AFA Genxt Mentoring Program – Unlocking the Secrets of Success

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) has launched its 2012 GenXt Mentoring Program (the Mentoring Program) with a series of ‘speed dating’ events held across the country late last month.

Over 200 attended the state-based events in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, including a number of previous participants who shared their experiences of the program. Of those attending, more than 40 advisers new to the industry were offered the opportunity to connect with more experienced advisers with a view to developing longer-term mentoring relationships.

National GenXt Mentor Coordinator, Chris Jones, said the Mentoring Program, which is in its fourth year, is a natural extension of the AFA’s GenXt Program, which aims to encourage young financial professionals to strive towards high levels of advisory skills, obtain robust industry knowledge and build long lasting professional connections.

“The Mentoring Program is a way for AFA members to gain new ideas for their business and to continually reinvest in themselves, their colleagues, their clients and, importantly, the financial advice community,” Mr Jones said.

Participating advisers have the opportunity to learn alternative ways of doing things and develop, or rekindle, the fundamental concepts that make great advisers.

“The Mentoring Program provides a framework for aspirant advisers to bridge the gap between technical knowledge and client engagement skills and apply those skills in real business scenarios,” said Mr Jones.

“Aspirant advisers are those who are new adviser to the industry – not necessarily young in years but someone who may benefit from the sharing of knowledge with a more experienced adviser.”

Mr Jones said the ability to tap into a mentor’s real experience gives aspirants the opportunity to develop new skills and expertise while providing access to independent and objective perspectives. It also helps build aspirant confidence to deal with challenges.

“Mentors also value the experience,” Mr Jones said, “because it provides them with the opportunity to gain fresh perspectives and reignite passion for their business; to learn and improve focus and embrace change. Many report feeling a sense of pride and pleasure in making a difference in the lives of others and giving back to an industry which has served them so well.”

Mr Jones said that the Mentoring Program has had great success in matching like-minded professionals. “This is evidenced by the fact that, while the ‘official’ obligation is for a 12 month period, in many cases, participants elect to continue their relationship.”

Sarah Riegelhuth, National Chair of GenXt, who has participated in the program as both an aspirant and a mentor said, “I grew so much as an adviser, a leader and a business owner by participating. I couldn’t recommend it more highly. Chris and his team of co-ordinators have put a lot of effort year on year into developing the program. It’s always been strong, but this year it stepped up a whole new level, with a more detailed work book and YouTube videos for support along the way.”

Also evidence of the success of the program is that participants have gone on to win, or be finalists in, several of the AFA’s prestigious awards, including:

• AFA Adviser of the Year
• AFA Rising Star of the Year
• AFA Excellence in Education Award
• AFA Excellence in Female Advice

“Every Aspirant wishing to proceed is placed with a Mentor and we believe that, by sharing the knowledge and experience of AFA members collectively, we can provide better outcomes for our clients and demonstrate the positive impact that financial advice has in the community,” said Mr Jones.

“It is that shared passion for improving ourselves so as to provide better outcomes for our clients that will continue to see growth in confidence,
culture and the perception of what we do and the benefits we provide to our society.”

2 July 2012