"Protection is one of the most important areas of advice, but it can be a difficult or emotive topic to talk about."
Andy Shields
Ask most advisers about industry events and you’ll get a similar answer - conference rooms with tiny coffee cups and serious presentations. While these events are useful, we wondered: what if they could be a bit more… fun? Enter Inside Track, the protection industry’s only quiz show-style event, which arrives at Studio Spaces in London on 26 February.
Rather than another traditional seminar, Inside Track puts advisers in the studio audience of a live, fast-paced quiz, testing real-world protection knowledge – from increasing term policies to insurable interest – in an atmosphere designed to entertain as much as educate.
And the format makes all the difference! We’re encouraging advisers to join our studio audience, for free, to shout encouragement at the teams, take part in bonus rounds at key moments and think on their feet – so it’s not just listening and learning. It’s also an important reminder that protection doesn’t have to be dry or intimidating, even when the subject matter is serious. We’re not trying to trip people with complicated questions (there are plenty of fun ones too!), but we do want to spark curiosity and discussion as you rack your brains for the perfect answer – and hopefully, remember them long after the winner has been announced.
Andy Shields, joint founder of Protection Reporter’s parent company Barcadia Media, believes this approach is long overdue.
“Protection is one of the most important areas of advice, but it can be a difficult or emotive topic to talk about, so learning about products and scenarios won’t always feel like much fun,” he says. “But when advisers enjoy the process and feel confident engaging with the detail – having learned it in a fun environment! – that confidence feeds directly into better conversations with clients.”
Beyond the quiz itself, the event also gives advisers the chance to connect with new people and catch up with friendly faces: once the winner has been crowned, we’ll shift our attention to street food, drinks and conversation – and no doubt some friendly ribbing about everyone’s quiz scores. As many advisers work alone, Inside Track is a perfect opportunity to swap insights, share experiences and build new relationships without the pressure of a formal agenda.
There’s also a wider purpose underpinning the evening. This year, Inside Track is running in support of Money Ready, a charity dedicated to promoting financial literacy and helping people build the skills they need to make informed financial decisions. We’re aiming to donate £10,000 to the charity – and they’ll be there, too, to throw in a few questions of their own for our keen quizzers.
Ultimately, events like Inside Track show that making space for fun and time to connect can work as a way to boost professional development – and we want as many advisers as possible there with us to take part and benefit from it.
You can join our studio audience for free - and all you have to do is sign up below!
Bring your A-game and we’ll see you in London!
