Griffith University’s Business School has appointed Ellana Brand to the newly created position of Research Fellow. Ms Brand is a senior analyst with the Reserve Bank of Australia and was the recipient of the RBA’s Outstanding Achievement Award in both 2016 and 2017.

Ms Brand will undertake research to expand our knowledge and understanding in areas such as the impact of financial advice, financial literacy, professional standards and regulatory reform.

AMP Head of Advice Education, Capability & Careers Rod Edge congratulated Ms Brand on the appointment, saying the company’s support of the fellowship demonstrated its commitment to raising standards in financial advice.

“We see the introduction of the new FASEA education standards as an important opportunity to lift the quality of financial advice and our collaboration with Griffith is central to that effort,” Mr Edge said.

“AMP believes that the demand for advice will only grow and that we must continue to develop a professional adviser force that helps our clients achieve their financial goals.”

Griffith Business School Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor David Grant said: “This fellowship provides a chance for Griffith and AMP to demonstrate thought leadership with the potential to effect real societal change, and to contribute to the overall body of knowledge that informs the activities and direction of the financial services industry.”

Scholarship programs

AMP is also funding scholarships for prospective financial advisers to promote talented individuals and assist with the costs of their study.

The AMP New Entrants Scholarship provides support for students undertaking studies in Financial Planning at Griffith University.  Up to 6 scholarships are to be awarded annually.

The AMP Adviser Academy Tuition Fee Bursary was established to encourage students to participate in the AMP Adviser Academy program. The bursaries are available to students undertaking the Financial Planning Skills course at Griffith. Up to ten bursaries are to be awarded annually.

AMP and Griffith have been pioneers in developing financial advice as a discipline at the tertiary level, launching a Master of Financial Planning qualification in 2014.

They have also developed postgraduate options to assist current advisers to achieve the FASEA standards, which are to be submitted for FASEA accreditation.

All new advisers entering the industry must have met the FASEA standards while existing advisers will have until 31 December 2023.

The post AMP and Griffith University boost support for adviser professionalism appeared first on AdviserVoice.

David Grant

AMP and Griffith University have expanded their joint education offering to help financial advisers meet the FASEA education standards, including a bachelors’ degree, postgraduate courses for existing AMP advisers and scholarships for talented students.

AMP is also offering its advisers a free, online training course to prepare them for postgraduate study.

The Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA) has started releasing the new education, training and ethical standards for financial advisers. The standards, which will be finalised following a consultation period, give advisers and education providers clarity on the content that must be covered in a tertiary qualification for it to be approved by FASEA.

From 1 January 2019, all new advisers must have met the FASEA standards while existing advisers will have until 31 December 2023.

AMP Head of Advice Education, Capability & Careers Rod Edge said education and professionalism were key to a strong, sustainable future for financial advice.

“AMP is committed to advice and we want to ensure advisers have a clear pathway to FASEA compliance”, Mr Edge said.

“In particular, we understand that it can be challenging returning to study while running an advice practice, which is why we have built flexibility into the course programs.”

Griffith is accepting enrolments for 2019 in the new Bachelor of Applied Financial Advice, designed for future advisers. FASEA approval will now be sought for this degree.

Current advisers in the AMP network will have access to flexible postgraduate qualifications.

• The 2-4 year Graduate Diploma is for existing advisers who do not have a degree or whose degree is not in a discipline related to advice
• The 1-2 year Graduate Certificate is for AMP advisers with a degree in a related discipline such as accounting or economics who have been determined as eligible for recognition of prior learning

The FASEA standards for bridging courses will allow the content for these two qualifications to be finalised and AMP advisers will know how their existing qualifications and recognised experience will be credited. Enrolments for the Graduate Certificate and the Graduate Diploma are expected to open in early 2019 once they receive FASEA approval.

AMP and Griffith have been pioneers in developing financial advice as a discipline at the tertiary level, launching a Master of Financial Planning in 2014.

Griffith Business School Pro Vice Chancellor Professor David Grant said: “Griffith University is a leader in the field of personal finance and financial planning and we welcome the FASEA education standards.

“The partnership between AMP and Griffith merges the best of two worlds – existing industry and academic content, practical training and a supported coaching model from AMP along with Griffith’s blended learning technologies, rigorous assessment, accreditation frameworks and strong education and research expertise.

“Griffith Business School’s focus on improving ethical standards and integrity through both research and education will play an important role in helping to restore confidence in the sector,” Professor Grant said.

The post AMP and Griffith University unite to offer advisers FASEA pathways appeared first on AdviserVoice.

David Grant

AMP has launched Adviser Pathways, a market-leading training and development program to meet the growing demand for high quality financial advisers.

The program is part of AMP’s commitment to raising standards and professionalism in advice.

It leverages AMP’s long-established experience in building rewarding careers for advice professionals and will give candidates a broad experience in advice to enable them to find the most suitable role to match their skills.

The 2-3 year program is designed to interest a wide variety of candidates, including new university graduates, career changers and advice practice staff who want to upskill.

It offers flexible career paths in advice. Successful candidates will receive training in different advice methods, including face-to-face, phone-based and technology-enabled advice, reflecting the varied ways customers are now choosing to receive financial advice.

To join Adviser Pathways, candidates must have a degree that is approved by the Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA).

The AMP Horizons practice, which has provided on-the-job training for new advisers since 2009, is superseded by Adviser Pathways.

AMP Head of Advice Education, Capability & Careers Rod Edge, said Adviser Pathways was built to meet the evolving needs of customers, as well as advisers and advice practices.

“We’re seeing growing demand for financial advice from Australians so we’re strengthening and improving our learning and development proposition,” Mr Edge explained.

“Advisers within AMP licensees have contributed ideas and support for this new proposition. By aligning with the government’s new adviser education standards and trends in customer preferences we are creating the advisers of the future.”

AMP’s strategic partnership with Griffith University is an important component of Adviser Pathways. Candidates must complete Griffith’s financial planning skills course in their first year, which also provides a credit towards the university’s FASEA-approved Master of Financial Planning qualification.

Griffith Business School Pro Vice Chancellor Professor David Grant said: “The combination of the academic rigour provided by an institution like Griffith and the work-based learning available in businesses such as AMP is designed to address new government standards in the provision of financial advice and enhance career opportunities for new advisers”.

Applications for the first intake of Adviser Pathways are open now at www.amp.com.au/adviserpathways

The post AMP launches Adviser Pathways appeared first on AdviserVoice.