Eleanor Dartnall

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) has introduced new categories in its community awards, recognising three levels of exceptional service to the association.

The three categories include the existing AFA Appreciation Awards, plus the new AFA Recognition Awards and the AFA Thought Leader Award.

AFA Appreciation Awards were extended to:

• Karen Walmsley, Powe Financial Advice
• Amanda Cassar, Wealth Planning Partners
• Jawad Ahmed, Mackenzie Strategic Wealth

AFA Recognition Awards were extended to:

• Mark Stubbings, Sunsuper
• Niall McConville, TAL Life
• Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur, CommInsure

AFA Thought Leader Award

The AFA awarded the inaugural AFA Thought Leader Award, which represents the pinnacle of the community awards, to Eleanor Dartnall, Focus Wealth Advisers.

AFA CEO, Philip Kewin said, “The AFA community awards are extended to people within our community who demonstrate ongoing and outstanding commitment to the advice profession. It is our way of saying thank-you to those people who believe in and are passionate about our cause, which is delivering great advice to more Australians.”

The Awards were presented at the AFA National Adviser Conference on the Gold Coast last night.

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The finalists are:

• Stephen Nielsen, Ascent Wealth Management, GWM Adviser Services, Queensland
• Jason Fittler, Grow Your Wealth Pty Ltd, Grow Your Wealth Pty Ltd, Queensland
• Joseph Hoe, Wealthwise, Financial Wisdom, Western Australia
• Steve Dobson, Mal Dobson and Associates, Meritum Financial Group, Western Australia
• Christie Rigg, 360 Private, 360 Private Wealth By Design Pty Ltd, South Australia
• Simon Duigan, Main Street Financial Solutions, Fitzpatricks, Tasmania
• Warren Strybosch, Find Wealth, Clearview Financial Advice, Victoria
• Karen Walmsley, Powe Financial, Alliance Wealth, New South Wales

The national winner will be announced at the AFA National Adviser Conference in Canberra October 5-7.

Nick Hakes, General Manager Member Services, Partnerships & Campus AFA said it is encouraging to see so many advisers embracing higher and higher levels of education.

“There is a real shift in the mindset of advisers towards investing in education as a practical way of adapting to the seismic forces that are shaping the financial advice landscape. The candidates for this year’s Award are simply outstanding. Their education journeys demonstrate how education has helped them build not only their own knowledge, attitudes and behaviours, but also the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of their clients,” he said.

Mr Hakes said this year’s finalists have invested heavily in a broad range of academic disciplines that move beyond the traditional technical areas to include practical business knowledge and emotional intelligence, as well as understanding new technologies and innovations. “It is this kind of broad investment in education that will reshape how we think about adviser education and ultimately help them grow the demand for great advice.”

Asteron Life Head of Intermediaries Mark Vilo said, “In our industry we often emphasise the importance of working on your business and not just working in it. The eight finalists for 2016 have demonstrated this through their broad commitment to study. Ongoing education is a vital ingredient for providing quality advice and, in turn, better client outcomes.”

Finalists of the Award are chosen for their commitment to professional development through continuing education and making a difference within the marketplace and their local community through the practical application of their knowledge and expertise.

Candidates are judged on the quality of their written nomination. Judges then conduct phone interviews with shortlisted candidates. Candidates are also given a weighting across four award criteria, including:

• 50% on formal education
• 30% on practical application of education
• 10% on contribution to one’s industry through education
• 10% on contribution to one’s community through education

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Nick Hakes

The winner of the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) 2015 Excellence in Education Award (the Award), supported by Asteron Life, will be announced on Monday 26 October at the AFA National Adviser Conference in Cairns. The Award recognises advisers who are continually investing in themselves, their staff and their businesses, to raise professional standards through education.

The 2015 State Winners for the Award, announced throughout the AFA’s National Practitioner Roadshow, are:

• Karen Walmsley, Powe Financial Advice Pty Ltd (NSW)
• Jawad Ahmad, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management (SA)
• Charles Badenach, Main Street Financial Solutions (TAS)
• Lyn Heaysman, Harvest Wealth Pty Ltd (VIC)
• Joseph Hoe, Wealthwise Pty Ltd (WA)
• Tim Hall, Tilea Wealth Pty Ltd (QLD)

Nick Hakes, General Manager Member Services & Campus AFA said the calibre of the state winners reflects the recognition that higher education is one of the keys to delivering great advice to more Australians and positively influencing consumer perceptions of financial advisers.

“This is an exciting time for the financial advice profession. More and more advisers are embracing higher education and using it to demonstrate a point of difference,” he said. “Our state winners encapsulate everything that is great about financial advice – technical knowledge which is expertly applied to empowering the lives of others. This year’s finalists have demonstrated that the investment in education across a broad range of disciplines has made a positive difference to their clients and to their businesses.”

Mr Hakes said all of this year’s nominations were outstanding. “We are very proud of the talent that the Award has recognised to date and we are delighted to continue to partner with Asteron Life to showcase the outstanding attitudes, behaviours, standards and commitment to lifelong learning demonstrated by advisers like these state winners,” he said. “The AFA believes other advisers will be inspired by the state winners to invest in their own education, above and beyond what is required in terms of compliance, in order to ensure that they are giving their clients the best possible experience, while also raising professional standards within the financial advice profession.”

Asteron Life Executive Manager Mark Vilo said education plays a vital role in restoring consumer confidence in the financial planning industry and holds the key to ensuring a thriving future for advisers, life companies and licensees.

“Adviser education standards is a topic that has largely gone under the radar throughout the reform process. This award provides the perfect platform to showcase the level of professionalism and talent that exists in our industry and show to consumers that there is a commitment to ongoing education,” he said.

State winners of the Award are chosen for their commitment to professional development through continuing education and making a difference within the marketplace and their local community through the practical application of their knowledge and expertise.

Candidates are judged on the quality of their written nomination. Judges then conducted phone interviews with shortlisted candidates. Candidates are also given a weighting across four award criteria, including:

• 50% on formal education
• 30% on practical application of education
• 10% on contribution to one’s industry
• 10% on contribution to one’s community

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