I just received an invitation to the Discovery Life financial planning summit…on opening the invitation I noticed a few things:
- The invite is for a financial planning summit
- The agenda is dominated by sales techniques – sure there are some other topics thrown into the mix but it appears that the main motive is to make better (more proficient) sales people who can sell more products as a result. This is not financial planning. 2 of the agenda items are as follows:
LESSONS FROM THE WORLD’S GREATEST INSURANCE SALESMAN
Peter Rosengard’s extraordinary life story is packed with valuable lessons and insight into how he achieved greatness in the life insurance industry. He shares practical and inspiring advice based on his own success and reveals how you too can consistently prosper.
HOW TO BE THE MOST LIKEABLE FINANCIAL ADVISER IN THE ROOM
All other things being equal, clients choose the financial adviser they like. It’s as simple as that. Learn how to synchronise attitude, body language, and voice tone so that you instantly become someone the other person likes. Nicholas Boothman reveals how to read attitude, pick up on nervousness, the subtle difference between words that open a conversation and words that shut it down, powerful compliments, eye cues, the magic of opposites attracting, and more. Prepare to be liked!
- The programme is “endorsed” by the Financial Planning Institute…with Continuous Professional Points (CPD) points for attending. CPD for what – learning how to be a better sales person?
What are we getting at – does the FPI, as an institute, stand for financial planning or selling disguised as planning? With events like this where selling is disguised as planning and CPD points can be earned, it is no wonder that the public and regulators are confused about what financial plan is and is not! Come of Discovery and the FPI – let’s call a spade a spade. This is not a financial planning summit!
