Arthur Sinodinos

Assistant Treasurer, Senator the Hon. Arthur Sinodinos has been confirmed as a plenary speaker at this month’s Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) National Conference (the Conference) on the Gold Coast.

It will be Senator Sinodinos’ first official address to a financial services audience since his appointment to the role of Assistant Treasurer.

“The AFA is pleased to welcome Senator Sinodinos to his portfolio,” said AFA CEO Brad Fox, “He has a genuine understanding of our industry and we are delighted he has accepted our invitation to address delegates at our Conference.”

Senator Sinodinos was introduced to the AFA last year when he spoke at a breakfast outlining the Coalition’s intention to eradicate $1 billion of red tape that is crippling business in Australia.

“We are very pleased to provide the Assistant Treasurer with a platform to outline the Coalition’s strategic plan for improving access to and affordability of financial advice for everyday Australians,” Mr Fox said. “Affordability and access is critical to the financial wellbeing of our members’ clients.”

In 2011, the AFA conducted research which revealed that only two in 10 consumers were in a financial advice relationship. “Our research highlighted that Australians are under-advised, under-insured and under-saved,” Mr Fox said. “We believe the incoming government shares our concerns surrounding these findings and look forward to hearing the Coalition’s vision of the future of financial advice.”

This year’s conference will feature 12 plenary sessions, 39 stream and masterclass sessions and 90 speakers, including Senator Sinodinos, twitter co-creator Dom Sagolla, New York Times best-selling author Ron Kaufman, AFL Premiership Coach, Paul Roos and Executive Chairman of Yellow Brick Road Wealth Management, Mark Bouris.

“At the heart of every AFA Conference is the AFA community,” Mr Fox said. “So many members of our community are willing to share their stories, discuss solutions and offer support and this creates a vibe that we believe is genuinely unique.”

The AFA Conference runs from 12–15 October at the RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast. Registrations are available for the entire event, or as day passes from www.afaconference.com.au

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Brad Fox

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) will be welcoming the youngest ever delegate to the AFA National Conference next month on the Gold Coast.

Lara Markham, the 16-year-old daughter of Terese Markham, Financial Planner at Macey & Associates Pty Ltd, will be attending the conference, along with her grandfather John Macey, to find out more about the dynamic financial services industry she wants to join.

Brad Fox, AFA CEO, said he is delighted to have three generations of the one family attend the AFA National Conference this year. “It will be a fantastic opportunity for the AFA to encourage more young people into the industry and to demonstrate the benefits of a career in financial advice,” he said. “It will also be a chance for Lara to connect with other young people particularly from our GenXt and Campus AFA networks, and to make some life-long friends who can help her along her journey to joining the profession.”

Lara’s mother, Terese said she is very excited that her daughter is considering following in her family’s footsteps. “Financial planning is a very big part of our family,” she said. “My father, John Macey, joined the industry in 1971 and is still involved. He has been an AFA member for too long to remember, right back to the Life Underwriters Association days.”

Mr Fox said there will be no shortage of great opportunities for Lara and other delegates at this year’s conference with over 90 speakers and a jam-packed entertainment program.

“The aim of the AFA National Conference is to help give delegates a clear view of what best practice looks like going forward and to bring participants from all dimensions of the financial advice space together to share experiences and connect as a community,” he said. “With a focus on the Age of Consumers, this is a great chance to get together and plan for the future, just like the three generations of the Macey/Markham family are doing.”

To find out more and to register your place at the AFA Conference from 12-15 October, please visit the AFA Conference Website.

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AFA CEO Richard Klipin said the Roadshow’s unprecedented success is evidence that the adviser community is looking for guidance and support in what are extremely challenging times.

“In times like these, when advisers are facing great change, they look for support, encouragement, inspiration and leadership,” Mr Klipin said. “Belonging to strong and supportive community is key in tough times .”

Practitioners made up 71% of Roadshow attendees, while the remaining 29% were business/practice development managers and other professionals. Most (61%) were under the age of 50, with 42% under the age of 40.

The highest scoring session, earning a feedback rating of 89%, was a panel featuring presentations from the AFA’s 2011 award winners – the AFA Adviser of the Year, Troy MacMillan; the AFA Female Excellence in Advice award winner, Olivia Maragna and the AFA’s Rising Star, Mark Rattigan.

“The feedback on our panel indicated that delegates appreciated receiving valuable insights from people who clearly are some of the best young advisers in the industry,” Mr Klipin said.

“They are great ambassadors for our profession.”

The panel of award winners will present again at the AFA National Conference at the RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast in October, where the AFA’s 2012 award winners will also be announced.

“We believe our awards are a barometer on change in the market place and the quest for excellence,” Mr Klipin said.

“It is the 10th anniversary of the AFA Adviser of the Year Awards and the barometer is reading well. We have received an unprecedented number of outstanding nominations in all our awards and as we narrow entries down to finalists it is clear we have some seriously great talent.”

Mr Klipin said that the AFA National Conference is building on the Roadshow theme which is: Building pathways to excellence: Insight + Insight + Consumers.

“Like the Roadshow, the conference is about providing our members with opportunities to hear from experts and share their own experiences so that they are well-equipped to deliver excellent outcomes to consumers,” he said.

A highlight on the program is an industry panel featuring Jeremy Cooper, Chair of the Cooper Review and Mathias Cormann, Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation.
 
“The AFA National Conference presents another outstanding opportunity for the financial advice community to learn, to share and to connect with industry leaders and their peers,” Mr Klipin said.

“We look forward to once again welcoming AFA members and our colleagues across the country to the Gold Coast.”

Those wishing to attend to the conference are encouraged to book now.

“Registrations are up 18% on last year and accommodation at the conference venue is already booked out,” Mr Klipin said. “Accommodation is still available at neighbouring hotels.”

To download the registration, find out more, view locations, dates and times, visit the AFA website: www.afa.asn.au

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The calibre of nominees is once again outstanding and the process of judging will commence shortly. 

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) is again impressed by the number of nominees. TAL is proud to be part of this important industry initiative and is set to host the judging and assessment process. Now in its second year, the Award invites members from across the industry to nominate outstanding female advisers they know or work with.

To be considered a nominee, female advisers need to:

• Be passionate and committed to their business and their clients
• Demonstrate leadership qualities
• Have proven business success
• Be a positive role model for other women in the industry and clients
• Have vision, integrity, self-awareness and work-life balance
• Support women in community
• Mentor and develop other women.

Richard Klipin, Chief Executive Officer of the AFA, said: “At a time when our industry is going through great change, it’s important for us to recognise and celebrate some of the outstanding new blood that’s coming through.”

Brett Clark, Chief Executive Officer of Retail Life at TAL, said; “TAL is proud to sponsor this important industry initiative.  We are committed to it as an organisation because we believe in the value diversity brings to all businesses and professions.  The quality of the nominations again demonstrates the calibre of women seeking to make a difference in financial services.”

The winner of the Female Excellence in Advice Award will be announced at the AFA National Conference on Tuesday 30 October 2012.

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The AFA Award Program reflects the Association’s belief that recognising excellence in the practice of financial advice is integral to building a strong profession, according to AFA CEO Richard Klipin.

“The Award program demonstrates the AFA’s commitment to the growth of professionalism by not just recognising excellence in advice, but acknowledging and encouraging the next generation of advisers. Also vital to the profession’s future is increasing diversity and continually raising the bar on education standards,” said Mr Klipin.

The Award Program includes:

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

AFA Adviser of the Year – proudly sponsored by Zurich
Now in its 10th year, this award has been sponsored by Zurich since its inception in 2003.  To date a record 51 nominations have been received for the 2012 award.

The purpose of the Adviser of the Year Award is to pay tribute to individuals who not only run highly successful financial advisory businesses but who also go above and beyond in contributing to the financial services industry and wider community.

To celebrate the award’s 10th anniversary, cocktail events were held around Australia. Past winners received commemorative gifts and this year’s nominees received commemorative trophies.

AFA Rising Star Award – proudly sponsored by OnePath
The AFA Rising Star Award recognises up-and-coming advisers who provide quality advice, excellence in practice management, demonstrate a commitment to education and contribute to the industry and general community.

The Award reflects the AFA’s belief that recognising excellent practice is integral to nurturing a strong, professional industry.

AFA Excellence in Education Award – proudly sponsored by Asteron Life
Previously known as the AFA Student of the Year, this award is intended to support and reward those who undertake the challenge of acquiring knowledge. It recognises commitment and excellence in advice through participation in further education. For those just starting out in the industry – and for those who have been around since it began – because ongoing education is key to continually raising the bar of financial advice.

AFA Female Excellence in Advice Award (NEW) – proudly sponsored by TAL
Established in 2011, the Female Excellence in Advice Award is the latest Award to join the award program.

A joint initiative of the AFA and TAL, the Award was established to identify and reward female financial advisers showing outstanding professional excellence and leadership within the profession. It seeks to enable a better gender balance in the sector by encouraging more women to enter into and take leadership roles. Importantly, the Award also aims to generate awareness about the challenges facing many women in securing their financial future.

“AFA Award winners and finalists lead the way and create a more trusted, robust and diverse profession to help Australians secure their financial future. Promoting outstanding achievers in advice will continue to raise the bar for the profession,” said Mr Klipin.

Winners will be announced at the AFA National Conference on the Gold Coast in October.

For more information and nomination details, visit the AFA website at www.afa.asn.au

31 July 2012

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