Amelia Constantinidis

AMP has made further steps in its commitment to increase professional standards in financial advice, announcing a new program with long-term partner Griffith University, to deliver its Adviser Academy course through AMP Horizons.

The partnership is part of a re-design of the AMP Horizons education pathway, which includes the introduction of more flexible study options and an increased amount of time working in an AMP financial planning practice to build knowledge and skills.

Head of AMP Horizons, Amelia Constantinidis said the re-design of the Horizons education pathway is the next step for AMP in improving professional standards.

“This reinforces our existing relationship with Griffith University, which has an industry-leading reputation for its finance-related degrees. As we continue to improve professional standards, it made sense for us to look at more ways to work with independent education providers.

“This partnership means Griffith University will now deliver the AMP Adviser Academy program with Horizons to equip Australia’s future financial advisers with the foundation knowledge they need to deliver high-quality advice to customers.

“We know that flexible study options are important, especially for people who need to work, have children or are living remotely. We’ve improved flexibility by making elements of the course available online, reducing the time required on-campus. The result is that we’re opening the opportunity to start a financial planning career to more Australians,” Ms Constantinidis said.

Changes to the Horizons education pathway include:

• Entry standards for the new AMP Adviser Academy program have been increased to degree equivalent and will be delivered over a six-week period by Griffith University and Horizons. The course includes three weeks of online learning and a three-week residential period at the Horizons campus in Sydney’s St Leonards.
• Following completion of the course, graduates will start their practical experience in an integrated environment between the AMP Horizons Practice followed by an AMP-aligned practice, where they will be offered employment and provided with ongoing mentoring and coaching to learn on-the-job skills. The program is designed to give students an opportunity to complete a full-year of professional experience.
• When employees have worked for twelve months in an AMP-aligned practice, they will be awarded an education grant to go towards achieving their preferred pathway of a Certified Financial Planner, Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner, or Masters in Financial Planning designation – all of which are post-graduate degree equivalent and part of AMP’s minimum education standard required by 31 December, 2019.
• The number of new student intakes will be increased from four to six per year, providing more flexibility to commence the course at a suitable time during the year.

These changes follow a series of measures announced by AMP in August 2014 to lift adviser professionalism. These include minimum education requirements, a customer advice review panel and partnership with The Ethics Centre to develop a broad-ranging ethics and responsible decision-making program.

The first intake for the program will be on 26 October 2015. More details on the entry requirements for AMP Horizons and upcoming intake dates can be found here.

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Amelia Constantinidis

AMP’s financial planning academy Horizons, will launch an online Masters program with Griffith University which will allow candidates to gain a Master of Financial Planning through a flexible program that combines rigorous academic training and practical experience.

The innovative new education program has been jointly developed by Horizons and Griffith University, and will offer candidates a flexible pathway to gain a university qualification and employment opportunities across AMP’s licensee groups.

AMP Horizons Director Amelia Constantinidis said the program further underpinned AMP’s commitment to the highest standards of professionalism.

“AMP is committed to delivering high quality financial advice that makes a real difference in people’s lives.

“Through this program candidates will not only achieve a qualification with one of Australia’s leading academic institutions in Griffith University, they will gain practical financial planning experience through Horizons, as well as access to employment opportunities within the AMP network on completion.

“With a flexible combination of online and face to face learning we think this will really appeal to people looking to further their career as a financial adviser and aspire to the highest professional standards,” Ms Constantinidis said.

Griffith University Discipline Head of Finance and Financial Planning, Associate Professor Mark Brimble said the program will build on the theoretical and practical base of the existing AMP Horizons program, while for individuals aspiring to become advisers under the AMP banner, the new Masters degree will offer a learning process embedded within industry frameworks.

“We are delighted to partner with AMP which allows the provision of a financial planning program that strengthens educational opportunities within industry, but is also a great opportunity for Griffith University to engage with such a reputable nation-wide company like AMP.

“The Griffith University AMP Horizons program is the perfect fit as we are both leaders in our respective fields.

“There exists two major trends in education; developing the capabilities of students to study online, plus the alignment of study programs with the industry to provide a holistic practical and theoretical framework.”

The initiative strengthens AMP’s commitment announced last month to implement a series of measures to significantly lift the bar on adviser professionalism.

The measures include a requirement that all existing and new advisers must obtain a Certified Financial Planner® (CFP), a Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner (FChFP), or Master of Financial Planning (MFP) qualification.

New advisers must complete this qualification within five years of joining an AMP licensee while existing advisers have up to 31 December 2019.

The Masters program with Griffith University will provide an alternative pathway for advisers across AMP’s network to achieve AMP’s new education standards^[1].

The Griffith program enhances AMP Horizons’ current Career Changer Programs, which involves a 12-month structured training pathway to becoming a qualified financial adviser, as candidates can now attain a university qualification.

Horizons entry standards are already among the highest in the industry with a 10 week intensive academy course followed by a nine month supervised placement in the Horizons  practice.

AMP Horizons also has a partnership with the University of New South Wales (UNSW),  which provides eligible graduates of the Horizons Professional Year Program the opportunity to gain academic credit towards a Graduate Diploma or Masters qualification in financial planning at the UNSW’s Australian School of Business.

The Griffith and UNSW relationships are in addition to the AMP University Challenge, which aims to increase awareness of financial planning as a career choice for university graduates.  Now in its fourth year, the AMP University Challenge has seen a significant increase in student applications and universities embed the Challenge into their curriculum.

The first intake for the Griffith University course will commence in November 2014

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[1] Minimum 1.5 years full-time (for candidates with existing RG146).

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AMP wins for the Career Changer Program at the Australian HR Awards.

AMP Horizons has won the Best Learning & Development Strategy award for its Career Changer Program at the Australian HR Awards 2013, which recognise excellence in individuals, teams and companies for their outstanding achievements in people management.

The Best Learning & Development Strategy award is given to the team that has delivered the most outstanding organisational benefits by directly linking the training needs of their people to the business needs of their organisation.

AMP Horizons Director Amelia Constantinidis said the Career Changer Program was recognised as exemplary because it attracts career changers to financial planning by providing a structured pathway in to the profession, focusing on developing both technical and soft skills.

“It’s important to AMP that our graduates exhibit the highest standards of professionalism.

“In order for new financial planners to provide quality financial advice to Australians, they need more than just technical skills. They need client engagement skills and the self-belief and conviction in the difference they can make as financial planners.

“Our year-long introductory development program helps planners develop their technical skills but also the ability to interact with clients authentically.”

The Career Changer Program begins with a 10-week intense program followed by nine months of mentoring, coaching and on-the-job experience.

Upon graduation, planners achieve the official status of Authorised Representative which means they can start their own financial planning practice or join one of the hundreds that are part of the AMP network.

Ms Constantinidis continued: “Since launching in 2007, more than 600 financial planners have graduated from AMP Horizons and the program is now national. AMP Horizons wins Australian HR Award.

“A number of recent innovations contributed to the win, including our industry-first alignment with the University of NSW, which provides graduates with credit towards a Masters of Financial Planning.

“We’ve also introduced the AMP Horizons Flex Program, enabling anyone requiring flexibility to enter the industry on a flexible and part-time basis. Our first two intakes have attracted mostly women, contributing to our goal of attracting more women to the profession.”

AMP Horizons was also a finalist in the Best Employee Value Proposition category.

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