In a universe filled with complexity, Professor Brian Cox shows us how simplicity – and story – builds connection. In this jaw-dropping session, he reveals how storytelling and science combine to make the complex beautifully simple, and why understanding is the foundation of trust. For financial planners guiding clients through life’s big questions, Brian’s perspective offers a timely reminder: clarity isn’t just a skill, it’s a gift.

What does it mean to build a financial planning firm that lasts? For some, the £1bn milestone is the ultimate marker of scale. For others, success lies in crafting a business that is enduring and true to its values – regardless of size. In this thought‑provoking panel, we bring together leaders who have reached the billion‑pound benchmark, those on the way, and those who have chosen different paths of growth. Expect unfiltered insights into strategy, culture, and execution. Whether your ambition is £100m or £1bn, this session explores the playbooks, pitfalls, and philosophies that define what it means to build a firm that not only grows, but endures.

Trust isn’t just what clients place in you; it’s also what you place in yourself. In a world where credibility is constantly tested, advisers must learn to navigate the delicate tension between risk and possibility, data and instinct. In this eye-opening session, author and trust expert Rachel Botsman explores how trust is shaped through signals, conversations and small human moments that matter. You’ll walk away with frameworks that help clients make the ‘trust leap’, strengthen your own sense of professional confidence, and build adviser–client relationships that are resilient and ready for what comes next.

Could we all do better?

David Swanwick, Head of Client Communications at Dimensional, poses some thought-provoking questions, new and inspiring data, and a powerful reminder to all that the work of financial advisers has never been more important, or more valuable to clients.

In an AI-augmented world, the true edge in financial advice lies in human skills – empathy, emotional intelligence, and behaviour change. This session explores how technology enables “personalisation-at-scale,” freeing advisers to deepen client connection and deliver the sort of guidance that algorithms can’t replicate. The future belongs to firms that harness tech to amplify their human capital, redefining advice as both digitally enhanced and profoundly personal.

AI is transforming the way clients discover advisers and decide who to trust – rewriting the foundations of visibility, credibility, and growth in our profession. Algorithms reward clarity, not complexity, and this session will show advisers how to make their firms visible in AI-powered discovery, from mastering AEO (AI Engine Optimisation) to using reviews, reputation, and storytelling that cut through the noise. Learn how to make your firm stand out, earn digital trust at scale, and build a growth strategy that thrives even as technology evolves.

Daniel Priestley shares how advisers can gain a decisive edge by creating irresistible ‘hot offers’ through micro‑niche segmentation (think planners for dentists, radiographers, and pilots). Drawing on examples from Nike and financial planning, he reveals how to position offers to the true decision‑maker, the ‘person that pays’. Alongside fresh insights on personal brand, Daniel equips advisers with practical strategies to sharpen relevance, elevate impact, and engage clients more effectively. Followed by interactive Q&A.