This event has now taken place but you can watch the video recording of it through our Youtube Channel, get to it by clicking the button below
When
20th July from 6pm to 8pm UK timeWhere
Online symposium via Zoom.Format
There'll be a great line-up of speakers plus ample scope for discussion and debate.Why you should attend
“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place”
– George Bernard Shaw
This quotation sums up at least part of the issue of why the financial services sector as a whole has a significant reputation problem.
We suspect that part of the problem is the way in which the financial services industry tends to communicate.
This symposium is going to create and opportunity for communications professionals to discuss and debate questions such as:
- What needs fixing in the way the finance sector communicates?
- To what extent are regulatory requirements a barrier to effective comms?
- Is it true that regulatory requirements are sometimes used as an unjustified excuse for poor comms? – is there a tendency to “hide behind the lawyers?”
- Is the use of impenetrable language ever acceptable? If not, why does it sometimes get used?
- What can be done for communication to lead to better engagement?
- Communicating investment costs and performance figures are particular challenges; what’s the latest thinking of the best way to do it in a compliant yet effective manner?
- In the ESG space, is “Greenwash” as big an issue as some say; if so, what should be done about it?
- How mindful should comms professionals be of the key learnings from the world of behavioural finance?
- What’s it going to take for the finance industry to communicate with integrity, credibility and authenticity?
- What changes would we want policymakers and regulators to make to help advance the cause for better and more authentic comms?
- What might be the benefits of developing a set of protocols, or guiding principles, or Best Practice Guide that could be adopted by the sector, on a voluntary basis?
- Could such an idea develop into some kind of “Comms kite mark” for the finance industry; whereby comms that meet agreed criteria are acknowledged in some way
We intend to facilitate the kind of candid yet constructive discussion that is surely needed to help move matters forward, in keeping with the idea that “progress begins with realism.” We can use the symposium to create an environment where delegates can “say it as they see it” in the hope and expectation that we can work together to make a worthwhile difference.
Here's the programme and timings so far...
—————————————-6:00pm BST—————————————-
Welcome to the symposium, introductions and initial exploration of the main issues; by
Andy Agathangelou
Founder, Transparency Task Force; Governor, Pensions Policy Institute; Chair, Secretariat Committee, APPG on Pension Scams; Chair, Secretariat Committee, APPG on Personal Banking and Fairer Financial Services; Chair of the Violation Tracker UK Advisory Board
—————————————-6:20pm BST—————————————-
Presentation #1, for 10 minutes + 5 minutes discussion/Q&A
Donna Bradshaw
Founder, Value Ltd
—————————————-6:35pm BST—————————————-
Presentation #2, for 10 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A/Discussion by
Robin Harries
Senior Writer and Workshop Leader, Quiet Room
—————————————-6:50pm BST—————————————-
Presentation #3, for 10 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A/Discussion by
Knut Rostad
Founder and President, Institute for Fiduciary Standard
—————————————-7:05pm BST—————————————-
Presentation #4, for 10 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A/Discussion by
Global Head of Structured Products, Tempo Structured Products
—————————————-7:20pm BST—————————————-
The “Just a minute”-round
Inspired by the BBC Radio 4 programme, we have asked a selection of our attendees to spend just a minute sharing their thoughts on what has been covered during the symposium. But unlike the Radio 4 programme our speakers won’t be penalised for hesitation, repetition or deviation!
Speakers:
TBC
—————————————-7:45pm BST—————————————-
General discussion and debate, 25 minutes
—————————————-8:10pm BST—————————————-
Final conclusions; and suggested next steps and close to the formal proceedings.
However, for those that want it…
8:20pm BST until 108:30pm BST
….informal, unstructured networking and informal conversation; a “fireside chat”
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*The programme will continuously evolve so is subject to change.
Donna Bradshaw
Founder, Valued Ltd
Currently working on an idea to help democratise wealth, transparency is an essential component for creating a more equitable society. My background in financial services goes back to 1987 with a significant part of it in marketing and communications, becoming a prominent speaker and commentator on all things money and the economy. I have had the honour to work with leading broadcasters including: David Dimbleby, Dermot Murnaghan, Andrew Marr, Evan Davis, John Humphries and Dame Jenni Murray. Programmes include: BBC Budget Special, BBC News, ITN News, Channel 4 News, SKY News, Newsnight, Al Jazeera, Bloomberg, Radio 4 Today Programme, Moneybox, Radio 5, Radio 2 and Women’s Hour. I was also an original member of Sky News’ Money Panel. Other work includes: being on the judging panel of numerous investment and pension fund awards, acting as an expert witness for Which magazine, and being consulted by Government on pensions policy and the issues affecting women. Delighted to be part of the Transparency Task Force team.
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Robin Harries
Senior Writer and Workshop Leader, Quiet Room
Robin is a senior writer at Quietroom, a communications consultancy. He works with pension schemes, insurers and investment managers to help them talk more clearly and powerfully to their customers about what they offer. Recently, his clients have included Standard Life, Esure, the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme and HMRC.
He’s written policy documents, financial reports, brochures, web pages, company stories and names for landmark buildings. He’s also trained clients at insurance companies to write in a way that makes the value of their products clear.
Robin is a Bristolian. He lives in south-west London with his young family.
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Knut Rostad
Founder & President, Institute for the Fiduciary Standard
Knut A. Rostad, MBA co-founded and is president of the Institute for the Fiduciary Standard, a nonprofit formed in 2011 to advance the fiduciary standard through research, education, and advocacy. Prior, he served as the regulatory and compliance officer at Rembert Pendleton Jackson, a registered investment adviser in Falls Church, Virginia.
The Institute for the Fiduciary Standard advances fiduciary principles and practices in investment and financial advice and planning. The Institute has established a national reputation as a leading voice for uncompromised fiduciary duties. The Institute Real Fiduciary™ Practices Board has promulgated practices to guide advisors on fiduciary conduct. These Real Fiduciary Practices serve as the Institute’s North Star. The Institute has also launched Fiduciary September to remind the industry why fiduciary duties matter. The Frankel Fiduciary Prize honors individuals for outstanding contributions to fiduciary principles. Rostad advocates before federal and state regulators. He has authored numerous articles, papers, and regulatory comment letters.
Rostad is the editor of The Man in the Arena: Vanguard Founder John C. Bogle and His Lifelong Battle to Serve Investors First, published by Wiley in December 2013. He is also a contributor to Advisor Perspectives; speaks frequently at industry conferences on fiduciary and compliance issues; and is regularly cited in media national and industry outlets. Rostad was named to Investment Adviser Magazine’s ‘IA 25’ list in 2014, which it calls “our annual list of the most influential people in and around the advisor industry.”
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Chris Taylor
Global Head of Structured Products, Tempo Structured Products
Chris Taylor is Global Head of Tempo Structured Products, which he is responsible for founding and establishing in 2016, within the Alpha Real Capital family of companies. Chris has been involved in the asset management industry for 30+ years, with senior executive roles spanning active and passive funds and structured products, including: Director, UK Structured Products Distribution, HSBC Asset Management; Chief Executive, Blue Sky Asset Management; and Managing Director, Incapital Europe.
Chris has been actively involved with the structured products industry since its earliest days in the UK, in the mid 1990’s, playing a role in its creation and in many of its turning points over the years. Chris and the Tempo team have a passion for structured products, strong views about how structured products can and should be done, and are committed to raising the structured products bar.
Tempo’s aim is to ‘redefine structured products’ for professional advisers and their clients, focusing on ‘doing the right things – and doing simple well’, presenting a high calibre structured product provider, a carefully considered approach to structured products and a level of support and service which professional advisers and their clients can be genuinely confident in.
Tempo’s emphasis is on working closely with professional advisers to advance working knowledge and understanding of structured products and the value that can be gained from best practice use of structured products within portfolios, for the benefit of clients.