Brad Fox – CEO – AFA
The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) has hit the ground running, with the launch of the 2013 GenXt Road Show.
“The AFA’s theme this year is The Age of Consumers and the GenXt Road Show, which kicks off in Hobart on 5 February and also visits Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, provides us with the perfect opportunity to start the ball rolling,” said AFA CEO, Brad Fox.
As well as offering a sound program designed to help new advisers prepare for the year ahead, the AFA will also be presenting the initial findings of its latest research into consumer expectations of the financial advice experience. The research, due for launch later in February, is sponsored by AIA and powered by Business Health.
Over 1,400 advisers nationally are expected to attend the GenXt Road Show, which is now in it’s sixth year.
“The Road Show is a signature AFA event and seeks to ignite advisers, particularly newer advisers, for the year ahead,” Mr Fox said. “It is a great opportunity to connect with peers and hear from some of the best practitioners in advice.”
Key presenters this year include the AFA’s 2012 Rising Star, Matt Hale and the AFA’s 2012 Excellence in Education Award Winner, Dean Lombardo.
“Matt and Dean are presenting a session called New Frontiers, in which they share the stories of their success with their peers,” Mr Fox said. “They are both outstanding examples of younger advisers; professional, successful and, importantly, willing to share their journeys with the market place.”
Mr Hale, of Financial Design for Life, is one of the new breed of financial advisers – a university-educated, career adviser with a disciplined advice process and a commitment to giving back to the community. He joined Financial Design for Life as an Assistant Adviser in 2007; began advising in mid 2009 and has been a board member of the Warwick Foundation since July 2010, helping cancer sufferers between the age of 18-40 through their journey
“What excites me professionally is providing financial advice to time-poor singles, young families and business owners in the areas of insurance, superannuation, investment and estate planning,” he said. “I feel I can really help set these people up financially for life.”
Mr Lombardo co-founded Access Financial Management, based in Melbourne, and has developed a unique financial planning methodology known as ‘benchmarking’.
“What we believe we have done with ‘benchmarking’, is empowering our clients,” Mr Lombardo said. “Benchmarking helps shift the adviser-client relationship to one of true mentoring and coaching. I will be sharing with GenXt attendees how benchmarking, which uses accountable milestones and integrates adult learning theory, works in practice.”
The GenXt Road Show will also feature an optional FoFA Ready Master Class in most cities.
Presented by Mr Fox and AFA Chief Operating Officer, Phil Anderson, the Master Class is designed for advisers and licensees looking to understand the FoFA changes and position their business to be FoFA ready by 1 July 2013. The Master Class will also update attendees with insights from the AFA’s Pathways to Excellence Best Practice Research Paper, launched at the AFA National Conference last year.
To register for the AFA’s 2013 GenXt Road Show and Master Class, please click here.
