If you're starting out in paraplanning, this is for you.

Our experts are going to share their experiences and knowledge to help you work out your next step.

What's the hiring market like right now?The trends
The drivers


What employers are looking for - the importance of both the right skills and right behaviours

The challenges aspiring paraplanners face

How you can increase your experience and set yourself up for success

What's the best way to approach a potential employer

Caroline Stuart - Outsourced Paraplanner and Owner of Sparrow Paraplanning:

Caroline has worked in financial services for around twenty years, with 18 of those in various different roles in paraplanning. In 2019 she set up her own outsource paraplanning business, Sparrow Paraplanning providing support to a range of planners and businesses.

Caroline is an active member of the financial planning and paraplanning community. She has been a member of the Personal Finance Society Paraplanner Panel since this began in 2015.  In 2018, she joined the Personal Finance Society Board of Directors and became the first paraplanner Vice President of the society in 2020.

Caroline spends time helping and coaching all levels of paraplanners and has been involved with the Paraplanner Assembly from the start. She has hosted two national assemblies and helped with a range of other events and activities including online and mini assemblies.

Born and raised in Norway, Ben moved to England in 2010 to join the British Army as a Soldier. He served for 6 years and during his served he discovered his interest for financial services. In 2016 he decided finance was the career path for him, so he left the Army, and, after 2 years in an accounting and junior administrative role, he joined Nigel Grice & Associates as a trainee financial adviser. In 2020 he graduated the Openwork Academy after achieving the CII Level 4 Diploma. 

He is the founder of Financial Adviser Mentorship group on Linkedin. The aim of the group is to provide assistance to new entrants and second careerists to land a role in financial services, more specifically within regulated financial advice.

Tony Bates - Managing Director, IDEX Consulting:

Tony is a co-founder of IDEX, establishing the Financial Services division in 2008 and now boasting 20 years’ experience within the sector.

He is responsible for managing key client relationships in the Financial Services marketplace, where he is passionate about ensuring that the service level and employer brand promotion received from his team is consistent. Tony actively works on senior appointments across the UK & EMEA, predominantly on a retained /subscription basis, where he prides himself on leveraging his 20 years of market experience. His goal is not only to find the right individuals, but to help businesses build their employer brand and implement an efficient / effective recruitment process, utilising the up-to-date technology and market intelligence..

Outside of work, Tony often presents at New Model Advisor conferences, and can be seen doing stand-up comedy. He also manages an over 35s football team, with a number of ex professionals in the Midlands league.

Our panel will join us on Wednesday 24th February, at 1.00pm for this hour-long online chat.

Want to ask them a question on the topic already? Go on, once you've registered, pop your question under the Q&A section - don't wait for the event,  or email us here, or ask in real-time on the day.

Join us by pressing the 'save my spot' button.

This online gathering is on Wednesday 24th February, 1.00-2.00pm. Can't make it? Then watch the replay, available just after the event finishes.

If you enjoyed that event, then head over Big Tent and say hello. There's a whole bunch of paraplanners hanging out there.

Signing up for the Post or by following us on Twitter for news on any upcoming ones.

For a full list of past events, just click here.

Got a question? Try these answers on for size

Save your spot by clicking the button on the top right. It's free, the only thing you have to do is register an account.

On the day of the event just sign back in here. But, we'll also send a reminder email ten minutes before it starts.

On the tech side of things. Viewing the events on browsers such as Chrome or Firefox work best. Headphones are a good idea if you share an office, plus the ability to type so that you can ask questions via the chat feature.

Just sign-in and view a recording of the session whenever it suits you.

Yes! As many as you can throw at our panel. Plus, if you can't make the event,  book a spot and add a question beforehand, the panel will then answer it during the event.

Can I suggest a  topic or be on the panel?

Absolutely, the more the merrier. Drop us an email.

You bet your bottom dollar there are, and on lots of useful topics for paraplanners. Watch past and/or register for any upcoming events here.

There isn't an upcoming event listed, when will the next one be?

Sorry about that. We're just confirming the topics and putting together an A-Team panel for it. We do aim for every last Wednesday of the month, at lunchtime (1-2pm for most normal folk), so you can join in while eating your sandwich.

Sometimes we'll throw a curve ball and change the date. That's because we want to bring you AMAZING panel members, and they just can't make Wednesdays. It's as simple as that.

Actually, my question was on something else

Ooh, we like new questions. Just pop it in an email and send it on its merry way to here.

One last question, what do you do with my details when I sign up?

Crikey, another good question! We’ll use your details to keep you posted on our happenings. From time to time, this will include activities that our supporters are participating in that we think you’ll find interesting.  We share information at an aggregate level with our supporters every now and then.

Please see our Privacy Policy here for details of how we will process your personal information.

Online Assembly: Starting out in paraplanning