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Connect 2026 webinar

Using case studies and interactive sessions, these sessions put complex technical information in a format that is easy to understand.

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Welcome to Connect

Connect is an event that helps paraplanners and adviser support staff expand their technical pensions and investment knowledge.

What can you expect from our sessions?

Our Connect events create a network for paraplanners and provide support for those of you working towards chartered status. Our upcoming webinar session will cover topical educational material and the latest from AJ Bell Investcentre. We include content linked to the R0 and J0 CII exam syllabi. Detailed case studies will also be used to help aid learning and put information into practice.

We will be joined by industry experts who will deliver a variety of sessions, including the latest policy updates, an investment focus and our most sought-after content – technical support.

Secure your place

To register, just click ‘Get your access link here’ below.

About the day
What's new at AJ Bell: financials and developments
Robert Cope
Senior Business Development Consultant
AJ Bell Investcentre

Senior Business Development Consultant, Robert Cope, will be your host for Connect 2026. He will welcome you, give a quick reminder of what’s in store and introduce each session at the event before running through the most recent business financials and our latest platform developments.

About Rob

Modern Portfolio Theory for Discretionary Investing
Manan Goyal
Junior Portfolio Manager
AJ Bell Investments

In this session, Junior Portfolio Manager, Manan Goyal will walk through the principles and limitations of Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT). He’ll focus on the core ideas of risk, return and diversification, explaining how rational investor assumptions underpin the efficient frontier.

Manan will also explore how portfolio managers use MPT to build and maintain portfolios, why correlation alone isn’t enough for real client outcomes, and where the theory breaks down in practice. This links directly to day-to-day portfolio support, risk profiling, and review, reinforcing concepts from Learning Outcome 8 of the CII J10 module.

About Manan

Staying ahead of ISA changes
Rachel Vahey
Head of Public Policy
AJ Bell

The Government is changing its approach to help people make the most of their money – encouraging a shift from saving to investing. Head of Public Policy, Rachel Vahey will unpack this change, talking through the new rules for both cash ISAs and stocks & shares ISAs coming in April 2027, what these changes mean for you and your clients, and how the new house-buying ISA could help more people onto the property ladder.

She’ll also examine whether the changes to cash ISAs are likely to influence behaviour in the way policymakers intend, the potential knock-on impact for stocks & shares ISAs, and what may come next for the evolving ISA landscape – helping you anticipate change and support more informed client decisions.

About Rachel

‘The nastiest, hardest problem in finance’ – how do you solve a problem like decumulation?
Adam Pinfold
Multi-asset Investment Specialist
M&G Investments

Clients can spend decades building wealth whilst in employment, but retirement removes the certainty of a salary while expenses continue. Alongside familiar risks such as market volatility and inflation, new challenges emerge, including longevity and sequencing risk, increasing the complexity of retirement planning.

Decumulation therefore requires a different mindset for investors seeking income. This session explores natural income generation as one approach, demonstrating how consistent income can meet regular spending needs while preserving capital for larger, later-life costs such as healthcare, supporting more sustainable retirement outcomes.

About Adam

Trusts and tax planning
Joshua Croft
Senior Technical Consultant
AJ Bell

Trusts remain a key tool in effective IHT and estate planning, but they can be difficult to apply with confidence. This session is designed to help paraplanners build a clear, practical understanding of how trusts work, the different structures available, and where they typically sit within IHT planning strategies.

Drawing on personal tax and trust planning themes, including those within J02 and AF1 CII exams, Joshua will use practical case studies to demonstrate how trusts support wealth transfer and asset control. He’ll break complex areas into core principles, linking legislation and tax treatment to real client scenarios, while highlighting common pitfalls where those sitting exams often drop marks. Whether you’re developing technical expertise, reviewing cases or revising for an upcoming exam, this session is perfect to help put your learning into practice with case studies.

About Josh

Get in touch

Got a question or want to provide feedback? Contact our events team below

Kirsty Zollinger
Kirsty Zollinger
Events Manager
Email Kirsty

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