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UnCANNed – Nick’s Pick of the News

UnCANNed is a regular but light-hearted feature brought to you from Nick Cann, CEO, at the IFP. Well known for his forthright views and straight talking, UnCANNed is Nick’s new weekly update bringing you his thoughts on a topical Financial Planning issue in true Nick Cann style.

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Blog #43 - Sleeping with the enemy - 30/11/2009

So busy this week but didn’t get chance to get the blog in for Friday and so I hope that I didn’t spoil anybody’s weekend. It did mean that I had to explain to the family what I had been doing rather than them reading about it in the blog!

On Monday I spoke at the Pershing conference for their European Clients. Good to see the retail plans of another massive organisation. Good also to catch up with their US CEO Mark Tibergien who was also at the event. He spoke really well and will once again be with us next year, 20-22 September, at the Celtic Manor all being well. Great idea brewing for a top golf competition as well so watch this space. Mark has written a great book with Rebecca Pomering “Practice Made Perfect – The discipline of business management for financial advisers.” I would certainly recommend it for those still wrestling with business transition.

A day of meetings on Tuesday gave consideration to some different approaches to marketing which appears sometimes to be a dirty word. Essential as far as I am concerned and Wealthmonitor have certainly got some interesting data on HNW individuals.

A day out on Wednesday for a team building session and an early celebration of Christmas. Chepstow race course was the venue (another great result from the CPD search engine) and even though it was definitely better weather for ducks, racing was just given the go-ahead. All had a great time and nearly everybody had at least one winner. Steve managed to find one that paid at 107-1 on the tote and I managed to pick a 9-1 winner a little later on. This particular horse was called “My friend Sandy” which was a great choice with me being a guest at the PFS conference dinner the following night. We toasted absent friends long into the evening.

Thursday evening was the PFS dinner and it was good to catch up with a number of people. I was slightly concerned on arrival at the hotel that the PFS were having a joke at my expense or were perhaps following me around with a secret camera. At check in I was offered a smoking room. Having politely declined I was then offered a twin room. Not that bothered but nevertheless preferring a double bearing in mind the amount of money that the room was costing, I asked whether there were any doubles left. There was one which was a room that they used to call disabled but now has a very politically correct title that I could not remember. For those who have not had the pleasure of one of these rooms, the bed is much closer to the floor which in itself has its own pros and cons, there was a walk in shower (although not of the quality of a Hotel Du Vin), a load of red cords (just in case of emergency) and most worrying of all, a lower sink and mirror. At first this last point might seem irrelevant until you walk naked into the bathroom first thing in the morning. A most shocking sight and most confusing if you need a shave! Having checked me in, the lady asked me whether I would want another key which again seemed odd. Having declined I went up to the 13^th floor to find that the key didn’t work (where was that camera)! Anyway all sorted and an excellent evening. Jeremy Vine from Radio 2 was first class and kept the evening going really well.

Friday was our IFP meeting with the FSA to continue to push them to see things the IFP way. I always take encouragement from these meetings. There is a genuine desire to get things right and to understand the nature and concerns of Financial Planning businesses. Renewed commitment was given to the smaller firm and the qualities that are evident in so many of them. Loads to do to keep up the momentum on issues like Capital Adequacy and engineering some sort of regulatory dividend for leading Financial Planning firms.

A weekend of far too much rain again and an opportunity to watch the excellent Gavin and Stacey, the awful Welsh against the Australians and Denman winning the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. This week I get to meet with all our sponsors on Monday, the Meeting of Minds on Tuesday, the IFP South West conference on Thursday and the Citywire 10^th year party on Thursday night. On Friday I am really pleased (honestly) to be going up to Peterborough to speak at Becky Taylor’s branch meeting which is doubling up as a Xmas lunch as well.

Hope you all have a great week. Sorry not to be seeing all the CFP^CM professionals on Tuesday but you will all be in the very capable hands of Brian Sweeney.

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