Independent financial advisors (IFAs)

Independent financial advisors (IFAs) from across West Yorkshire and the North are to benefit from free seminars about weathering turbulent times in their industry.

Partners from Irwin Mitchell's business and private client department are leading a series of breakfast seminars on three key areas of the IFA market – consolidation, protecting personal wealth and risk management.

The events will focus on how IFAs can add value to their businesses and develop client relationships despite the credit crunch.

Potential challenges for IFAs include the Retail Distribution Review, a major piece of legislation which is expected to drive significant changes in the IFA industry. The first seminar, on April 23rd, will give an overview of the legal process involved and advice on selling and valuing IFA businesses.

The second seminar will look at how IFAs can help clients protect their clients' personal wealth and opportunities available in the economic down turn, including the drawing up of pre- and post-nuptial agreements, effective Will planning and preserving tax reliefs. Finally in the third seminar the IFAs will learn more about avoiding potential claims against their business and the best response to legal actions.

Paul Johnson, a partner in the corporate team at Irwin Mitchell's Leeds office, said: "We're very pleased to make use of the wide range of expert knowledge available within our business department to offer practical and useful advice to IFAs at these free seminars.

"IFAs have a range of concerns in the current economic climate but we hope they come away from each of these seminars with realistic and pragmatic ways of adding value to their business and helping their customers.

"The Retail Distribution Review, which comes into force in 2012, is aimed at moving IFAs away from commission-based structures to receiving regular annual income from clients. It is typical of some of the very considerable challenges which IFAs face and for which we can help them prepare."

The seminars take place at Irwin Mitchell's Leeds office from 8am on April 23rd, May 21st and June 25th. Bookings should be made by April 17th. Contact Rebecca Bowman on 0113 220 6215 or rebecca.bowman@irwinmitchell.com to reserve a place.