As the windy weather sets in we bring our usual weekly update on the breath of fresh air that is our member focused content.

On Wednesday, the team from PruFund Planet conducted a webinar, explaining how Planet invests and also – in a timely move as COP 26 neared its conclusion in Glasgow – they “lifted the bonnet” on the M&G Positive Impact Fund. The session explained the differences between sustainable and impact funds and described impact investing by using one of the core holdings within PruFundPlanet as an example. The second part of this series will be held on Thursday 18th November, looking at retirement income and drawdown.

Keep an eye out for the Advisers’ Responsible Investment Forun we chatted about with Georgina Mitchell at the most recent Virtual Drinks, there is a lot more to come.

Unfortunately, there were no members’ virtual drinks this week, but the plan is for us all to be back at the bar from 5pm on Wednesday 17th November.

Keeping with the ESG theme, we published an insightful piece in the Octo Members app by Jim O’Neill, the former Chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, on how to make decarbonisation economically sustainable. As the world moves towards a carbon-neutral framework, the risk seen by Mr O’Neill is that there will be a constrained supply of fossil fuels. Whilst that’s fine in normal market conditions, when challenging times do occur, price spikes will be even more exaggerated than we have seen in recent months. Are emergency reserves of fossil fuels actually an essential component of decarbonisation?

And on Friday, Dominika Sieradzka, founder of RIE Solutions, took a number of Octo Members on a virtual tour of its own Master Practitioners Club. That’s an online membership community for Practice Managers and Ops Directors, which is structured to give management support, operational advice and mentorship for those who want to make a real difference with their business.

For those seeking professional development we recommend the always   excellent educational content from Catriona Standingford as well as the latest on Bonds and Trusts from Mark Lambert and Mark Green of HSBC Life. Check out CPD Streams for more detail amd also the big discount for members from Redmill Training.

Lots of events to choose from as ever so do have a look at Events to see if anything coming up is of interest.

John Lappin was talking digital and Sam Shaw was chatting with Joanne Bambrick from MMU on the many issues of attracting students into financial services.

As always, we offer a bright and breezy welcome to our newest members Jon Lycett, Richard Cooper, Kevin Addison, Joanne Bambrick, Annie Baxter, Charlotte Grieves, Korin Hedlund  and Ollie Matthews.

Have a great weekend, whatever you are up to.

Lee