Jim Stackpool

Certainty Advice Group has announced a certification mark for ethical financial advice. It’s a first in Australia.

“Since 2005, we have always had a simple objective,” says MD of Certainty Advice Group, Jim Stackpool. “Consistent and methodical delivery of comprehensive and ethical advice without any real or perceived conflict or incentives. So by creating this new certification mark – called Certainty Advice – we are certifying our approach to not only make it accessible to more advisers, but more Australians.”

What is the Certainty Advice certification?

The mark certifies an individual adviser. As per any certification mark, there are checks to ensure compliance and adherence. The mark certifies advisers who adhere to include common approaches: how value is determined for clients, how clients are engaged and re-engaged every year, and how advice is priced without conflict. Being comprehensive and priced on value, it’s different from what most clients have experienced.

For Annette Pulbrook, the founder of boutique financial advice firm FinBiz in Newcastle, the new certification sets in stone the approach she has delivered for years. “Being part of a group of advisers all thriving on delivering value as judged by clients, not time sheets, is the only way. The certification mark provides my growing team with a platform tested and used in lots of other firms, not just ours. And it makes me more confident! Our clients keep re-engaging us – not for specific products or hours – but the value we provide”

David Murdoch, director of Paxton Bridge in Melbourne, says the certification rewards his firm for having the right conversations with clients. “Some advisers love picking shares, or untangling financial structures, or battling underwriters. While all those roles are important, the beauty of Certainty Advice certification is that it provides us with an ethical and commercial blue print to do what we love: financial project management.”

Jim Stackpool believes that while the new certification will take some time to take hold in the financial advice world, it will ultimately deliver comprehensive and ethical value for more Australians every year. “It’s not for every adviser, but I do believe this form of financial advice will be more accepted by most Australians by 2030.”

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