The awards acknowledge members who are committed to delivering the highest standards of trusted and professional advice to Australian consumers, as well as those who go above and beyond to support their local community through pro bono and volunteer work. Additionally, the awards highlight the contribution of outstanding university students who represent the future of the financial advice profession.

FAAA general manager membership, Tania Milnes, said the awards are an opportunity to acknowledge the achievements across the wider advice profession and those who give extra effort to assist in their field and local community.

“The FAAA awards continue to recognise and celebrate those within the Australian financial advice profession that showcase the highest standards of professionalism and care.

“Financial advice is important for all Australians in maximising resilience and achieving their financial outcomes, therefore we recognise dedicated advisers who are committed to helping fellow Australians do so,” Ms Milnes said.

The finalists of the FAAA CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional of the Year Award are:

• Sarah Leslie CFP®, Story Wealth Management
• Mark O’Flynn CFP®, Oxlade Financial
• Joe Stephan CFP®, Stephan Independent Advisory

The finalists for FAAAAdviser of the Year Awardare:

• Nikki Booth, My Wealth Solutions
• Adam Lai, Green Associates
• Christine Swanson, Prominent Financial Services

The finalists of the FAAA Professional Practice of the Year Award are:

• Boutique Advisers, WA
• Oxlade Financial, QLD
• WARR HUNT, VIC

The finalists for the FAAA Inspire Women – Excellence in Advice Award are:

• Melody Edwards CFP®, Evalesco Financial Services
• Morgan Hayward, Lume Wealth
• Kelly King, Iconic Wealth

The finalists for the FAAA Gen Next Rising Star of the Year Award are:

• Aayush Sharma, Frost Financial Services
• Shannon Victor, Oxlade Financial
• Aden Wilkins CFP®, Capital Partners

The finalists for the FAAA University Student of the Year Award are:

• Leah Dhu, Curtin University
• Katherine Mitterer, University of South Australia
• Callum Wishart, University of Queensland

Ms Milnes thanked the supporters of the awards, noting their commitment to the advancement of excellence in financial advice.

“This important recognition can’t happen without the help of our award sponsors, and we thank them for their ongoing support and commitment to excellence in our profession.”

Kieran Forde, head of adviser channel at Zurich Australia, the sponsors of the FAAA Adviser of the Year Award, said Zurich congratulates the finalists for their achievements and for leading the way in our industry. 

“Each of the three outstanding professionals has set themselves apart through their commitment to excellence, integrity, and the highest standards of advice. Their passion for helping clients achieve financial wellbeing is matched by their positive impact on the wider financial advice community.”

Beau Riley, general manager retail sales and new business at TAL, sponsor of the FAAA Inspire Women – Excellence in Advice Award, said the award recognises the remarkable impact women have across the profession.

“All the finalists have showcased what great advice really looks like – exceptional leadership combined with genuine care for clients and communities.

“Hearing the candidates’ stories has been a privilege, and they’re a powerful reminder of the role advisers play in helping Australians build confident financial futures. Congratulations to all finalists on this well-deserved recognition.”

Andrew Gregory, chief advice officer at UniSuper, sponsor of the FAAA University Student of the Year Award, said the calibre of entrants for this award continues to rise.

“UniSuper is delighted to support the next generation of advice professionals through this award for a second year. The future looks bright when emerging professionals are creating positive impact on the financial planning profession and their communities.”

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Tania Milnes, general manager, membership, at the FAAA says the awards program celebrates the powerful and transformative impact that financial advice can have on Australians.

“The FAAA Awards recognise members and FAAA Professional Practices who consistently uphold the highest standards of professionalism and trusted advice, while also acknowledging those who give back to their communities through pro bono or volunteer work,” she says.

“By supporting these awards, our members are helping to highlight the dedication, skill, and passion that define our profession, and to tell the poitive stories that too often go unheard.”

For the second year, peer nominations are encouraged, offering members the chance to recognise the achievements of colleagues.

“This not only encourages individuals to put themselves forward but also acts to affirm the commitment and contribution of their peers,” Ms Milnes says.

“Nominating a peer has been successful in encouraging our unsung heroes to apply, especially those less inclined to put themselves forward.

“Now more than ever, we want to shine a light on the life-changing advice our members deliver to clients every day.”

The FAAA Awards recognise excellence in financial advice across six categories, and full details of the criteria for each award can be found here. 

• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional of the Year
• Adviser of the Year (sponsored by Zurich)
• Professional Practice of the Year
• Inspire Women – Excellence in Advice (sponsored by TAL)
• Gen Next Rising Star of the Year
• University Student of the Year (sponsored by UniSuper)

Kieran Forde, head of adviser channel at Zurich Australia, expressed Zurich’s enthusiasm for continuing its long partnership with the FAAA to support the Adviser of the Year Award. 

“Zurich is thrilled to support a program that honours exceptional advisers who embody professionalism and excellence. The advice industry has undergone significant transformation in recent years, and we are seeing renewed optimism and confidence in its future. 

“This award not only celebrates individual accomplishments but also highlights Zurich’s ongoing commitment to fostering growth and a brighter future for advisers and the broader financial services community,” Mr Forde says.

Beau Riley, general manager, retail sales, at TAL says: “TAL has proudly supported this Award for more than a decade. We think it’s important to shine a light on the positive impact women have on financial advice. Their leadership, expertise, and dedication support not just their clients’ financial futures but also their communities and the profession. It’s a meaningful way to celebrate their stories of success and leadership, as well as encouraging a more diverse and inclusive future for the industry.”   

Andrew Gregory, head of financial advice and education at UniSuper, says: “As the home for advice professionals, UniSuper is proud to again sponsor the 2025 FAAA University Student of the Year Award. This award shines a light on future leaders in our profession, their skill, passion, and the bright future they represent. Financial advice has the power to change lives and is driven by advice professionals who care deeply about the impact they make. Congratulations to all the nominees on this well-deserved recognition.”

All nominations for an award must include specific examples that illustrate the nominee’s professional attributes and achievements, unique contributions, leadership qualities, and the positive impact they have had on their team, organisation, the profession, and the community.

For more details and to submit a nomination or application, click here. Members can nominate their peers up until 15 July and award applications close on 3 August. Winners will be announced at the Gala Dinner Ceremony at the FAAA Congress in Perth on 19 November.

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Bianca Musico

The winners of the FAAA annual awards have been announced at this year’s FAAA Congress in Brisbane.

The awards are a highlight of the FAAA calendar and recognise members who deliver the highest standards of professional financial advice, as well as those who go above and beyond to support their local communities. The awards also highlight the contribution of outstanding university students who represent the exciting future of the financial advice profession.

The winner of the FAAA CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional of the Year Award is Bianca Musico CFP® at WARR HUNT, Melbourne.

FAAA chief executive officer, Sarah Abood, said the award is a testament to Ms Musico’s passion for developing the next generation of advisers and ensuring as many people as possible gain access to sound financial advice.

Ms Musico joined the firm in 2013 and holds leadership responsibility in the important head of advice role. She became a principal of the firm in 2024.

“Bianca has demonstrated a clear passion for the financial planning profession, and we commend her selfless focus on developing talent in our profession,” Ms Abood said.

“Bianca has played a key role in helping her clients achieve their financial goals for more than a decade, and she is to be congratulated as this year’s FAAA CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional of the Year.”

The winner of the FAAA Professional Practice of the Year Award is Capital Partners, based in Perth. Established in 1999 by David Andrew, the firm has grown significantly over the past two decades and now employs 50 staff members. Ms Abood noted Capital Partners’ holistic approach to financial advice, focusing on aligning clients’ wealth with their personal values and life goals, and its comprehensive and sustained commitment to both business and succession planning.

John Cachia, founder and strategic wealth adviser of Melbourne based company Thriving Wealth is the winner of FAAA Adviser of the Year (sponsored by Zurich Australia). Ms Abood noted Mr Cachia’s 21 years’ experience in the financial services profession, and his success in integrating the wealth coaching and behavioural finance disciplines with financial planning.

Kieran Forde, head of adviser channel at Zurich Australia (sponsor of the FAAA Adviser of the Year) congratulated John Cachia for winning this award.

“Being part of the judging panel and seeing first-hand the talent and passion from all nominees has been an honour. John demonstrated outstanding expertise and commitment to delivering exceptional client outcomes. Congratulations on this well-deserved achievement.”

Deline Jacovides, CFP® and director of Mazi Wealth – a boutique financial advice firm based in Brisbane – received the FAAA Inspire Women – Excellence in Advice Award (sponsored by TAL). Ms Abood noted Ms Jacovides strives to inspire more women to both seek and provide financial advice and is a fierce advocate for closing the superannuation gender gap and improving financial literacy. She also serves as the treasurer for Women in Super QLD, contributing to the organisation’s efforts to enhance women’s financial security.

Beau Riley, general manager, retail sales & new business of TAL (sponsor of the FAAA Inspire Women – Excellence in Advice Award), said Ms Jacovides is a very deserving winner of the 2024 Award.

“Deline should be applauded for being an outstanding financial adviser and giving back to her community by empowering more women to take control of their financial futures”.

Jakob Ayres, a provisional adviser at Apt Wealth Partners Melbourne, was the FAAA Gen Next Rising Star of the Year. He joined Apt Wealth Partners in 2020, in Apt Wealth’s graduate program and became an adviser with his own client base through Apt’s Professional Year program in 2023. He is currently studying for his CFP certification and was awarded top student in Unit 2 of his studies. Ms Abood noted Mr Ayres’ passion for helping others and making a difference in the community, which is what drew him to the financial advice profession initially.

The FAAA University Student of the Year Award (sponsored by UniSuper) was awarded to Emma McKenzie from the Central-West of NSW. Says Ms Abood, “Emma’s commitment to making a meaningful contribution to the financial advice profession, particularly in relation to bridging the advice gap for Australians in regional areas, really stood out. She has sought to continue her professional growth and pursued further education opportunities with Deakin University, firstly achieving a Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning and then later a Graduate Diploma and is now working towards obtaining a Masters Degree.”

Andrew Gregory, general manager, financial advice and education with UniSuper (sponsor of the FAAA University Student of the Year award), said: “UniSuper celebrates the recognition of Emma McKenzie.

“This award holds a special place in our hearts as we understand the transformative power of education. Alongside the FAAA, UniSuper are committed to nurturing the next generation of advice professionals in the sector.”

FAAA general manger for membership, Tania Milnes, said the awards were a chance to celebrate achievements across the wider advice profession and shine a light on those that have gone above and beyond in their field and in their community.

“The FAAA awards recognise excellence within the Australian financial advice profession and celebrate those demonstrating the highest standards of professionalism and care. I congratulate all the winners and the finalists at this year’s awards. Together, we can celebrate the best of financial planning in Australia,” she said.

Ms Abood said Australia has the highest standards in the world for the provision of financial advice, and the role of the profession remains critical.

“Financial advice is critically important for all Australians in maximising their financial resilience, achieving their goals and having confidence about what the future holds,” she said.

“The FAAA awards are a way of recognising dedicated advisers who are committed to helping fellow Australian achieve better financial outcomes.”

Ms Abood also thanked the sponsors of the awards – and pointed to their commitment to the advancement of excellence in financial advice.

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Tania Milnes, general manager membership with FAAA, said this is the second year of the FAAA Awards.

“The FAAA Awards are designed to recognise members who deliver the highest standards of professionalism and trusted advice to Australian consumers, as well as those who have gone above and beyond to support their local community through pro bono and volunteer work.

“The awards also highlight the outstanding university students who represent the bright future of the financial advice profession.”

The finalists in the 2024 FAAA Awards for each professional category are:

FAAA CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional of the Year Award

• Teneale Laister CFP® – Alman Partners (QLD)
• Bianca Musico CFP® – Warr Hunt (VIC)
• Scott Quinlan CFP® – Solace Financial (QLD)

FAAA Adviser of the Year (sponsored by Zurich Australia)

• Melinda Brown – UniSuper Advice (NSW)
• John Cachia – Thriving Wealth (VIC)
• Rebecca Pritchard – Rising Tide Financial Services (VIC)

FAAA Inspire Women – Excellence in Advice Award (sponsored by TAL)

• Robyn Arnold – Kreate Wealth (QLD)
• Kelsey Dent – Alman Partners (QLD)
• Magdeline Jacovides CFP® – Mazi Wealth (QLD)

FAAA Professional Practice of the Year (sponsored by Cbus Super)

• Capital Partners (WA)
• Warr Hunt (VIC)
• Alman Partners (QLD)

FAAA Gen Next Rising Star of the Year

• Jakob Ayres – Apt Wealth Partners (VIC)
• Kirra Sharrock – Bravium (ACT)
• Simone Vasnaik – Verse Wealth (VIC)

FAAA University Student of the Year (sponsored by UniSuper)

• Phillip Ambrose – QUT
• Emma McKenzie – Deakin University
• Brandon Rerrie – Griffith University

Ms Milnes paid tribute to the companies sponsoring four of the award categories, noting their commitment to supporting excellence in financial advice.

“Now more than ever, we want to shine the light on the positive, life-changing advice that FAAA members provide to their clients.  By supporting the FAAA Awards, they help us celebrate commitment, talent, and passion within our profession.”

Zurich Australia head of adviser channel, Kieran Forde, said: “The three finalists for the Adviser of the Year award have distinguished themselves by exemplifying excellence and the highest professional standards.

“They are dedicated professionals, whose contributions greatly benefit their clients and the broader financial community.”

TAL general manager, retail sales & new business, Beau Riley, said: “The Financial Advice Association of Australia Inspire Women – Excellence in Advice Award highlights the outstanding contributions women make in the financial advice profession, and the three finalists exemplify excellence in delivering high-quality financial advice and helping their clients secure their financial futures. They serve to inspiring others to join the financial planning community and we honour their success.”

Cbus Super senior manager, advice services, Simon Power said: “The quality of the applications this year for the FAAA Professional Practice of the Year award has, once again, made it a difficult task to choose the finalists. All finalists should feel extremely proud of their achievements and the strong client focus they clearly demonstrate.”

UniSuper general manager, financial advice and education, Andrew Gregory, said: “With so many exceptional entries for the FAAA University Student of the Year, selecting a winner will be no easy task. Congratulations to the finalists who set the standard for excellence. It’s clear that the future of our profession is in good hands, and UniSuper is committed to supporting the next generation of advisers who will drive our industry forward.”

The winners in each category will be announced at the FAAA Awards Gala Dinner at the FAAA Congress in Brisbane on 28 November.  

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Beau Riley

Leading Australian life insurance specialist, TAL, has announced the release of its updated Accelerated Protection series with redesigned products aimed at meeting the needs of a broader range of Australians, more affordably.

The updated Accelerated Protection series recognises that advisers value having options available that can deliver against the diverse individual needs of their clients.

TAL is also committed to providing financial advisers with sustainable products that feature predictable and sustainable pricing over the long term.

This has now been complemented by greater up-front affordability across all products, with the 5% Health Sense Plus discount now more readily accessible from policy inception through the removal of the BMI requirement for eligibility.

TAL General Manager, Retail Sales and New Business, Beau Riley, said: “We regularly review our propositions to ensure they continue to meet the needs of advisers and their clients, and we have identified opportunities with our redesigned Accelerated Protection products to extend our proposition to meet the needs of a broader set of customers.”

“At the same time, we understand that many Australians are experiencing cost of living challenges and juggling tight household budgets. Our updated Health Sense Plus offering not only plays an important role in encouraging clients to engage with, monitor and maintain their health, it also enhances policy affordability at inception while enabling sustainable pricing to be maintained over the life of the product.”

“The role advisers have in helping clients to navigate their financial journey is an essential one, and our updated Accelerated Protection series is designed to provide advisers with more options for meeting clients’ diverse needs, more affordably,” said Mr Riley.

Features of the updated Accelerated Protection series, available from 8 September, include:

• long-term affordable benefits accessible to a broader range of customers
• more tailored TPD pricing and new occupation classes, allowing more customers to be covered
• income Protection benefit changes that accommodate a wider set of genuine insurance needs
• changes to levels of cover available for some Life Insurance and Critical Illness.

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The Financial Advice Association of Australia (FAAA) has launched the inaugural FAAA Awards, and TAL is proud to sponsor the award celebrating outstanding female leadership in the financial advice profession, an award category it has supported for over a decade.

The awards, created following the formation of the merged industry representative body, FAAA, aim to recognise people who deliver the highest standards of professional and trusted advice to Australians.

TAL General Manager, Retail Sales and New Business, Beau Riley, said the FAAA Awards provide a welcome opportunity for TAL to support a strong financial advice profession, at a time when the industry is increasingly advocating for the value of diversity.

“Financial advisers have a vital role in the community through helping Australians make financial decisions and plan with confidence for the future. Diversity in advice is important for clients, advisers and the profession, providing pathways for more women to seek the help of a professional adviser and ensuring the profession better reflects the community it represents.”

“The Inspire Women – Excellence in Advice Award provides a platform to champion diversity and continue to drive positive change within financial advice, celebrating the women who are making a significant contribution to their profession, their community and their clients, while also acting as a springboard for female advisers to influence the future of the industry,” he said.

“Over the past 10 years, we have seen many incredible women celebrated through these industry excellence awards, going on to lead the way during a time of considerable evolution for the advice profession.”

“Many of the past winners and finalists have run important initiatives in their communities like financial literacy programs, pro bono advice and helping more women with their finances.”

“This category recognises outstanding women in financial advice who illustrate a commitment to excellence and delivering significant client outcomes, reflecting TAL’s values and partnership principles.”

“We encourage advisers to participate across all categories of the inaugural FAAA awards.”

Applications for the FAAA Awards opened on 21 August and close at midday (AEST) on 8 September. Winners will be announced at a gala dinner as part of the FAAA Congress event on 21 November.

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Beau Riley

Leading Australian life insurance specialist, TAL, has expanded their support for advisers with a new digital hub of tools and resources aimed at helping them and their clients adapt to a new way of providing advice.

Designed to enable advisers to continue to deliver quality advice, the hub adds to TAL’s active contribution to the growth of advisers’ capabilities in a crucial year for the financial advice sector.

TAL Head of Licensees and Partnerships, Beau Riley, said, “Advisers are needed now more than ever as many Australians are grappling with the new normal and seeking financial security. There is a unique opportunity for advisers to position themselves as a source of trust and proactively connect with clients in meaningful ways.

“At TAL, we are seeking to empower advisers to respond quickly to the current environment and find new ways to add value for their clients. We recognise that advisers have an essential role to play in ensuring we can all come out of this time stronger than before, and we are committed to continuing to invest in opportunities to better serve advisers, both personally and professionally,” he said.

TAL’s digital adviser support hub includes five key areas of support:

1. Connecting with clients –helping advisers’ client communications with white label content on the importance of reviewing financial plans, government support measures available during COVID-19 and the value life insurance has in uncertain times
2. Supporting clients –client resources with information on TAL’s Financial Hardship options, wellbeing support and career coaching services
3. Adapting to virtual businesses –tools to help advisers easily adapt to a remote working model
4. Adviser health and wellbeing –helping advisers continue to look after their own mental and physical health
5. Digital CPD learning –supporting advisers to continue their CPD learning with TAL Risk Academy’s range of digital learning options.

The content on TAL’s COVID-19 adviser support hub will continue to evolve as the COVID-19 response progresses.

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Ben Nash

The  are pleased to announce that Ben Nash of Pivot Wealth is the winner of the 2019 AFA Excellence in Education Award (the Award).

The Award recognises, supports and rewards excellence in financial adviser education and was presented to Ben at the AFA Conference in Adelaide this evening.

CEO Philip Kewin said, “Never before have we seen such a focus on education driven by consumer awareness, regulatory reforms and the collective realisation of the importance of education. Ben has demonstrated a genuine ongoing commitment to education and professional development as a means of improving his value proposition to his clients and the broader community.”

Ben is a financial adviser and the founder of Pivot Wealth. He started Pivot Wealth to help young professionals set up a clear and easy-to-follow game plan for their money. Ben’s focus is to empower his clients to make the best financial choices for them and take action with confidence.

TAL Head of Licensees and Partnerships, Beau Riley, said, “TAL is very pleased to continue to support this Award, and joins with the AFA in congratulating Ben for his dedication to ongoing professional education and development.”

Ben will receive an education scholarship for study with Kaplan to the value of $25,000.

The Award was presented at the AFA Conference in Adelaide last week.

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Beau Riley

TAL, a leading Australian life insurance specialist, is launching a new course to help financial advisers to reflect on and improve their mental wellbeing.

Run through TAL’s industry leading Risk Academy, the course was developed by TAL’s Head of Mental Health, Glenn Baird. Glenn currently leads TAL’s mental health strategy and he has more than 14 years’ experience as a qualified psychotherapist, facilitator and trainer.

The mental wellbeing course focuses on explaining the fundamentals of mental wellbeing as well as providing advisers with evidence-based tips to improve their personal wellbeing and function at their best. The course also provides practical tools to help advisers support clients suffering from depression or anxiety.

TAL Head of Licensees and Partnerships, Beau Riley, said, “Mental wellbeing is an important topic for us all to be aware of as it affects how we think, feel and act every day.

“In the rapidly changing environment for financial advisers, it is clear stress levels are higher than in years past. Advisers are facing widespread reforms, scrutiny, compliance and higher education demands.

“It’s never been more important to support advisers both professionally and personally as best as we possibly can right now. TAL Risk Academy’s mental wellbeing course provides the opportunity for advisers to do some self-reflection on how they might apply the fundamentals of wellbeing into their own lives and in their businesses,” he said.

The mental wellbeing course was developed following a Professional Development day that Glenn Baird recently presented at with a group of financial advisers at Synchron, an Australian financial advice group.

Commenting on the day, Synchron Executive Director, John Prossor, said, “The presentation by Glenn on mental wellbeing was the highlight of our recent Professional Development days. Those in attendance really enjoyed Glenn’s practical and relevant suggestions and the way he used his personal experiences to help bring his tips to life.

“Our advisers are going through challenging times and we came away from his presentation with a clear guide on how to focus on enhancing our personal wellbeing. The topic is incredibly important and so many advisers need help in this area right now.”

The TAL Risk Academy mental wellbeing course launches on 4 September.

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The Award recognises the transformative power of education in advice, rewarding those advisers who are striving for excellence by improving their professional skills and knowledge.

The finalists are:

• Kearsten James, Cooper Wealth Management
• Joseph Meawad, Trinity Financial Advisers
• Ben Nash, Pivot Wealth
• Nicola Schneider, Robina Financial Solutions

AFA CEO, Philip Kewin said excellence in education inspires greater adviser confidence in their own ability and greater consumer trust in advice. “The past decade has seen an increasing focus on adviser education. This has been driven by consumer awareness, regulatory reform and the collective realisation of the growing importance of professional education in its broadest sense, encompassing not only the acquisition of knowledge, but also the skills, values, beliefs and habits necessary to demonstrate the true value of advice.

TAL Head of Licensees and Partnerships, Beau Riley, said TAL is proud to continue sponsorship of the AFA Excellence in Education Award, which is now in its 12th year.

“TAL has been supporting the industry with the FASEA educational requirements and is proud to partner with the advice community as it takes its first steps on the new educational journey. The finalists of this year’s Award have demonstrated that they have not only committed to their own education, but have taken an active role in their respective communities to share their knowledge and experiences. We look forward to celebrating their achievements at this year’s AFA Conference.”

The 2019 Excellence in Education Award Winner will be announced at this year’s AFA Conference in Adelaide on 29 August. The winner will receive an education scholarship for study with Kaplan to the value of $25,000.

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