Re-elected PFS president Lord pledges transparency on de-registration

During the PFS's virtual annual general meeting held today (September 14), Lord was unanimously re-elected by the PFS directors.

Caroline Stuart, deputy president of the PFS, said: “When we met this year to consider the appointment, the unanimous feeling of the directors was that our decision-making should focus on delivering continuity and stability for the Personal Finance Society at a time when there are many significant challenges at play, not least the ongoing uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“Our decision would also recognise the strong leadership and abilities demonstrated by the current president over the past year.”

Lord was first appointed to the role last year in September and joined with 20 years’ experience in the profession, having held a variety of roles, including chief client officer at Succession Wealth.

I want to assure you that the PFS board is having ongoing discussions with the CII, and no decisions have been made, nor will they be made without hearing from you, our members, via the CII group’s consultation.Sarah Lord

She was also previously a partner at Killik & Co heading up the wealth planning operation in both the UK and the Middle East.

Lord said: “I would like to thank Personal Finance Society members, regional volunteers and staff who have continued to work together, share their ideas and experience in the last year, demonstrating how adaptable our profession is.

“I would also like to thank Keith Richards, who stood down as our society’s chief executive in June after eight years. The commitment which Keith made to leading the PFS and the success he achieved cannot be understated. His legacy is a strong and healthy society that is well positioned to capitalise on the opportunities of the future.”

She added: “I want to assure you that the PFS board is having ongoing discussions with the CII, and no decisions have been made, nor will they be made without hearing from you, our members, via the CII group’s consultation. 

“What the last 18 months has proved is we are a profession which can find solutions to any problems we face, we can act quickly, we can act decisively – and that will continue to be the way in which we operate - both as a profession and as a society.”

As well as the reappointment of Lord as president, Stuart will continue as deputy president for a second term.

Vanessa Barnes will act as an additional vice president.

During the meeting the PFS board also answered questions from members and all the resolutions were passed.

One of the resolutions was the reappointment of BDO LLP as auditors of the society for the financial year ending December 31, 2021 and that the directors be authorised to agree their remuneration.

Elsewhere, Elizabeth Bastin and Gordon Wilson, who retire by rotation as a member director of the society, are all to be reappointed.

Anthony Ward will be appointed as a new member director of the society. 

In June, advisers took a sigh of relief after the PFS board voted against the Chartered Insurance Institute's latest proposal to deregister the adviser body.  

The decision by the PFS board came as earlier that month, Robin Melley, chartered financial planner at Matrix Capital Limited urged others in the industry to pressure the CII over its plans to deregister after he wrote to the CII’s independent chairwoman Helen Phillips, telling her that both himself and his fellow IISMW council members had concerns about what was happening at the body.

At the time, other advisers also hit back, saying the move could see some members switch to rival professional body the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment should it go ahead.

sonia.rach@ft.com

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