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Managing change - The opportunities, challenges and protecting clients through transition.

‍MANAGING CHANGE - THE OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES AND PROTECTING CLIENTS THROUGH TRANSITION

SEPTEMBER 2026 NEWSLETTER

CONTENT

- Help shape the future of succession in financial advice

- Compassionate bereavement support

- Transitioning into retirement

- Join us and the FCA in Birmingham on 22nd October!

- Latest webinar - Compelling and compliant suitability reports

Every advice firm will face moments that test its ability to deliver good client outcomes. Whether driven by political or economic change, the retirement of a business owner or key individual, the adoption of new technology, or the need to support clients and families through bereavement and other major life events, periods of transition can place significant pressure on processes, communication and planning.

However, they also provide an opportunity to demonstrate the value of strong leadership, careful preparation and professional support, helping clients navigate life's most important intersections with confidence.

The ability to adapt and evolve in a rapidly changing environment is the focus of my latest article in Professional Adviser. Its central message is simple: no organisation can tackle the profession's biggest challenges alone. The Alliance was founded on the belief that we achieve more when we come together to share expertise, challenge thinking, develop practical solutions and work towards common goals. That belief has clearly resonated, helping us grow to a membership reach of more than 26,000 people across the profession.

Read the article: https://www.professionaladviser.com/opinion/4536367/future-profession-benefit-collaboration

‍HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF SUCCESSION IN FINANCIAL ADVICE

Against this backdrop, our Succession Alliance, chaired by Ben Wright, has launched a landmark profession-wide survey on succession readiness. With many advisers approaching retirement and firms considering their long-term future, succession planning is not just a business issue. It is critical to maintaining continuity for clients, protecting good outcomes and ensuring the long-term sustainability of advice firms.

It should incorporate consideration of key staff within a business, including advisers, paraplanners and especially administrators, who are often central to operational effectiveness and client support.

Please Contribute - By sharing your experiences and views, you will help us better understand the challenges firms face and identify the practical support needed in the years ahead. We encourage participation from people in all roles across the profession, and all responses are strictly anonymous.

Take the survey – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YQ56G3M

‍COMPASSIONATE BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT

Bereavement is one of the most difficult transitions a client or their family can experience. Earlier this year, the FCA announced a review into how firms support bereaved customers, describing bereavement processes as "a real test of a firm's culture and key to consumer trust". The regulator is examining how firms communicate with bereaved families, support vulnerable customers and deliver appropriate outcomes during periods of loss.

Our bereavement campaign continues to gather momentum, with increasing sign-ups to the Intermediary Bereavement Standard. Alongside adviser and client-facing guides, and discounted training through the National Bereavement Council, it provides a practical framework for delivering compassionate, consistent and Consumer Duty-aligned support to bereaved clients and their families.

Practical help and support for those who have been bereaved

A practical guide for financial advisers supporting bereaved clients and th eir families

‍TRANSITIONING INTO RETIREMENT

‍Retirement is about much more than finances. This practical guide explores how advisers can support clients through the practical, emotional and financial aspects of moving into retirement, helping them achieve better outcomes and prepare for the next chapter of their lives with confidence and clarity.

Dowload the guide here.

‍DON'T MISS OUT ON A FANTASTIC DAY OF INSIGHTFUL AND BUSINESS RELEVANT CPD - JOIN US AND THE FCA IN BIRMINGHAM ON 22ND OCTOBER

Creating good outcomes during periods of change is a central theme of our Birmingham conference on 22 October, where regulators, practitioners and respected leaders will come together to discuss technology, vulnerability, succession and the future of retirement planning.

Join some insightful and interactive sessions from the FCA, affording all delegates the opportunity to hear and interact directly with senior members of their supervisory team, led by Head of Supervision, Sara Woodroffe.

The event will also feature one of the first opportunities to hear directly from Vicki Jordan, Manager in AI Policy at the FCA, on emerging AI good practice, common pitfalls and areas where firms can strengthen their approach.

If you have not yet secured your place, we hope you will join us for what promises to be a highly practical, insightful and thought-provoking day -https://www.tickettailor.com/events/consumerdutyalliance/2273221

‍‍LATEST WEBINAR - COMPELLING AND COMPLIANT SUITABILITY REPORTS

Suitability reports should play a vital role in helping clients understand why a recommendation is right for them, while providing firms with clear evidence of suitability and regulatory compliance. Yet many reports remain lengthy, complex and difficult for clients to engage with and it’s widely acknowledged that people will not properly read or understand this type of document.

This CDA Practitioner Forum webinar will offer practical insights into FCA expectations, lessons from behavioural science, explore the opportunities and limitations of AI and technology, and discuss real-world approaches to balancing client needs, operational efficiency and risk management.

Join our expert panel on Wednesday 7 October - book your place here.

‍AI CAN RUN THE PORTFOLIO. IT CAN'T TAKE THE FIRST CALL FROM A GRIEVING FAMILY

As firms automate more of the client relationship, the human moments matter more than ever. Only 47% of bereaved customers feel supported by their financial firm according to research for the FCA, and the regulator’s multi-firm review now has advisers, platforms and wealth managers in scope.

Get that first call right and you can help keep the family, and their wealth, for generations. Get it wrong and they can move on.

Our CPD-accredited training is at the heart of the Alliance's Intermediary Bereavement Standard. It's delivered in-house for whole teams, or through monthly open sessions for individual advisers, with £5 off for CDA members using the code CDA5. Get in touch to talk about training your team.

Coming in October: our training moves to the Octopus Legacy name. It's the same expert team and the same course.

INTRODUCTING 24/7 CASE TRACKING ON THE JUST PORTAL

For financial advisers only, not for consumers.

We know how important it is for you to have quick and easy access to your annuity cases. For business submitted through the Just portal, we’ve launched our new case tracking feature, designed to give you a clear, real-time view of all your annuity cases whenever you need it.

It only takes a few minutes to set up, and once you're in, it's there whenever you need it.

Link: https://www.justadviser.com/business-services/just-portal/?utm_source=network&utm_medium=promo&utm_campaign=giflpromo_sep&utm_content=giflsli

‍ADVISER AND AI - TECH GUIDE

September's issue of AdviserSoftware.com’s ‘Adviser AI & Tech - Everyone you need to know’ is now available.

This provides a comprehensive guide to the technology available to advisers, with over 300 independent reviews of current services from over 200 tech suppliers, all undertaken the experienced team at AdviserSoftware.com.

‍COMING SOON: NEW TALENT EMPLOYER AWARDS

The future of financial advice depends on firms that are willing to invest in new talent.

That's why our Taskforce, The New Talent Alliance, are launching the New Talent Alliance Employer Awards 2026 which will recognise organisations that are recruiting, developing and supporting the next generation of professionals.

Whether you've introduced apprenticeships, graduate programmes, career changer pathways or innovative development initiatives, we'd love to hear your story.

Entries will open on Monday 5th of October!

New Talent Employer of the Year - Recognising an organisation demonstrating a strong commitment to attracting, developing and retaining new talent.
Outstanding Career Development Programme - Recognising firms with structured pathways, training and progression opportunities.
Emerging Talent Champion - Recognising organisations that have recently launched initiatives creating opportunities for school leavers, graduates or career changers.

‍PROTECTION GURU DIGITAL DIRECTORY

September's issue of the Protection Guru Digital Directory is now available.

This digital directory is a free service that helps advisers and those working in advise firms understand the protection market.

Read the September issue

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