Autumn Adviser Conference 2025

The advice landscape is transforming fast — and Model Portfolio Solutions (MPS) are leading the charge. Once a niche offering, they’ve become a cornerstone in the evolution of Centralised Investment and Retirement Propositions (CIPs and CRPs).

At this year’s Autumn Adviser Conference, we’ll unpack the drivers behind this exponential growth, exploring how robust, scalable platforms are powering the next generation of advice. These platforms enable advisers to deliver consistency, flexibility, and long-term value — the key ingredients of sustainable success.

Because value is more than performance. It’s more than an investment strategy. It’s the foundation of every great client proposition — defining experience, trust, and outcomes.

Join us on 27 November 2025 at The Park Royal Hotel in Warrington for our high-impact, CPD-accredited event, designed exclusively for financial advisers. Discover smarter solutions, stronger propositions, and better results for clients.

Hear directly from the experts – Get first-hand insights into current regulatory priorities and expectations
Engage with expert speakers and panels – Exploring the biggest topics facing advisers today
Build your network – Connect with fellow professionals and leading providers
Enjoy a great delegate experience – With complimentary breakfast, lunch, and free on-site parking

Take a look at the highlights from our spring adviser conference here.

Be part of the conversation

When:	Thursday 27 November 2025
Where:	The Park Royal Hotel & Spa, Warrington

Download the agenda

Speaker line-up

John Milliken

Chief Executive Officer, Defaqto

Before joining Defaqto, John was the CEO for Speechmatics where he transformed the start-up into a scalable technology business, doubling ARR in 18 months. As the Chief Operating Officer for Infomedia Limited, John oversaw a transformation program that resulted in 40% YoY growth. Milliken has led and scaled various fintech, SaaS, enterprise software and deep-tech businesses as both CEO and COO across several industries, including banking and payments during his time as a founding member of the team and MD at Monetise - an organisation that achieved a public market valuation of £1.5bn through pioneering the use of mobile phones as a consumer banking channel.

Sally Boyle

Chief Sales Officer, Defaqto

Sally Boyle is Chief Sales Officer at Defaqto, where she leads sales across Banking, General Insurance, Asset Managers, Funds, DFM and Adviser clients. She plays a key role in deepening partnerships and supporting firms recently brought into the Defaqto group, ensuring clients gain maximum value from Defaqto’s products and services.

With 17 years’ experience spanning sales, marketing, coaching and training, Sally has built a strong track record of driving growth and strengthening customer engagement. Prior to Defaqto, she spent a decade at Octopus Investments, where she helped scale the sales function and served as Head of Marketing. Her breadth of expertise and collaborative approach position her as a trusted partner for firms seeking to deliver better outcomes and commercial success.

Graeme Leach

Global Economist

Graeme is one of Britain's leading economists and will launch a new macro advisory company GLOBAL4Chttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BxOdiGDhkamnglTSnMHapcHmsAzTvWw42id4UM5BD78/edit?gid=0#gid=0AST at the start of 2026. He is a member of the IEA Shadow Monetary Policy Committee, and for 17 years was Chief Economist and Director of Policy at the IoD, where he represented the organisation in discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and 10 Downing Street. Subsequently he was Director of Economics at the Legatum Institute, responsible for analysing the sources of economic prosperity across the globe.

Earlier in his career he worked as Chief UK Economist and Chief International Economist at the Henley Centre for Forecasting, and was Economic Adviser to Scottish Provident Investment Group.

He is visiting professorial head of economic policy at the University of Lincoln and has also lectured on the masters degree at Cardiff Business School.

He has undertaken hundreds of TV and radio interviews for BBC News, Sky News, Radio 4 Today Programme and BBC World at One.

Rt Hon Tom Tugendhat

MBE VR MP

Tom Tugendhat has served the United Kingdom for over 25 years—in the Army, Parliament, and Government. He saw active service in Iraq in 2003 and Afghanistan from 2005, was elected MP for Tonbridge in 2015, chaired Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee in 2017 and was appointed Security Minister in 2022.

Tom modernised laws, oversaw intelligence agencies, and spearheaded initiatives against online child exploitation, fraud, and cybercrime. His work has strengthened Britain’s resilience against Islamist radicalisation, Iranian state-sponsored violence, and hostile activities from Russia and China. Among the first to warn of threats posed by foreign corruption and authoritarian interference, Tom has been sanctioned by Beijing, Moscow, and Tehran.

Before Parliament, Tom served as an intelligence officer and worked for the Foreign Office. He helped establish Afghanistan’s National Security Council and government in Helmand Province. He has also been a journalist, is regularly consulted for geopolitical analysis, and been a successful angel investor

Rory Maguire

CEO and Founder, Fundhouse

Rory has extensive experience across nearly all areas of asset management, having begun his career in 1996. Most recently, he served as CEO of an asset management firm before co-founding Fundhouse with Peter Foster in South Africa in 2007. In 2010, he relocated to the UK to establish and lead Fundhouse UK.

Since founding Fundhouse in the UK, he has overseen its growth into a leading provider of institutional consulting services to blue-chip wealth managers. From 2018 onward, the firm has also become an award-winning and rapidly expanding provider of Discretionary Model Portfolio Services (MPS).

As Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Rory leads the business and oversees the firm’s model portfolios, while remaining closely involved in manager research—a field he is deeply passionate about. He considers it a privilege to work alongside an exceptional and experienced team at Fundhouse, all united by a shared ethos of putting the end client first.

Ben Gilbert

Investment Manager, Sarasin & Partners

Ben is responsible for managing portfolios on behalf of UK private clients and Professional Intermediaries.

Prior to joining Sarasin in January 2019, Ben was a Director at Tilney, where he worked with private clients as well as sitting on the Asset Allocation and Fund Selection committees. Ben attended University College London and has a First-Class Honours degree in History & Philosophy of Sciences.

Ben has passed the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments (CISI) Masters in Wealth Management, Private Client Investment Advice & Management qualification (PCIAM) and CFA Level 1. Ben is also a Chartered Fellow of the CISI.

Ross Easton

Head of Platform Propositions, Scottish Widows

Ross has extensive technical experience in platforms, investments and technology development. Prior to joining Embark/Scottish Widows, Ross spent thirteen years with Standard Life, Standard Life Investments and abrdn, where he initially led the design of the Standard Life response to the Retail Distribution Review before becoming Head of Proposition for the Standard Life Wrap platform.

Within LBG he leads the Scottish Widows Platform proposition with a collective purpose of delivering value for investors and enabling access to advice through the provision of market-leading solutions to UK financial advisers.

Ross is also a key media spokesperson for the Scottish Widows Platform, regularly taking part in industry debate on the future of the market, innovation and the role of technology.

Mark Keogh

Head of Asset Management, Blackfinch

With over 37 years of experience in financial services, Mark has established himself as a leader in the investment management industry. His expertise and strategic insight have earned him a strong reputation for driving meaningful outcomes for clients and adviser firms alike in previous positions at Zurich Intermediary Group, Old Mutual Asset Managers and Liontrust Asset Management.

At Blackfinch, Mark partners with adviser firms to develop and enhance their Centralised Investment Propositions (CIPs). He focuses on ensuring these frameworks are not only compliant with regulatory standards but also aligned with the core investment values of both advisers and their clients.

Mike Turner

Investment Development Consultant, Defaqto

Mike has over 20 years’ worth of industry experience covering funds, DFM, products and platforms. He is positioned within the Defaqto Investment Insight team where he’s responsible for risk rating MA solutions, conducting Fund/MPS reviews, ESG reviews and shaping Defaqto’s data proposition to ensure that advisers have access to new and relevant data, to help them fulfil client suitability in an ever-evolving regulatory landscape.

Paul Tinkler

Insight and Consulting Director, Defaqto

Paul is head of the Insight team at Defaqto, who are responsible for banking, general insurance, investment solutions (funds, ETFs, DFM portfolios and tax advantaged investments) and wealth & protection solutions (ISA’s, bonds, pensions, life assurance, critical illness and platforms). His team works closely with comparators, providers, brokers and advisers to define, develop and deliver market-leading, ratings, panels, publications and consultancy.

Paul joined Defaqto in 2016, from senior management positions at AXA Life Invest, Sesame Bankhall Group (SBG), SEI, Legal & General and Zurich (both IFA and direct sales).

Samantha Wallace

Business Development Manager, Defaqto

Samantha has over 20 years’ experience in financial services working across stockbroking, investment management, tax efficient investments, and most recently for 5 years in-house at a large national advice firm integrating and acquiring new IFA businesses.

Samantha is responsible for Defaqto’s strategic relationships with national advice firms and adviser networks since joining in 2024.

Samantha is a Chartered Fellow of the CISI.

Nick Davis

Investment Director, Oakglen Wealth

Nick has more than 32 years of experience in investment management. He began his career managing money for individuals at Kleinwort Benson before moving to Credit Suisse Private Bank in 1999. In 2005, he began working with institutional clients, specialising in charities at CCLA and pension funds at PSolve, before returning to managing portfolios for individuals, pensions, trusts and charities at Williams de Broe.

More recently, Nick spent 10 years at Quilter Cheviot as a Discretionary Fund Manager, managing investments for private clients in SIPPs, ISAs, and Offshore Bonds. In addition, Nick works closely with intermediaries both onshore and offshore. Nick is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

"Really enjoyed the variety - spot on in the current
climate.” Neal Griffin

“The theme was appropriate, timely, and well thought
through. Thank you” David Hutt

“Informative and well balanced agenda. Strong
delivery ” Stephen J. Oliver

“Event that is well organised and very relevant
using knowledgeable presenters giving clarity to
some complex areas.” Peter Williams

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To secure your complimentary place please complete the form:

These events are exclusive to authorised investment advisers only (or officers of a regulated advice business).

Delegates can include this event towards the CII / Personal Finance Society CPD requirement should you consider it relevant to your professional development needs.

Defaqto adviser Conference 2025 | 27 November 2025 | The Park Royal Hotel, Warrington

Volatility to Value

Rethinking propositions to deliver optimised client outcomes