In its 57th year, the Advocis Banff School was held at the Banff Centre, from August 21 to 25, 2011. This is a continuing professional development (CPD) and networking experience for financial and insurance advisors and planners, run on a volunteer basis (including speakers) by advisors for advisors. It was my first year attending. In past years, my CPD has been achieved through the designation programs I have taken and by attending various continuing education (CE) sessions. This year, my CE needs have changed.
As a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), I am now required to complete 30 hours of CE credit approved by The Institute for Advanced Financial Education (The Institute). These hours are not necessarily the same as those approved to meet provincial licensing requirements, as originators of other CE sessions may apply for licensing body recognition but not necessarily for approval through The Institute’s CE Accreditation Service. Conversely, those courses approved through The Institute are often approved for provincial licensing (I write of my experience in Alberta). Commencing in 2012, approval by The Institute will also be required for 10 CE credit hours to maintain the Certified Health Insurance Specialist (CHS) designation. I, along with others, took advantage of the recent opportunity to exchange the Registered Health Underwriter (RHU) designation for the CHS. The 10 hours is included in the 30 required for CLU holders.
Banff School provides participants a significant number of CE credits toward The Institute and insurance body licensing requirements. It was one of the main reasons I attended. However, it is not the only reason that I and others chose to be there, with many repeating for a number of years (29 seemed to be the most). On the first full day, I found myself wondering why others did register. Admittedly, I was reflecting on my doctoral research interest in CPD. I wondered if it was truly for learning, if personal learning environments/networks evolved from meeting others, and whether it was just a good excuse for a vacation in the mountains.
I can’t presume to speak for everyone, but based on my observations and experience, along with comments made by others, there are a number of reasons why Banff School continues to enjoy its success. As mentioned, it is a good place to get CE credits (anticipating about 20 approved by The Institute) in a condensed period of time. The learning that came from the sessions included updates, new information, and reminders of what we have learned in the past. Many speakers were inspirational. From the social side, it is obviously a networking opportunity with old and new friends and colleagues. During breaks, meal times, evening events, and other activities (such as golf), there was a reasonable time in which to do more than just pass on the way to sessions. Also, if you haven’t already imagined, this is a beautiful location in the Canadian Rockies, so it serves as a vacation destination. I’m sure that many enjoy the short getaway from the office. The combination of technical training, CE credits, networking, and inspiration certainly made the trip worthwhile for me.
Back to my thoughts as a PhD research student, I can only assume (bad to do) that there is some development of personal learning networks (PLN), especially due to contacts made with insurance industry company representatives, the speakers, and others. I’m not sure if advisor participants tend to consult each other for learning purposes throughout the year. However, to the extent that PLNs are maintained, those PLNs and the other resources to which we are exposed can become part of our personal learning environment (PLE). I would love to hear from anyone who attended, in this or past years, and is active online in what can be seen as networking and/or learning in the insurance industry.
Photos from Banff and the Advocis Banff School
“Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada, is the oldest and largest voluntary professional membership association of financial advisors and planners in Canada.”
