This full day, in-person course is for you if you want to enhance your skills in your first meeting with clients.
It looks at how you can win more of the right kind of clients every time and is for financial advisers or financial planners of all levels.
You may be new to the profession or looking for some new ideas.
Led by financial planners for financial planners the day will help you put in place a proper structure for first meetings and will build on the skills needed to make the first meeting a success for both you and your prospects. Competence comes with plenty of purposeful practice. The day will provide you with a safe environment where you can develop your skills through role play.
Learn how to:
- Present yourself / your firm BEFORE the meeting
- Be aware of what you are saying without speaking
- Use effective questioning and listening techniques
- Effectively communicate your value
- Close a meeting and gain commitment
Your facilitators for the day are
Steve Martin – Director, Chartered Wealth Manager, Certified Financial Planner
Steve is originally from Ayr in Scotland but moved to Altrincham in 2003 now lives full time in Spain. He is a Chartered and Certified Financial Planner (CFP™) as well as a Chartered Wealth Manager, a holder of the Investment Management Certificate and is a former Assessor of the CFP™ licence.
Steve founded Smart Financial Planning Limited in 2008 and serves as it chief executive. He also founded Smart SSAS, a pension trustee business in 2011 and Smart Divorce, a divorce specialism in 2018 and released the Change The Future programme in 2020. In 2021 he launched Smart Financial International to support clients moving out of the uk into Europe.
He was Chair of the Manchester branch of the Institute of Financial Planning for 5 years before standing down in 2015.
Steve is married with two children, is an Ironman Triathlete, a keen runner and a CrossFit level 1 coach and is a committed fund raiser for the CF Warriors and the Cystic Fibrosis trust.
Steve has over 20 years’ experience in the profession, having been a Partner and Managing Director of previous firms.
Steve specialises in advising business owners as both a financial planner and a business consultant as well as expatriating UK nationals.
Damien Rylett – Director, Chartered Financial Planner
Damien is an experienced Chartered Financial Planner with over 25 years in the profession, and a passionate advocate for the power of great financial planning to transform people’s lives. As a Director and trainer at the Financial Planning Training Academy, he brings that passion directly into the development of the next generation of financial planners.
At the Academy, Damien trains and coaches financial advisers in the soft skills and behavioural techniques that are the hallmark of truly great financial planning. He understands first-hand what it takes to make the transition from transactional adviser to life-centred financial planner – and he brings that lived experience to every training session. His goal is simple: to equip planners with the skills, confidence and mindset to deliver life-changing outcomes for their clients.
Alongside his Academy work, Damien is an Exit Partner at Pathfinders, where he works with financial planning business owners to navigate one of the most significant transitions of their professional lives – exiting their business and moving into retirement. Drawing on his own deep experience as a business founder, his coaching background and his expertise in life-centred financial planning, Damien is uniquely placed to support business owners through this journey.
Damien’s career began in 1997 with Standard Life. He subsequently held senior roles at Broadoak Group and Chartwell before founding Brunel Capital Partners in 2011 – a Chartered Financial Planning firm that grew to acquire Pilgrim Financial Planning and co-launch IronBright Investment Management, before merging with Saltus in 2022. Damien was a regional director and member of the senior leadership team at Saltus before deciding to step away in 2025.
A committed professional, Damien has served as IFP Branch Manager, Conference Chairman, and Chair of the PFS Financial Planning Practitioner Panel. He also coaches academy rugby at the Premiership club, Bristol Bears.
FAQs
- 9:30am coffee and registration
- 10:00am start
- Lunch included
- Formal finish 4:30pm
- Questions / extras till 5pm
- Min 8 – Max 10 delegates.
Location
Smart Financial
Beehive Lofts, Unit 4.1
Waulk Mill
51 Bengal Street
Manchester M4 6LN
What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?
There’s on road parking and there’s a number of car parks locally. There’s a number of car parks off Poland Street, including a new high rise one on Poland street that opened a couple of weeks ago.
Beehive Lofts is a short walk from Manchester Piccadilly train station. If you are local, you can take the Metrolink to Piccadilly.
From further away, fly to Manchester airport and take the train to Piccadilly or taxi to office (about £25.)
Where can I contact the organiser with any questions?
You can email taina@fptraining.academy with any queries.
Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
No, you don’t need a printed ticket.