Assyat David

Aged Care Steps, a leading voice in the aged care advice industry, has revealed the Finalists for this year’s ACS Aged Care Adviser of the Year Awards.

Now in their fourth year, the awards shine a spotlight on Australian financial advisers who are making a real difference in the essential aged care advice sector.

“Recognising excellence in aged care financial planning is at the heart of what these awards represent. When Australians turn to financial advisers to help navigate their retirement, they deserve confidence that they’re working with advisers who represent the best practice of the industry. Our finalists are making a meaningful impact on both the sector and individual clients’ lives, said Assyat David, Director of Aged Care Steps.

“It’s our pleasure to announce the 2025 finalists for both the Aged Care Adviser of the Year and the Aged Care Advice Initiative of the Year and congratulate them all on this achievement,” continued David.

Advisers have been nominated under two categories:

• Aged Care Adviser of the Year
• Aged Care Advice Initiative of the Year

‘Aged Care Adviser of the Year’ recognises an individual adviser who is deemed to have demonstrated outstanding professional commitment in providing aged care advice to older Australians and their families.

The ‘Aged Care Advice Initiative of the Year’ category (formerly known as the ‘Aged Care Advice Program of the Year’) will once again spotlight a financial services business that is creating and undertaking aged care advice initiatives that advocate for and promote aged care advice to their clients or wider community.

The 2025 awards were reviewed and assessed by an external panel of respected professionals comprising Phil Anderson, Sue Viskovic, and Andrew Inwood. The judges recognised the exceptional quality and calibre of the submissions and were also impressed by the volume of submissions received this year.

The 2025 Finalists are (in alphabetical order by first name):

• Aged Care Adviser of the Year
  • Brenda Will – Bruining Partners
  • Craig Phillips – Phillips Wealth Partners
  • Ilya Egorov – Financial Balance Group
  • Leah Newman – Yield Financial Planning
  • Zachary Dodds – Muifield Financial Services

• Aged Care Advice Initiative of the Year
  • Alteris Financial Group
  • Ageing with Grace Advisory
  • Bruining Partners
  • Muirfield Financial Services

Aged Care Steps will be announcing the winners of the awards in early December 2025.

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Now entering its third year, the awards continue to recognise the amazing work of Australian financial advisers in the ever-growing field of aged care advice.

“These awards play an important role in drawing attention to and celebrating excellence in aged care advice. As individuals seek out financial planners to plan their retirement, we want them to know they are collaborating with some of Australia’s best advisers, recognised for their significant influence on the industry and their clients’ well-being,” said Louise Biti, Director of Aged Care Steps.

“We’re delighted to announce the 2024 finalists for both the Aged Care Adviser of the Year and the Aged Care Advice Program of the year and congratulate them all on this achievement,” continued Biti.

Advisers have been nominated under two categories:

• Aged Care Adviser of the Year
• Aged Care Advice Program of the Year

‘Aged Care Adviser of the Year’ recognises an individual adviser who is deemed to have demonstrated outstanding professional commitment in providing aged care advice to older Australians and their families.

The ‘Aged Care Advice Program of the Year’ category recognises an Australian adviser or financial services business that has actively advocated the promotion of aged care advice amongst their client base, referral networks, peers, or local community.

The 2024 awards were reviewed and assessed by an external panel of respected professionals comprising Phil Anderson, Sue Viskovic, and Andrew Inwood. The judges recognised the exceptional quality and calibre of the submissions and were also impressed by the volume of submissions received this year.

The 2024 Finalists are (in alphabetical order by first name):

• Aged Care Adviser of the Year
  • Belinda Veriton – RFS Advice
  • Brenda Will   Bruining Partners
  • Craig Phillips – Phillips Wealth Partners
  • Dean Winfield  – Planrite Advice Group
  • Joe Formica   Progressive Financial Solutions
  • Katie Spence – Sage Care Advice
  • Robyn Clelland  – Corso Provate Wealth (Nanna’s Planners)
  • Robyn Clelland – Muifield Financial Services

• Aged Care Advice Program of the Year
  • Alteris Financial Group
  • Muirfield Financial Services
  • Phillips Wealth Partners
  • Story Wealth Management

Aged Care Steps will be announcing the winners of the awards on 21 November 2024.

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Craig Phillips

Industry leader Aged Care Steps has launched the 2024 Aged Care Adviser of the Year Awards.

Now entering its third year, Aged Care Steps is continuing to recognise the amazing work of Australian financial advisers in the ever-growing field of aged care advice.

“We hold these awards as a way to highlight and celebrate excellence in aged care advice. As clients connect with financial planners to plan for the later stages of retirement, we want them to know they’re working with the best aged care advisers in Australia, recognised for their impact on the industry and their clients,” said Louise Biti, Director of Aged Care Steps.

There are two categories open for nomination in 2024, with advisers able to nominate themselves or another adviser or program they believe deserving of the accolade:

• Aged Care Adviser of the Year
• Aged Care Advice Program of the Year

‘Aged Care Adviser of the Year’ recognises an individual adviser who is deemed to have demonstrated outstanding professional commitment in providing aged care advice to older Australians and their families.

“Winning the Aged Care Steps award for Adviser of the Year reassures us that we’re providing quality advice and making a real difference to the people we serve. It’s not just about the numbers. Our team’s ‘why’ is simple: Every older Australian deserves the freedom to choose how and where they live—right up to the end. To achieve this, we work closely with our clients and their families, finding creative solutions and going the extra mile.”
Craig Phillips, Phillips Wealth Partners, Winner – 2023 Aged Care Adviser of the Year

The ‘Aged Care Advice Program of the Year’ category recognises an Australian adviser or financial services business that has actively advocated the promotion of aged care advice amongst their client base, referral networks, peers, or local community.

“The award was a wonderful acknowledgement that reinforced our commitment to the benefits of having a specialised aged care division. This recognition underscores our multifaceted approach, which includes offering tailored financial guidance to clients to instil confidence in their decision-making, consistently sharing our expertise with aged care facilities to emphasise the value of financial advice, and exchanging insights with fellow financial planners to empower them in supporting their clients effectively.”
Andrew Biviano, Alteris Financial Group, Winner – 2023 Aged Care Advice Program of the Year

Applications will be reviewed and assessed by an external panel of respected professionals, which includes Phil Anderson (GM Policy, Advocacy & Standards at FAAA) and Sue Viskovic (Founder of Elixir Consulting) both of whom were a part of the judging panel for 2023, and Andrew Inwood (Founder of CoreData Group) who joins this year’s panel.

Applications close Friday 20th September at 6.00pm AEST

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The awards aim to recognise and champion the significant work done by aged care advisers in helping people navigate the aged care maze – an area that is of increasing importance and concern to older Australians and their families. With increasing longevity and around 1.5 million older Australians receiving care services, these advisers provide an important service to clients.

Advisers have been nominated under two categories:

• Aged Care Adviser of the Year.
• Aged Care Advice Program of the Year.

The first category recognises an individual adviser who is deemed to have demonstrated outstanding professional commitment to providing aged care advice to older Australians and their families.

The second category recognises an Australian adviser or advice business working in financial services that has actively advocated the promotion of aged care advice amongst their client base, referral communities, peers or local community.

Aged Care Steps were excited to receive an increased number of applications this year. The applications were reviewed and assessed by an external panel of respected professionals, comprising Jo-Anne Bloch, Phil Anderson and Sue Viskovic, to select our list of 2023 Finalists. The judges commended the high standard and quality of applications.

The 2023 Finalists are (in alphabetical order by first name):

• Aged Care Adviser of the Year
  • Craig Phillips – Phillips Wealth Partners
  • Jillian Clarke – Alteris Financial Group
  • Katie Spence – Sage Care Advice
  • Kerri Mendl – Alteris Financial Group
  • Kimberly McGrath – Viridian Advisory
  • Sophie Doyle – Morgans Financial
  • Zac Dodds – Muirfield Financial Services
• Aged Care Advice Program of the Year
  • Alteris Financial Group – Andrew Biviano
  • Cosca Personal Wealth – Jayden Swarbrick
  • Olive Grove Financial Advice – Bill Savellis
  • Phillips Wealth Partners – Craig Phillips

While aged care advice is becoming a core component of retirement planning, more and more advisers are upskilling in aged care advice. However many people do not understand the value of seeking advice from a qualified and accredited aged care professional. The Aged Care Adviser of the Year Awards aim to raise awareness of the highly valued and expert services that aged care advisers provide.

“The Awards are a perfect way for us to recognise outstanding aged care advisers and help raise the profile and awareness of their specialised contribution to the advice profession and well-being of clients,” said Assyat David, Director of Aged Care Steps.

Aged Care Steps will be announcing the winners of the awards on 14 December 2023.

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Now in its ninth year, the FPA Awards recognises exceptional financial planners, paraplanners, university students and FPA Professional Practices from across Australia. The Awards also celebrate the individuals and businesses who go above and beyond to deliver outstanding results for clients.

FPA CEO Dante De Gori CFP® said many Australians have used the pandemic to reconsider their finances – spending and saving habits, budgeting and planning – and have an appetite to make changes. The pandemic has been a sharp reminder for Australians to have a financial plan in place, not only as a road map to achieve their goals, but also as a contingency for unforeseen events.

“It’s great to see financial planners guiding thousands of everyday Australians through the financial stress created by the pandemic and an increased engagement between Australians and their financial planner in the last 12 months to seek reassurance for personal finances or build a financial plan,” said Mr De Gori.

“The 20 finalists have been chosen because they have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to professional standards and made a positive difference to the lives of clients and their local community.

“The judges have been very impressed by the high calibre of award entries this year and look forward to announcing the Award winners in November,” he said.

The category finalists in the FPA Community Service Award supported by Future2 will be announced later this month following the upcoming Future2 Board meeting.

The finalists for each award are as follows.

FPA CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional of the Year Award

• Kathryn Creasy CFP® – Capital Partners Private Wealth Advisers (WA)
• Matthew Meehan CFP® – Lifesolver Financial (NSW)
• Naomi Mee-Martino CFP® – Bastion Financial Group (WA)
• Mark O’Flynn CFP® – Tupicoffs (QLD)

FPA Professional Practice of the Year Award

• Alman Partners (QLD)
• APT Wealth (NSW)
• Enlightened Financial Solutions (QLD)

FPA Financial Planner AFP® of the Year Award

• Leanne Bielik AFP® – 2020 Wealth Pty Ltd (VIC)
• Michelle Maguire AFP® – MLC Advise (NSW)
• Craig Phillips AFP® – Phillips Wealth Partners (ACT)

FPA Advice Innovation Award

• Josh Pennell CFP® – Prosper Advisory Financial Services (VIC)
• Daniel Thompson AFP® – Finnacle (NSW)

FPA Paraplanner of the Year Award

• Andrew Mann CFP® – Tupicoffs (QLD)
• Elora Shine – Cooper Wealth Management (NSW)

FPA University Student of the Year Award

• Nicole Gardner – Kaplan Professional (VIC)
• Martin Jack – Griffith University (QLD)
• Matthew Kanizay – Deakin University (VIC)
• Melina Pisani – Deakin University (VIC)
• Renae Poole – Griffith University (QLD)
• Aaron Skow – Kaplan Professional (NSW)

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