ICP069 - Interview with Keith Richards, Personal Finance Society

In this bonus episode of the Informed Choice Podcast, Nick chats to Keith Richards, Chief Executive of the Personal Finance Society, about Chartered Financial Planner status.

Keith Richards has over 30 years experience within financial services operating at executive level across both manufacturing and distribution.

He has an established media profile and is a visible figurehead within the intermediary sector, regularly called upon for comment on UK financial services matters both home and abroad.

Keith was appointed Chief Executive of the Personal Finance Society in May 2013.

In addition to guiding the strategic evolution of the society he has evolved a greater government and regulatory engagement, brought about enhancements to membership benefits and its national CPD programme and introduced a number of key consumer facing initiatives - the Consumer Confidence and United Profession Campaigns being such initiatives that have been embraced by the majority across the advice profession.

Nick spoke to Keith Richards about the Personal Finance Society and how it differs from a trade body.

They talk about what individual financial advisers have to do in order to become a Chartered Financial Planner.

There is also a chat about what firms need to do in order to qualify for corporate Chartered status, with even higher standards being introduced from next year.

Nick asks Keith what value the Chartered Financial Planner status delivers to the consumer of retail financial services and what he feels the future looks like for consumer access to professional financial advice.

Find out more about the Personal Finance Society at www.thepfs.org or visit their consumer website at www.thepfs.org/yourmoney

Martin and Informed Choice

Martin Bamford is a Chartered Financial Planner, Chartered Wealth Manager and SOLLA Accredited Later Life Adviser. As Managing Director of Informed Choice, the award-winning firm of Chartered Financial Planners in Surrey, he is responsible for nearly £200m of client assets.

Martin is the author of several bestselling personal finance books and produced his first feature-length documentary in 2014, about the post-war Baby Boomer generation in retirement.

“Bamford excels at making even the dullest topics interesting” – Pensions Management

Visit www.icfp.co.uk to find out more about Informed Choice, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/informedchoice.