WEEK 1:
KEYNOTE
Keith Richards
Chair of the Financial Vulnerability Task Force
Wednesday 13th October 2021
Keynote Presentation: 10.05 – 10.30
The Future of Financial Advice
Keith Richard’s keynote session will review the continued impact of COVID-19 on the advisory sector and its clients. He will also look at the present and future effect of regulation, as well as other challenges and opportunities that are likely to force further evolution of financial planning in a post-COVID landscape.
Keith Richards is Chairman of the Financial Vulnerability Taskforce which was set up in January 2021, as an Independent body which has created a Charter to help both firms and individuals address the vulnerable circumstances in life we all face, whilst also meeting the expectations of regulatory standards and expectations. Prior to this Keith was Chief Executive Officer of the Personal Finance Society (PFS) and evolved the role and purpose of the professional body to become the largest in Europe with a growing international presence from its office in Hong Kong. Keith was also Chief Membership Officer for the Chartered Insurance Institute and had responsibility for its group membership strategy as well as the development of CII-Hong Kong and strategic relationships across Asia Pacific.
With over 30 years’ experience operating at executive level, Keith is regularly called upon for comment and contribution both home and abroad by various organisations, including governments, regulators and media.
Keith established a strong media profile whilst representing one of the UK’s largest IFA Networks (Tenet Group) as Group Distribution and Development Director, prior to which he was Head of Retail for the largest mutual insurance company in the UK, Royal London Group. Actively engaged in the promotion of Insurance and financial services within the UK and internationally as a profession, he has contributed to the boards of AIFA, APFA and AMI.
He also sat on the board of the European Financial Planning Association (EFPA), Chaired the Pension Advice Taskforce, is a member of various government and regulatory working groups and recognised as one of the Top 100 Influential figures Internationally, by International Adviser.