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    Client preferences, conversations and suitability

    Practical guidance on understanding, recording and applying client preferences and objectives.

    ๐Ÿ“NEWย Do advisers have to use a sustainability questionnaire for clients who want to invest sustainably?ย ย (Lee Coates OBE at In Accord talks to Paul Richards at Fidelity Adviser Solutions)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“NEWย Can advisers help clients to make an informed choice for sustainable and values-based investmentย (Lee Coates OBE at In Accord talks to Paul Richards at Fidelity Adviser Solutions)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“How do advisers start a conversation about sustainable investing with existing clients (Lee Coates OBE at In Accord talks to Al Ward at Aviva)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“How to deal with a client saying "you know me, can you answer that for me?" (Lee Coates OBE at In Accord talks to Mariella Rice-Jones at Brooks Macdonald)ย ย 

    ๐Ÿ“Is there a risk of leading the clients when talking about sustainability? (Lee Coates OBE at In Accord talks to Miranda Beacham at Aegon Asset Management)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“What are the dangers of not asking about sustainability preferences?ย (Lee Coates OBE at In Accord talks to Helen Austin at Novia)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“Should sustainability and values be included in client segmentation (Lee Coates OBE at In Accord talks to Rahab Paracha at Rathbones)

    ๐Ÿ“What do advisers need to do on top of asking about investment preferences? (Lee Coates OBE at In Accord talks to Al Ward at Aviva)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“What does good advice look like? (Lee Coates OBE at In Accord talks to Rahab Paracha at Rathbones)ย ย 

    ๐Ÿ“How can advisers help clients make an informed choice on ESG and sustainability? (Lee Coates OBE at In Accord talks to Paul Richards at Fidelity)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“How to introduce ESG and and sustainability to existing clients (Lee Coates OBE at In Accord talks to Mariella Rice-Jones at Brooks Macdonald)


    ๐Ÿ“Using the labels with advisers (George Latham at Wheb talks to Lee)ย 




    Consumer Duty, regulation and complianceย 

    How evolving expectations translate intro day to day advice practice.

    ๐Ÿ“NEWย Should questions relating to sustainable or values-based options be part of a Fact Find?ย ย (Lee Coates OBE at In Accord talks to Paul Richards at Fidelity Adviser Solutions)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“Does Consumer Duty mention sustainability? (Lee Coates OBE at In Accord talks to George Latham at Wheb)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“Consumer Duty, adviser competence, and sustainability (Elly Dowding at In Accord talks to Lee)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“Consumer Duty fair pricing and bespoke portfolios (Jim Blackstock at Ethical Screening talks to Lee)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“Four key points for Consumer Duty and SDRย (Elly Dowding at In Accord)

    ๐Ÿ“Avoid greenwashing to ensure communications are fair, clear and not misleading (Mariella Rice-Jones at Brooks Macdonald talks to Lee)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“Why are entity level disclosures important? (Al Ward at Aviva talks to Lee)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“Should ESG be part of the risk profile process?ย (Lee Coates OBE at In Accord talks to Paul Richards at Fidelity)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“Why is ESG and sustainability important for IFA firm mergers, acquisitions and sales? (Lee Coates OBE talks to Professor/Doctor Marc Lepere)ย ย 



    Investment pathways, portfolios and solutionsย 

    How different investment approaches are structured, implemented and governed.ย 

    ๐Ÿ“Benefits of using MPS for clients with ethical or sustainable preferences (Scott Dakers at Square Mile talks to Elly)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“Can Government Bonds be held in a sustainable MultiAsset Portfolio? (Rahab Paracha at Rathbones talks to Lee)

    ๐Ÿ“Should advisers run their own sustainable CIPs?ย ย (Mariella Rice-Jones at Brooks Macdonald talks to Lee)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“Sustainability in CIP and good client outcomesย (James Peel at Titan talks to Lee)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“Offering sustainable CIPs and retaining independent status (Elly Dowding at In Accord talks to Lee)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“Mapping a client's ethical questionnaire output to funds (James Blackstock at Ethical Screening talks to Lee)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“How can compliance and paraplanning firms support advisers with ESG and sustainability? (Lee Coates OBE at In Accord talks to Scott Dakers at Square Mile)ย 


    ๐Ÿ“Is an ESG questionnaire necessary and who should complete it? (Lee Coates OBE at In Accord talks to Paul Richards at Fidelity)ย 


    ๐Ÿ“What can platforms do to help advisers with ESG and sustainability? (Al Ward at Aviva talks to Lee)ย 


    ๐Ÿ“What resources are available for advisers on ESG and sustainability?ย (Lee Coates OBE at In Accord talks to Paul Richards at Fidelity)ย 



    Fund management, stewardship and data

    How fund managers approach ESG, sustainability, stewardship and data in practice.

    ๐Ÿ“How can fund managers pick the right companies and do ratings matter?ย (Michelle Dunstan at Janus Henderson talks to Lee)ย 


    ๐Ÿ“How does a fund decide which exclusions to apply? (Miranda Beacham at Aegon Asset Management talks to Lee)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“How should Fund Managers use their influence on investee companies?ย (Michelle Dunstan at Janus Henderson talks to Lee)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“What is engagement?ย (Rupert Krefting at M&G talks to Lee)ย 


    ๐Ÿ“What is stewardship?ย (Rupert Krefting at M&G talks to Lee)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“Benefits and limitations of using 3rd party ESG data providers (Rahab Paracha at Rathbones talks to Lee)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“Does ESG live on a 'different floor' or is it fully integrated into investment processes? (Michelle Dunstan at Janus Henderson talks to Lee)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“How do fund managers measure impact (George Latham at Wheb talks to Lee)ย 

    ๐Ÿ“Importance of inputs and outputs for sustainable portfolios (James Peel at Titan talks to Lee)ย 


    ๐Ÿ“Incorporating sustainability into a fund manager's investment process (James Peel at Titan talks to Lee)ย 




    Sustainability, values and specialist themes


    Exploring sustainability and values-related investing.


    ๐Ÿ“Understanding the difference between ESG and sustainability (Lee Coates OBE at In Accord talks to George Latham at Wheb)ย 


    ๐Ÿ“What are the similarities between ethical and sustainable investments?ย (Miranda Beacham at Aegon Asset Management talks to Lee)ย 


    ๐Ÿ“Is ESG a short term fad? (Michelle Dunstan at Janus Henderson talks to Lee)ย 


    ๐Ÿ“Is there a main sustainability theme that advisers should be looking at? (Mariella Rice-Jones at Brooks Macdonald talks to Lee)ย 


    ๐Ÿ“Is there a relationship between ESG and financial performance (Elly Dowding at In Accord)ย 


    ๐Ÿ“Why is ESG important for SMEs? (Professor/Doctor Marc Lepere talks to Lee)ย 


    ๐Ÿ“FCA Financial Lives Survey 2022 - a review of the data for responsible investment (Elly Dowding at In Accord talks to Lee)ย 


    ๐Ÿ“How can platforms help with advising on sustainability? (Helen Austin at Novia talks to Lee)ย 


    ๐Ÿ“Importance of effective communication between manufacturers and distributors (Rupert Krefting at M&G talks to Lee)ย 


    ๐Ÿ“What are the different types of greenwashingย (Lee Coates OBE at In Accordย talks toย Miranda Beacham at Aegon Asset Management)ย 


    ๐Ÿ“What is materiality? (Elly Dowding at In Accord talks to Lee)ย 


    ๐Ÿ“What trends has Square Mile seen with ratings and profiles? (Scott Dakers at Square Mile talks to Elly)ย 




    Resourcesย 


    ๐Ÿ“NEWย What resources are available for advisers on ESG and sustainability?ย (Lee Coates OBE at In Accord talks to Paul Richards at Fidelity)ย 




    Philanthropyย 


    Where philanthropy intersects with financial planning.


    ๐Ÿ“What is climate philanthropy? (Jack Chellman at Global Returns Project talks to Lee)ย 


    ๐Ÿ“How to incorporate climate philanthropy into financial planning (Jack Chellman at Global Returns Project talks to Lee)ย 


    ๐Ÿ“Compliance aspects of discussing climate philanthropy (Jack Chellman at Global Returns Project talks to Lee)ย