: Avoiding A Culture of Complacency
2024-06-24 11:00 - 12:00
Culture lies at the heart of strengthening your approach to Consumer Duty, Financial Crime, DEI and Vulnerable customers. Yet, despite the frequent reminders from the FCA, wealth management firms still need to work on demonstrating to the regulator how they can positively shift the culture needle.
In this FRE 60-minute webinar, our experts unpack:
Why Culture remains central to the FCA’s supervisory model
How to reset and refocus your approach to Culture to meet heightened FCA expectations
How leading firms cut through the complexity to stay ahead of emerging Culture and Conduct risks

Understanding the impact & implementation of the UK’s Consumer Duty
2024-06-27 10:30 - 11:30
Are you ready to rise to the challenge? The Consumer Duty, a key part of the FCA’s strategy, is setting the bar high in the financial services sector. It requires firms to put their customers’ needs first, and to demonstrate this on a continuous basis which poses a variety of challenges for firms.
As we approach the July 2024 milestone, Ruleguard reflects on key challenges facing firms and the ability to provide assurance to boards.
Join Ruleguard’s upcoming webinar as we delve into the following:
• Progress on Consumer Duty
• First Annual Board Report
• Upcoming Key Milestone
• Regulatory Approach
This session will feature insights from Ruleguard on how we’re assisting firms in demonstrating compliance and oversight of their regulatory obligations.
To learn more about Ruleguard visit https://www.ruleguard.com/consumer-duty-compliance

PIMFA Cyber, Operational Resilience and Risk (COR) Week
2024-07-08 12:00 - 2024-07-12 13:00
PIMFA’s inaugural Cyber, Operational Resilience and Risk conference – launching virtually in July 2024!
PIMFA is delighted to announce a new event being launched in July – our first event dedicated to the worlds of cyber security, operational resilience and risks. In response to member demand and building off the work conducted across our various committees, groups and forums, we will be bringing a dedicated week of daily webinar content on the most prescient topics relevant to firm security and resilience.
The lineup for the conference will include risk and resilience topics, including those relating to regulation, operational resilience and critical third parties, cyber security, the emergence of new technologies, and what the overall conflagration of all these various factors means to firms.
Attendees will be able to watch one live session a day (between 12pm – 1pm). Sessions will also be recorded and available to watch on demand. Additional videos and resources will also be available for attendees to watch and download.
To register your interest as a speaker or sponsor for the event please contact us at events@pimfa.co.uk – we look forward to seeing you in July!
To access the PIMFA member discount you will need to log in to your account first.
Event Details:
Date: 8 – 12 July 2024
Times: 12:00 – 13:00 each day (sessions will also be available to watch on demand)
Venue: online

The Secret to Successful Product Governance
2024-07-25 10:30 - 11:30
Product governance is a critical aspect of business management. Firms need to ensure that products are developed, launched, and maintained to meet regulatory standards, customer expectations, as well as business objectives. Getting the balance just right is vital to your firm’s success.
Join our upcoming webinar where we delve into the following areas:
Product governance requirements
Implementing a product governance framework
Risk management considerations
Management information
In this session we will provide you with practical steps to help you track your entire product life cycle.
To learn more about Ruleguard visit https://www.ruleguard.com/solutions/product-governance-solution

The PIMFA HR Briefing: How Ready Are You for Employment Law Changes?
2024-09-12 11:00 - 12:00
‘HR Professionals: How Ready Are You for Employment Law Changes?’
In September’s HR Briefing we discuss how two new employment bills the Employment Rights Bill and the Draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill announced in the Kings speech on 17th July will impact on the world of HR professionals within Wealth firms if they become law.
Over 60 minutes, Clyde & Co’s employment team unpack the new Labour Government’s far-reaching workforce reforms, helping you look at the challenges for your firm both from an operational and implementation perspective.
Key topic discussions include:

Understanding the nature and scope of the proposed reforms in relation to your firm.
Assess the impact of the proposed reforms on your workforce and firm.
How to prioritise your ‘to-do’ list and reduce the risk of getting things wrong.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and have Chris Holme and Shadia El Dardiry answer your questions.

PIMFA Live Online Learning: Financial crime Business-wide risk assessment- the key to getting it right
2024-09-16 09:30 - 12:30
The Business Wide Risk Assessment (BWRA) is a key pillar in understanding the risks posed to your business and monitoring the effectiveness of you control framework. Yet so many firms are still getting this critical, living document wrong and thus falling short of regulatory expectations.
The Business Wide Risk Assessment masterclass, delivered by Avyse, is your opportunity to step back and consider the financial crime risks your firm is, or could be, exposed to and consider how those risks could be mitigated.
Under the guidance of experienced consultants, you will be guided through a tried and tested approach that will not only improve the quality of your firm-wide risk assessments, but ensure it can be replicated to be the backbone of your financial crime controls in 2024.
Through this masterclass, you’ll learn how to:
• Complete a comprehensive, yet proportionate assessment;
• Document the methodology in a clear, reliable way; and
• Use the outputs of the risk assessment to inform and enhance the financial crime framework.
Masterclass topics covered include:
• Adopting and embedding the latest FCA requirements and industry guidance in your BWRA.
• Providing an in depth look at the business wide risk assessment process.
• Grasping why it’s crucial to get it right, provide tips and tricks we’ve learned by assisting a myriad of firms in developing their BWRA tools and methodologies.
• Sharing best practice from peer firms – specifically, how to keep the BWRA proportionate yet comprehensive and scalable.
• Recognise good and poor practice – common themes Avyse has identified through their Skilled Person and broader advisory work
Working through an example risk assessment, you will learn how to:
• Avoid the pitfalls most firms make when carrying out and documenting their BWRA.
• Understand and apply different methodologies for carrying out a financial crime risk assessment. This will include:
o Identifying and assessing risks; and
o Identifying and assessing the effectiveness of key controls.
• Replace a tick box exercise approach with a living document to identify ‘real risk’ and that stands up to internal and external scrutiny.
• Determine how to use the outputs of the risk assessment to support internal decision-making processes, including where to enhance controls and allocate additional resources.
• Review, update and improve your BWRA by applying the key principles discussed.
• Conduct with confidence a risk assessment that follows industry good practice
• Explain with confidence to key stakeholders the reasoning and rationale of your BWRA
Who should enrol:
• Heads of Financial Crime / MLROs / Deputy MLROs
• Heads of Compliance and Compliance Leads
• Governance specialists
• Firms currently going through specific registration / authorisation applications.

30th Anniversary of EIS
2024-09-18
In 2024, we are celebrating 30 incredible years of the Enterprise Investment Scheme. Three decades of founders, investors and more using the EIS to support UK startups to become household names, create life-changing health technology and more.
Join the Enterprise Investment Scheme Association and the EIS/SEIS ecosystem to celebrate!
We will be holding an exciting in person conference, bursting with important speakers and conversations you won’t want to miss.
There will be talks throughout the evening, followed by an evening reception, where you will be served delicious drinks and canapes.
The event will be filled with entrepreneurs, advisers and investors celebrating all that EIS has enabled the UK to achieve so far, and the vital role it has had in ensuring a world leading ecosystem.
Additional tickets can be bought by members and non- members here.
Join us for the 30th Anniversary Event
Date: Wednesday 18th September
Venue: Institute of Directors, 116 Pall Mall, Central London
Tickets: EISA members will receive one complimentary ticket. You can buy additional tickets, or non-member tickets.
The event will include food and drink throughout the day including a standing buffet lunch, tea, coffee & cake breaks, and drinks and delicious canapes at the evening reception.
The agenda for the 30th Anniversary event:
The conversation will spread understanding of how the EIS has benefited the UK economy, and how it will continue to do so well into the future.
You’ll hear from SEIS and EIS success stories, and get an insight on how to access the schemes yourself.
Learn more here.
Who will be speaking at the 30th Anniversary of EIS?
We will be announcing the speakers over the next few weeks. Follow our LinkedIn and check our website regularly to be the first to know.
Sponsors and Partners
We are very grateful that the 30th Anniversary event is supported by our partners, please stay tuned for sponsor updates.
If you would be interested in becoming a sponsor or partner, please get in touch with Olivia at olivia@eisa.org.uk

PIMFA Compliance Conference 2024
2024-09-19 08:30 - 18:00
We are proud to announce that the PIMFA Compliance Conference 2024 will be taking place on September 19, in London AND online.
Hear from leading industry experts on the key issues facing compliance professionals in the investment management and financial advice world.
Bringing together a high-level audience who can engage with the experts, this conference will facilitate fruitful discussions with opportunity for questions and networking.
Who attends?
• Compliance consultants, Managers, Heads of, Group Compliance officers
• Risk professionals
• C-suite executives
• Heads of Finance
• MLRO
• Investment Managers and Directors
• Regulators
• Government bodies
• Policy advisers and professionals
• And many others
When booking your ticket please be sure to choose the correct option – IN-PERSON or VIRTUAL.
The Compliance Conference will be live-streamed on the day of the event and if joining virtually you will have the opportunity to ask questions live to speakers and panellists.
Those attending in person will have the opportunity to network with fellow industry colleagues, speakers and sponsors.
The early-bird discount is available until June 30th– prices will increase thereafter.
If you have any questions or have any interest in speaking or sponsoring this event please contact events@pimfa.co.uk
Venue:
Date: 19 September 2024
Times: 08:30: – 17:45
Venue: Herbert Smith Freehills – Exchange House, Primrose St, London EC2A 2EG

The PIMFA M&A Roundtable Dinner
2024-09-24 18:30 - 20:00
The PIMFA Mergers and Acquisitions dinner is an opportunity for PIMFA members to gain valuable insight into the current M&A landscape impacting and effecting the sector. M&A experts from Farrer & Co. and Thistle Initiatives provide firm’s with an update on the current deal environment and what we can expect to see over the coming year.
Benefits for attending:
1. Hear insights into M&A trends, how they have changed and what’s expected to drive M&A activity this year.
2. Learn how to successfully navigate a deal process in the current environment.
3. Further your knowledge on the key due diligence activities in a merger and acquisition transaction.
4. Learn why some mergers and acquisitions fail and how to avoid the pitfalls.
Who should attend:
This is an invite only roundtable of PIMFA member firms with the following job titles:
• CEOs, managing directors and owners
• Finance directors and senior managers
• Finance and commercial team leaders

Regulatory Updates: Blueprint for Success
2024-09-26 10:30 - 11:30
Staying compliant is crucial to avoid legal penalties, fines, and reputational damage.
Join us in our upcoming live webinar, where we look at how to be proactive in compliance and enhance your firm’s ability to compete in the marketplace, by fostering trust and reliability.
In Ruleguard’s latest live event, we will delve into identifying your compliance universe before dipping into horizon scanning and tips for keeping on top of regulatory developments.
Our upcoming session will cover the following areas:
Defining the compliance universe
Linking obligations and activities
Managing regulatory developments
Evidencing compliance
Whether you’re a risk or compliance professional, this session is perfect if you’re looking to enhance and transform your existing compliance model.
To learn more about our regulatory updates solution visit https://www.ruleguard.com/solutions/regulatory-updates-software.

The PIMFA Transaction Reporting Academy Cohort 2 2024
2024-10-08 10:00 - 2024-10-29 12:30
Live, tutor-led online sessions, with our partners Kaizen Reporting
The challenge
Accurate and complete MiFIR transaction reporting is a legal obligation. Yet many financial firms, even those with significant resources dedicated to this complex requirement, are falling short of regulatory expectations. Quality assurance testing by regulatory specialists Kaizen have found that only 13% of MiFID II transactions are reported accurately.
The consequences of incorrect reporting are serious and include regulatory scrutiny and sanctions, as well as the significant cost and resource involved in remediating incorrect reports.
The solution
The PIMFA Transaction Reporting Academy (TRA) is an innovative, practical and results-focused learning experience that augments your core reporting skills while deepening your knowledge in key areas of the MiFIR transaction reporting requirements.
Please click here for more information

1
Overview and how to report by trading scenarios
8th October 2024
10:00 – 12:30

2
Transaction reporting by instrument type
15th October 2024
10:00 – 12:30

3
Common issues & Remediation
22nd October 2024
10:00 – 12:30

4
Systems & Controls and Corporate Actions
29th October 2024
10:00 – 12:30

PIMFA Webinar: Two years of IFPR – Observations, Takeaways and Actions!
2024-10-09 11:00 - 12:00
The FCA still believe that firms subject to IFPR, can and must improve the implementation of the internal capital adequacy and risk assessment (ICARA) process and reporting requirements under IFPR. Identifying good practices in many firms, the FCA still found ‘significant failings’ in applying capital models for operational risk.
In this FREE 60-minute webinar, Thistle Initiative’s experts unpack the FCA latest expectations, highlighting where and how PIMFA member firms must revisit their IFPR implementation and ICARA reporting to ensure the adequacy and operating effectiveness of your ICARA process follows good industry practice
By attending this webinar, you will learn how to:

Identify areas of improvements in your most recent ICARA document and wind-down plan.
Recognise instances of poor regulatory data submissions.
Build additional rigour around your approach to identifying, assessing, and mitigating harms.
Correctly forecast liquid asset threshold requirements.
Building in FCA Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process (SREP) resilience into the ICARA.

PIMFA D&I Awards 2024
2024-10-10 18:30 - 23:59
SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FINALISTS
PIMFA is the trade association for the wealth management, investment services and financial advice sector. One of its roles is to promote talent, diversity and inclusion within this space, highlight best practice and develop initiatives to help build an industry which better reflects its increasingly diverse customer base.
There are many instances of good practice which remain hidden or unrecognised. Businesses both large and small will have examples of innovation aimed at improving their inclusivity and performance, which in turn drives positive change across the industry.
Further, there is a stream of exceptional, diverse talent coming up through the ranks in our industry that is changing businesses for the better, engendering greater support for diverse communities and clients, and helping to develop and lead innovation.
We have launched the PIMFA D&I Awards to celebrate this.
The Awards are FREE to enter and open to all firms and stakeholders in the sector – you do not have to be a PIMFA member to enter.
Please see the 2024 timeline below:
April 10 – Entries are open
June 21 – Entries close
WC July 15 – Shortlist announced
October 10 – Winners announced
For further information and to see this year’s categories and criteria click here
If you have any questions about booking your table for the 2024 Awards ceremony, please contact PIMFA’s Events Team on events@pimfa.co.uk.
Awards ceremony details:
Date: October 10
Time: 18:30 – late
Venue: InterContinental Hotel, Park Lane, London

More information about the awards can be found here

PIMFA Live Online Training: Mastering Fair Value Assessments: Aligning with Consumer Duty Standards
2024-10-14 09:30 - 12:30
One of the most challenging outcomes of the Consumer Duty for firms to meet is that of fair price and value. In the opinion of the FCA, “many of the fair value assessments we [FCA] have seen do not rely on solid data and other credible evidence to justify the products’ value to retail customers. [Sheldon Mills quote Feb 2024]
The regulator’s information request to 20 of the largest firms asking about their delivery of ongoing advice services highlights the need for PIMFA members to test whether their value framework are fit for purpose and challenge whether they are capturing the appropriate data and metrics to evidence their products and services are delivering fair value.
In this live, tutor led online training course experts Alpha, show you how you can stay ahead of FCA expectations, identifying and addressing the regulators most recent concerns in assessing fair value and ongoing advice fees, so that you can take swift action to address any shortcomings in your approach.
By the end of this masterclass, you’ll be able to:

Refine and improve your ongoing advice annual review process in light of recent FCA concerns.
Confidently anticipate and respond, with evidence, to FCA questions and queries on your approach value assessments.
Pinpoint areas of immediate improvement to fair value assessment, ensuring it is aligned with industry good practice.
Map, with greater clarity, the critical data metrics required to identify consumer harm across different customer groups, (particularly vulnerable or potentially vulnerable customers)
Critically assess if your firm’s ongoing services are fairly priced

Who should attend?
• Compliance heads and leaders seeking to avoid foreseeable harm by enhancing and refining their fair value framework.
• Internal auditors keen to address shortcomings in their approach who now seek a more robust, data-driven approach for assessing fair value.
• Risk leaders who want to ensure that fair value outliers can be effectively identified and rectified with appropriate accountability mechanisms.
• Consumer Duty project leads who recognise the need for improvements, want to know how leading firms use data and MI to monitor fair value on an ongoing basis.
• Consumer Duty champions seeking to ensure their fair value analysis provide the board with a sufficient understanding of outcomes received across different customer groups.

Bring you colleague along for free!
Please use coupon 7SX5YB2X at checkout for 50% off 2 Tickets

If you experience any issues please email learning@pimfa.co.uk

Morningstar Adviser Forum, London 17 October
2024-10-17 14:00 - 16:00
Discover Morningstar’s latest research tailored for UK advisers. Perfect for those who’ve outsourced investments or want to enhance their practice.
Featuring:
• Topical Market Commentary
• Investment Management Insights
• Manager Research
• Behavioural Finance Perspectives
Elevate your advisory practice with Morningstar’s expertise.
Contact: Sarah Rouse: eventsmanager@morningstar.com
To book your place and for further information click here.

Routes into Finance – Relatability & Career Progression
2024-10-23 12:00 - 17:00
The Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) Birmingham committee would like to invite you to attend their upcoming Young Professionals’ Network (YPN) event, hosted by Aston University.
We hope that you will join us for this half-day event where we will hear from a number of professionals from within the finance industry, from recent graduates to established practitioners, who will share with us their thoughts, knowledge and advise on pursuing a career into finance and the different routes available.
Attendees will benefit from hearing from established local practitioners such as Graham Nicoll, Director of Wealth for Succession Wealth with over 20 years of experience in wealth management and Rob Craik, Deputy Head of Operations at EFG Harris Allday as well as many other individuals including those who will give their experience on their perspective of recently joining the industry.
This event is open to members and non-members alike so we hope you’ll join us at this event and make the most of our resources, aimed towards young professionals in the industry. Please either book your place via this website or email your first & last name and email address to events@cisi.org and we book your places for you.
The CISI Young Professionals’ Network, attracting young professionals between the ages of 18 and 35, focuses on harnessing your competitive edge and professional development skills, including leadership, communication, teamwork, problem-solving and adaptability – so you’ll feel like a superstar in your role.

Virtual Event: Understanding Customer Vulnerability – A Guide for Firms Launch
2024-10-24 14:00 - 17:00
There is currently a significant industry and regulatory spotlight on consumer vulnerability, and it is paramount that firms are able to identify, support and achieve good outcomes for vulnerable customers. The data requests of the wealth management industry and subsequent Dear CEO letters since November 2023 have shown this as a high priority and the expectation from the FCA that this is led from the top.
PIMFA has been working closely with the regulator and member firms this year to understand better the extent and range of vulnerabilities that customers may face and to ensure that firms can correctly identify and support those customers.
As part of our work, we will be launching a PIMFA Guide on Understanding Customer Vulnerability’, which will be a valuable reference aid and tool for firms to use. The Guide, based on our first version published in 2021, will assist firms with creating vulnerability strategies and implementing processes and procedures that will not only help to meet regulatory obligations but also identify opportunities to enhance how firms serve all their customers.
To mark the publication of the Guide, we will be holding an event on the 24th of October 2024, where we will hear from the FCA and a range of industry CEOs and practitioners to discuss the importance of this topic and to share views and best practices and we would like to invite you to attend this event as our guest. Please see details below:
Date: 24 October 2024
Time: 14:00 – 17:30
Venue: Online
Please note this is a virtual event which will be live-streamed. For further information please contact events@pimfa.co.uk
If you are a PIMFA Member- Please ensure you are logged in to your account first before adding a ticket to your basket to access the member discounts.

Risk Management: Tactics for Digital Assets
2024-10-30 10:30 - 11:30
In April 2023, FCA’s Sarah Pritchard highlighted at City Week that while cryptoassets are growing in popularity, many consumers don’t fully understand the risks involved. This lack of understanding poses significant risks not only to consumers but also to firms. With the introduction of consumer duty, firms face substantial consequences if they fail to meet regulatory standards.
Join our live event to discover key strategies for managing these risks effectively.
In this live webinar we discuss the following aspects:
• Key risk considerations
• Global regulatory themes
• Impacts for firms
• Crucial steps for success
• Ruleguard’s approach to risk management
To learn more about Ruleguard’s risk management solutions visit https://www.ruleguard.com/function/enterprise-risk-management-software.

Ready Steady Grow! Cambridge, 5th November 2024
2024-11-05 16:00 - 19:30
Ready Steady Grow! is an event for the investment ecosystem in Cambridge
EISA is back in Cambridge for another event that brings the EIS and VC ecosystem together to learn and connect.
Join us as the Enterprise Investment Scheme Association (EISA) returns for a session supporting everyone in the investment space, from founders to funds.
Date: 5th November, 2024, registration from 16:00 BST
Venue: Mills & Reeve Solicitors, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 1PH
You can register for this Ready Steady Grow event here!
What is Ready Steady Grow?
These events, brought to you by the Enterprise Investment Scheme Association, bring together small businesses, investors, IFAs, entrepreneurs and business advisers. The session will feature networking as well as panels of regional experts.
Ready Steady Grow events are designed to help each region of the UK with their EIS journey with a carefully constructed agenda featuring opinions from SME industry experts.
Agenda
4.00pm: Registration, Tea and Coffee
4.30pm: Welcome – Zickie Lim, Mills & Reeve
4.35pm: Paul Sullivan, British Business Bank
4.45pm: EIS – Dos and don’ts – Jan Fachot, PEM and John Kahn, Mills and Reeve
5.00pm: Under the bonnet with the Fund Managers – Olivia Wing, EISA (Chair), Sunil Shah, o2h Ventures, Jeffery Faustin, Jenson Ventures and Kealan Dolye, Symvan Capital
5:15pm Key Considerations for Startups – Eloise Morgan, Paragon
5.25pm: Journey of a Startup – TBA
5.35pm: Closing comments from EISA – Olivia Wing, EISA
5.40pm: Networking Reception
Networking over drinks and canapes.
Thank you to our Sponsors
We are very grateful to our sponsors for this event.
Thank you to British Business Bank, Charles Stanley, Jenson Funding Partners, Mills & Reeve, o2h Ventures, Paragon, PEM and Symvan Capital.
If you would be interested in sponsoring, please get in touch with the team here.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ready Steady Grow!
Where else can you attend a Ready Steady Grow! event?
Throughout the autumn, we will be visiting cities across the UK. You can explore the full calendar here.
Who should attend this event?

Entrepreneurs looking to start a business, or access funding to take your business to its next level
Wealth managers looking to gain knowledge and expertise in EIS and small company investing
Investors looking to invest in the ‘next big thing’
Professional Advisors who want to help SMEs develop and grow

If you want to join, but don’t feel like you fit in these categories, get in touch with the team.
Will refreshments be provided?
Drinks will be available throughout, and canapés will be available during the networking section of the event.
Your data
We, the EISA, may share your personal data with third parties in certain circumstances including (but not limited to) our sponsors.
Before we disclose personal data to a third party, we take appropriate steps to ensure that the third party will protect personal data in accordance with applicable privacy laws and in a manner consistent with our privacy policy, which can be accessed here: https://eisa.org.uk/about-eisa/privacy-policy

Women in wealth - Empowering Future Leaders in Financial Services
2024-11-06 13:00 - 17:00
The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) Bristol & Bath Committee are delighted to invite you to join them at this Women In Wealth Event at the University of Bristol whereby undergraduates and professionals in the industry will gain insight from the journeys of many esteemed women in the industry.
Join us on 6 November at Bristol University for the CISI Bristol & Bath Women in Wealth event! This inspiring gathering is designed specifically for young professionals aspiring to enter the financial services industry. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from a diverse panel of accomplished women who will share their insights, experiences, and journeys within the sector. Discover various pathways into financial services, gain valuable perspectives, and connect with fellow young professionals and CISI members, as well as non-CISI members. Don’t miss this chance to empower your future in finance!
Click here for more information.

Ready Steady Grow! Belfast, 6th November 2024
2024-11-06 16:00 - 19:30
Ready Steady Grow! is an event for the investment ecosystem in Belfast
EISA is back in Belfast for another event that brings the EIS and VC ecosystem together to learn and connect.
Join us as the Enterprise Investment Scheme Association (EISA) returns for a session supporting everyone in the investment space, from founders to funds.
Date: 6th November 2024, registration from 16:00 BST
Venue: Ormeau Labs, 18 Ormeau Ave, Belfast BT2 8HS
Register for this Ready Steady Grow event here.
What is Ready Steady Grow?
These events, brought to you by the Enterprise Investment Scheme Association, bring together small businesses, investors, IFAs, entrepreneurs and business advisers. The session will feature networking as well as panels of regional experts.
Ready Steady Grow events are designed to help each region of the UK with their EIS journey with a carefully constructed agenda featuring opinions from SME industry experts.
Agenda
The event is split into two parts – a technical seminar at 16:30, followed by a breakout session and networking from 17:30.
Agenda to be updated
4.30pm: Welcome
4.35pm: British Business Bank
4.45pm: EIS – Dos and don’ts
5.00pm: Under the bonnet with the Fund Managers
5.25pm: Journey of a Startup
5.35pm: Closing comments from EISA
5.40pm: Networking Reception
However, you can be sure there will be content and speakers to help you on your EIS journey, wherever you are in the ecosystem. Keep your eye on this page for updates!
There will also be opportunities to network over drinks and canapes.
Thank you to our Sponsors
We are very grateful to our sponsors for this event.
Thank you to British Business Bank, Charles Stanley, Ormeau Labs and Raise Ventures.
If you would be interested in sponsoring, please get in touch with the team here.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ready Steady Grow!
Where else can you attend a Ready Steady Grow! event?
Throughout the autumn, we will be visiting cities across the UK. You can explore the full calendar here.

Who should attend this event?
Entrepreneurs looking to start a business, or access funding to take your business to its next level
Wealth managers looking to gain knowledge and expertise in EIS and small company investing
Investors looking to invest in the ‘next big thing’
Professional Advisors who want to help SMEs develop and grow

If you want to join, but don’t feel like you fit in these categories, get in touch with the team.
Will refreshments be provided?
Drinks will be available throughout, and canapés will be available during the networking section of the event.
Your data
We, the EISA, may share your personal data with third parties in certain circumstances including (but not limited to) our sponsors.
Before we disclose personal data to a third party, we take appropriate steps to ensure that the third party will protect personal data in accordance with applicable privacy laws and in a manner consistent with our privacy policy, which can be accessed here: https://eisa.org.uk/about-eisa/privacy-policy

Increasing pay transparency and pay equity: a global issue
2024-11-08 08:00 - 17:00
Pay transparency, both as a value in itself and as an element of pay equity, is rapidly becoming a pivotal issue across the globe. Driven by legislation, regulatory activity, and cultural expectations, the rapid pace of change makes it essential for organisations to stay informed and prepared.
In this session our panel of lawyers from the U.S., UK, Ireland and Belgium will review the trends in pay equity and transparency across the globe, providing insights into possible future directions of pay transparency and equity measures.
We will also more specifically explore the current status of pay transparency/equity requirements in the U.S., UK and in the EU, including in relation to the EU Pay Transparency Directive, and will then consider how in practice organisations are addressing compliance requirements on an international scale.
Key topics will include:
– The history and evolution of pay transparency and its relationship with pay equity
– Where we are now in key jurisdictions and a comparative analysis of practices in the U.S., the EU, the UK amongst others
– Practical steps and strategies for organisations
– Future trends and what organisations need to be doing to plan for the future
Who should attend this session?
This webinar will be of interest to HR directors/managers, in-house counsel, and compliance professionals from global organisations particularly those with responsibility for operations in the U.S., UK and Europe.

PIMFA Webinar: Harnessing the Power of AI to Transform Wealth Management
2024-11-11 11:00 - 12:00
AI promises so much, but does it really delivery for wealth management?  In this FREE live 60-minute session our experts get beyond the hype to show you how AI-driven solutions are driving changes in the back, front and middle office to streamlining portfolio management, personalising client interactions, and improve investment decision-making.
We will discuss real-world case studies showcasing the successful integration of AI into financial services, highlighting the measurable benefits of increased scalability, reduced operational costs, and enhanced client satisfaction.
Furthermore, attendees will gain insights into the ethical and regulatory considerations essential for the responsible deployment of AI in wealth management. Our expert panel will provide practical tips on overcoming common challenges and maximizing the potential of AI to stay ahead in a competitive market.
Don’t miss this opportunity to understand how AI can be a game-changer for your wealth management practice. Register now to embark on a journey towards smarter, more efficient financial advisory services.
