Nick Cann, Chairman
Institute of Financial Planning

Incapital's Educational Masterclass - developed with IFP input and accreditation - provides a comprehensive overview of structured investments, advancing knowledge levels that progressive client-centric advisers will undoubtedly benefit from. We wholly support this initiative and trust the adviser community will embrace it.

David Stevenson, Journalist
Financial Times

With RDR fast approaching investment professionals - be they planners, advisers or researchers - have to embrace the full range of fund and product options, including structured investments. The key, in this new world, will be understanding all options, their uses, strengths and weaknesses, and how they fit within a broad diversified portfolio. Education targeted at structured investments is welcome, especially if it helps dispel some of the myths and fire up intelligent conversation about the applicability of using structured investments in a sensible way.

Patrick Connolly
Head of Communications
AWD Chase de Vere

Many people have a negative perception of structured products based on the bad news stories that have unfolded over the past decade. Unfortunately the good news stories don't get such a high profile. It is important that advisers put aside any preconceptions, understand exactly how these products work and then make an informed decision whether they are suitable for their clients.

Fraser Donaldson
Insight Analyst - Funds Defaqto

All advisers who wish to present themselves as independent post 2012 will need to have a good working knowledge of structured products, whether they recommend them or not. As a provider of educational material for the retail financial services market, Defaqto recognises the importance of supporting the independent adviser. We welcome any initiative that will further the knowledge of the advice community, and Incapital's Educational Masterclass will undoubtedly help advisers consider structured product options on an informed basis.

James Norton, Director
Chartered Financial Planner
Evolve Financial Planning

Rightly or wrongly, structured products are an investment area that tend to be overlooked or even avoided by some financial planners. However, high quality education by a respected provider is something that is always welcome and this should provide planners and advisers with the opportunity to challenge current and pre-conceived views - and to re assess from a position of knowledge if and how they may be relevant to clients.

Matthew Vincent, Editor
Financial Times, FT Money

The biggest problem with structured products isn't risk per se. It's the widespread misunderstanding of how different products can carry different risks. Some are too convoluted and costly for any retail investor. But others can have a better risk-return profile than many retail managed funds. Independent advisers really ought to know this - if they don't, they're just not doing their jobs. Any move to provide impartial education can only be a good thing for advisers, providers and - most importantly - investors.

Tim Mortimer, Managing Director
Future Value Consultants

FVC believes IFAs should be properly informed about structured products. Anyone who takes the time to properly understand the industry will quickly appreciate the benefits and advantages of structured products. Events like Incapital's are an excellent way to improve adviser knowledge - and we fully support this initiative.

Colin Jackson, Director
Baronworth Investment Limited

The apparent resistance that some advisers seem to have with regard to structured products does strike us as odd. We can only assume education will be instrumental in a wider audience of advisers better understanding the sector and the value it can offer – and that this can only be beneficial for a wider audience of investors.

James King, Partner
Price Bailey Private Clients

The Incapital Educational Masterclass can only be worthwhile and warrant adviser attention and participation. Not all structured investments are virtuous - but the best ones can be worthwhile and meet many investor's requirements. We welcome this event and would encourage fellow financial planners to consider attendance a must.

Dr Markas Gilmartin, Partner
Epoch Wealth Management

As both a Certified and Chartered Financial Planner, the negative views of some financial advisers in respect of structured investments perplex me. The key has always been to differentiate, which isn't difficult with sufficient knowledge. An objective educational programme can only help move adviser knowledge levels forward.

Doug Brodie, Managing Director
Master Adviser

Intelligent use of structured investments is as much about the quality of advice as it is about the quality of the investments. Professional advisers allocating client monies must educate themselves to a higher level than is currently the case and Incapital's Masterclass shows an approach that is unusual amongst product providers – ie delivering education not products and sales.

Lawrence Gosling, Group Editorial Director, Investment Week and Professional Adviser

It has to be said that many of the problems advisers have with structured products per se seem to be attributable to nothing more complicated than a basic lack of knowledge. Knowledge, objective consideration and unfettered use of all investment options is obviously a necessity for independent wealth managers and advisers giving investment advice to investors - and the offer of high quality Educational Masterclasses on structured investments, freely available, touring the UK, is surely, therefore, an opportunity advisers need to consider a professional necessity, not an option.

Robert Benson, Managing Director
StructuredRetailProducts.com

The UK retail Structured Product industry will pass £50 billion AUM soon, yet the UK lags other major countries globally, with divided adviser opinion clearly a factor. However, the industry's growth self-evidently reflects investor demand, and we assume that UK advisers will therefore be sufficiently motivated to feel attending educational programmes, such as Incapital's, is worthwhile.

Darius McDermott, Managing Director, Chelsea Financial Services

Structured products are often misunderstood and ignored by advisers but, where appropriate, well designed products should form part of a balanced investment portfolio. The ability of these products to reduce exposure to market risk is particularly important, especially in the current environment. The Incapital Educational Masterclass will increase advisers' understanding of this area and help them make an informed decision.

Ian Lowes, Managing Director
Lowes Financial Management
& StructuredProductReview.com

Truly independent advisers should ensure they are able to make a genuine assessment of the value of structured products. Too many IFAs discount all of them for the wrong reasons - and do their clients and their profession a disservice as a result. The Incapital Educational Masterclass is one of the most welcome initiatives the IFA community could hope for. IFAs throughout the country have an opportunity to attend and to ensure their future consideration and use of structured products is based on objective knowledge and facts - not lingering dogma or doubts - in compliance with FSA expectations outlined in CP09/18.

Rob Pemberton, Investment Director, HFM Columbus Group

Structured investments can be a sensible component of a wealth management portfolio. The problem is they are not always fully understood or correctly utilised by financial planners. Advisers should take every opportunity to increase their knowledge of this potentially valuable portfolio construction vehicle.