David Sharpe

The Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) and the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) have achieved legal completion of their merger to form the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA), and have confirmed the board directors of the new association.  

From 3 April 2023, FPA and AFA staff come together as a single team in one office, and activity will begin to be undertaken under the FAAA name.  

The FAAA has also unveiled its new logo, created following extensive member consultation. The logo and new branding will be rolled out during April. Central to the new logo design are the three “a”s of the name represented as three speech bubbles, to symbolise its voice in dialogue with key stakeholders.

While FPA members will start to see a transition to the new FAAA branding over coming weeks, the AFA will continue to operate under its own brand until 30 June, when those members who renew will move to the FAAA.  

David Sharpe will be the chair of the FAAA and Michelle Veitch has been appointed as deputy chair.  

The FPA directors who will serve on the FAAA board are:  

• David Sharpe – chair 
• Diana D’Ambra
• Kearsten James
• William Johns
• Jade Khao
•  Julie Matheson 
• Angela Martyn
•  Julian Place  

The nominated AFA directors who will serve on the FAAA board are:  

• Michelle Veitch – deputy chair 
• Katherine Hayes
• Patricia Garcia
• Shaun McDonagh  

AFA national president Sam Perera, who will not be joining the new board, said he is proud to have played a part in bringing together the two associations.

“I have decided to refocus my time toward my family, staff and practice who have been patient with my absence whilst I served on the AFA board. I will remain an active member of the FAAA and continue to contribute in the areas of policy and advocacy,” Mr Perera said. 

Mr Perera will remain the president of the AFA and an AFA Board member until the AFA is wound up.  

FAAA chair David Sharpe paid tribute to Mr Perera’s three and a half years on the AFA board and his tireless dedication to the profession over many more years.  

“I would like to thank Sam for his work as the AFA national president, and his deep commitment to bringing our two associations together.  I also thank the other AFA directors who have worked so hard to make this merger a reality,” Mr Sharpe said.

“I would also like to acknowledge and thank Marisa Broome who, as immediate past chair of the FPA, was deeply involved in the early stages of talks and integral to the ultimate success of our merger.  

“On behalf of the board of the FAAA, I would also like to extend our gratitude to all staff who have worked so hard to get us to this point.”  

Mr Sharpe added that the new board represents a unified voice for the financial advice profession.  

“We had already taken steps to bring the board members together to start discussions following the merger, and the AFA nominated directors participated as guests at the last FPA board meeting and strategy day.  

“We are now in a strong position to start our work as a merged association, advocating on behalf of members,” he said.  

FAAA deputy chair, Michelle Veitch, said the formation of the FAAA represents a new chapter in the financial advice profession.

“I urge all members to renew with the new association. The FAAA will speak with one strong voice for the vast majority of financial advisers in the Australian market, as we work towards ensuring better outcomes for advice practices and their clients,” she said.  

FPA and AFA membership renewals will kick off in May, with all branding, website and membership activity due to be fully transitioned to the FAAA branding by 30 June. 

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This appointment follows the stepping down of additional director Paul Ruiz after serving nearly two years on the FPA Board.

FPA Chair Marisa Broome CFP^® said: “I would like to thank Paul Ruiz for his commitment to the FPA Board over the past couple of years, in particular the expertise he has brought to the Audit and Risk Committee in his role as the previous Chair. On behalf of FPA Board, I’m delighted to welcome Diana D’Ambra to the Board.”

Joining on 1 December 2020, Ms D’Ambra will bring over 30 years of deep strategic and financial experience. She has spent more than 13 years as a non-executive director and more than 25 years as an investment, mergers, acquisitions and capital market and financial management adviser and chartered accountant.

In addition to her non-executive board and committee roles, Diana also provides financial and strategic assistance to established businesses in relation to acquisitions, divestments, and to start-ups in relation to strengthening and transforming their businesses.

Recipients of FPA Honorary Awards

At the FPA AGM, the FPA also announced its recent recipients of FPA Honorary Awards to acknowledge the dedication of exemplary members.

After finishing her three-year term on the FPA Board, Michelle Tate-Lovery CFP^® was honoured for her service with a Distinguished Service Award and appointment as a Fellow of the FPA.

Delma Newton CFP^® also finished her second term on the FPA Board and was recognised with a Life Membership of the FPA.

Life Membership was also awarded to Gary Jones AFP^® to acknowledge his long-standing commitment as an FPA Chapter Chair and member of the FPA Regional Chapter Committee.

FPA Chair Marisa Broome CFP^® said: “It’s important that we take this time to recognise our members who have gone above and beyond. These awards are not only representations of time and hard work, but also the dedication to servicing and advancing the financial planning profession. On behalf of the board, we thank you all for your commitment over the years.”

The members of the FPA Board are:

• Marisa Broome CFP^® (Chair)
• Jane Bowd
• Diana D’Ambra
• Alison Henderson CFP^®
• Kearsten James CFP^®
• William Johns CFP^®
• Julie Matheson CFP^®
• Julian Place CFP^®
• David Sharpe CFP^®

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Ms James and Mr Place will serve on the FPA Board for the first time, while Ms Matheson has been re-elected to the Board after previously serving until 2016.

All three positions are for a term of three years and will be commence at the Annual General Meeting on 25 November 2020.

FPA Chair Marisa Broome CFP® said: “On behalf of the FPA Board, I am looking forward to working with Kearsten, Julie and Julian. Each bring important skills and experience which will add to the depth of knowledge on the FPA Board.”

The three appointments follow the expiry of terms for Board members Marisa Broome CFP®, Delma Newton CFP® and Michelle Tate-Lovery CFP® in November 2020.

Ms Broome has been appointed by the Board as an additional director and continues as FPA Chair for an additional term.

Ms Newton has served two terms on the FPA Board and is ineligible to stand again. Ms Tate-Lovery was eligible for re-election but made the decision not to stand again.

“I would like to sincerely thank both Delma and Michelle for their exceptional contributions to the FPA Board. Their commitment and service has been exemplary,” said Ms Broome.

More on the newly elected Board members

Kearsten James CFP® is the Gold Coast FPA Chapter Chair, a multiple FPA Award finalist and winner and has presented at the FPA Professionals Congress. Kearsten’s goal as a director is to ensure financial planning businesses remain profitable and sustainable, in order to provide affordable advice for all Australians.

Julie Matheson CFP® is a long standing member of the FPA, an FPA Distinguished Service Award recipient and has previously served on the FPA Board and many FPA committees. Julie is passionate about the profession of financial planning and ensuring advice is accessible and cost effective through a balanced approach to the regulatory burden.

Julian Place CFP® has been the FPA Chapter Chair for Melbourne for the last 10 years and is a member of the Financial Planning Education Council (FPEC). He is a past recipient of the FPA Distinguished Service Award and he is heavily involved with Future2. Julian is passionate about the value of financial advice and the noble work that financial planners do every day.

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Now in its seventh year, the FPA Awards recognises the achievements of outstanding members who have delivered the highest professional and ethical standards outlined in the FPA Code of Professional Practice, as well as those who have gone above and beyond to support their local community through pro bono and volunteer work.

FPA CEO Dante De Gori CFP® said finalists had been chosen because they have shown exceptional commitment to professional standards, and made a positive difference to the lives of clients and members of their community.

“I am extremely proud of the work being done by all the finalists and look forward to announcing the winners at Congress in November,” said Mr De Gori.

“Members who contribute to the Future2 Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the FPA, deserve a special mention. Through pro bono work, making donations, getting involved in fundraising activities and by nominating organisations for the annual grant program, these volunteers do so much to support their local community.”

Award winners will be announced at the Future2 Celebration & 2019 FPA Awards presentation held at the iconic St Kilda Sea Baths on Thursday 28 November. Join us at the event to celebrate the winners and support the Future2 Foundation. Tickets cost $150.

More information about the FPA Professionals Congress.

The shortlist for each award is as follows:

FPA CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional of the Year Award
Andrew Dunbar CFP® – Apt Wealth Partners (VIC)
Kearsten James CFP® – Cooper Wealth Management (QLD)

FPA Financial Planner AFP® of the Year Award
Crystal Bobir AFP® – Tupicoffs (QLD)
Leonie McKain AFP® – Bridges Financial Services (QLD)
Paul Turner AFP® – Wealthwise (WA)

FPA Paraplanner of the Year Award
Lachlan Haigh – Tupicoffs (QLD)
Andrew Mann CFP® – Tupicoffs (QLD)
Julian Stephenson – Tupicoffs (QLD)

FPA Professional Practice of the Year Award
Capital Partners Private Wealth Advisers (WA)
EJM Financial Services (VIC)
Tupicoffs (QLD)
VISIS Private Wealth (QLD)

FPA University Student of the Year Award
Amanda Barrow-Scott – Griffith University (QLD)
Graeme Morris – Griffith University (QLD)
Porsha Papas – Deakin University (NSW)

FPA Community Service Award supported by the Future2 Foundation
Zacary Leeson CFP® – HPH Solutions (WA)
Kevin McDonald CFP® – Future Focus Financial Planning (NSW)
Michael Stone CFP® – UniSuper Management (SA)
Matthew Torney CFP® – Muirfield Financial Services (VIC)
Louise Wegner-Parker AFP® – Morgans Financial (QLD)

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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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Taking out the coveted FPA CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional of the Year Award is Michael Carmody CFP® of Viva Wealth in Perth, WA.

The award acknowledges Michael’s passion for helping his clients through financial planning, and going above and beyond to give them the best possible outcomes.

FPA CEO Dante De Gori CFP® said, “Michael embodies the facets of an exemplary financial planner: outstanding technical knowledge and capability, as well as care and understanding as a financial coach and mentor to his clients, helping them create a vision for their future, and bringing organisation and accountability to their financial lives.

“Michael has recently proven his willingness to take on a new challenge, completing the 2018 Wheel Classic. The gruelling eight-day charity event raises funds for the FPA’s philanthropic arm, the Future2 Foundation.”

The FPA Professional Practice of the Year Award is Wotherspoon Wealth in Adelaide, SA. When the founders of Wotherspoon Wealth established their business eight years ago, they set out with the aim of building a business “that is the very best out there”. Their critical business decisions are actively focused on making the client experience the best it can be and their submission highlighted that they are constantly exploring ways to improve this approach.

Winning the FPA Financial Planner AFP® of the Year Award for 2018 is Felicity Cooper AFP® of Cooper Wealth Management in Surfers Paradise, QLD. The judges in this category commented that Felicity put herself in strong contention from the very start of the awards process because the standard of her submitted Statement of Advice was exceptional, and clearly stood out from the pack.

The FPA Paraplanner of the Year Award was given to Kearsten James CFP® of Queensland based Sterling Private Wealth. Commenting on Kearsten’s award application, the judges said that not only was her advice well written and thought out, but the depth of research done on the issues and the notes around it made it an outstanding entry.

The FPA University Student of the Year Award was given to Mary Hadgis of University of South Australia (UniSA) in recognition of her academic excellence and commitment to becoming a future leader within financial planning. Mary is motivated to become a future financial planner because of the opportunity to help people from all walks of life reach their financial goals and achieve their dreams. Mary has also been a driving force behind UniSA becoming an FPEC accredited provider of a financial planning degree.

The Gwen Fletcher Memorial Award recognises the highest performing student in the final unit of the CFP® Certification Program. John Dacker AFP® from Shadforth Financial Group in Sydney, NSW is the 2018 Semester two winner of the honorary award named after the late “first lady of financial planning”, Gwen Fletcher.

Mr De Gori said, “The rigorous CFP® Certification Assessment unit demands students be at the top of their game, so to receive the Gwen Fletcher Memorial Award is a significant achievement. John’s outstanding results reflect his commitment and dedication, and I congratulate him on his efforts.”

The winner of the Community Service Award supported by Future2 is Zacary Leeson CFP® of HPH Solutions in Perth, WA. Zacary receives this award in recognition of his dedication as a volunteer at WA based not-for-profit, Leading Youth Forward. The organisation provides mentorship and positive experiences to disadvantaged Perth teenagers to help them foster respect, positive conversations and personal growth. It’s a purely volunteer run group and for the past five years, Zacary has proudly served on the committee, worked as the treasurer and volunteers manager, and had the privilege of seeing his mentee grow from a troubled young boy into a responsible young adult. This award from the FPA’s philanthropic foundation recognises the amazing contribution Zacary has given to the organisation and the young Australians it supports with his time and experience.

Below is a summary list of the 2018 FPA Award winners

• FPA CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional of the Year: Michael Carmody CFP®, Viva Wealth, Perth, WA
• FPA Professional Practice of the Year: Wotherspoon Wealth, Adelaide, SA
• FPA Financial Planner AFP® of the Year: Felicity Cooper AFP®, Cooper Wealth Management, Surfers Paradise, QLD
• FPA Paraplanner of the Year: Kearsten James CFP®, Sterling Private Wealth, Brisbane, QLD
• FPA University Student of the Year: Mary Hadgis, University of South Australia, SA
• Gwen Fletcher Memorial Award: John Dacker AFP®, Shadforth Financial Services, Sydney, NSW
• Community Service Award supported by Future2 Foundation: Zacary Leeson, CFP®, HPH Solutions, Perth, WA

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The FPA Awards recognise the achievements of outstanding financial planners, paraplanners, students and practices, and celebrate the individuals and businesses who go above and beyond for their local community.

FPA CEO Dante De Gori CFP® said finalists had been chosen because they have made a positive difference in the lives of clients, and delivered the highest professional and ethical standards outlined in the FPA Code of Professional Practice.

“Those shortlisted in the financial planner categories have shown exceptional commitment to professional standards and they’ve put their client’s best interest first at all times. I am extremely proud of the work being done by all the finalists and look forward to announcing the winners at Congress in November.”

Mr De Gori also highlighted the Community Service Award supported by Future2 Foundation that honours outstanding pro bono and volunteer work by CFP® professionals and Financial Planner AFP® members.

“With support from the financial planning community, we’re now on track to raise $1 million in grants for Future2 since fundraising started in 2007. As the philanthropic arm of the FPA, Future2 gives members the opportunity to raise funds for grassroots programs that transform the lives of young people who are experiencing social, financial or physical hardship.

“I’m especially proud of our members who contribute to Future2 through donations, getting involved in fundraising activities and by nominating organisations for the annual grant program.”

Depending on the category, prizes include $5,000 for either professional development or a charity of choice, support for media opportunities, and complimentary registration to the FPA Professionals Congress.

Award winners will be announced at the FPA 2018 Professionals Congress, along with the winner of the bi-annual Gwen Fletcher Memorial Award. For more information about the FPA Professionals Congress visit www.fpacongress.com.au.

The shortlist for each award is as follows:

FPA CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional of the Year Award

• Michael Carmody CFP® – Viva Wealth (WA)
• James McFall CFP® – Yield Financial Planning (VIC)
• Chris Smith CFP® – VISIS Private Wealth (QLD)

FPA Financial Planner AFP® of the Year Award

• Felicity Cooper AFP® – Cooper Wealth Management (QLD)
• James O’Reilly AFP®– Northeast Wealth (VIC)
• Sandra Slattery AFP® – Commonwealth Financial Planning (NSW)

FPA Paraplanner of the Year Award

• Pierce Hanlen – Hewison and Associates (VIC)
• Kearsten James CFP® – Sterling Private Wealth (QLD)
• Emma Zwaan AFP® – Capital Partners (WA)

Community Service award supported by Future2 Foundation

• Amanda Cassar AFP®– Wealth Planning Partners (QLD)
• Wayne Fenton AFP® – Elders Financial Planning (TAS)
• Zacary Leeson CFP® – HPH Solutions (WA)

FPA Professional Practice of the Year Award

• Eureka Whittaker Macnaught – Sydney (NSW)
• VISIS Private Wealth – Brisbane (QLD)
• Wotherspoon Wealth – Adelaide (SA)

FPA University Student of the Year Award

• Mary Hadgis – University of South Australia (SA)
• Mitchell Harrison – Deakin University (VIC)
• Paul Travis – Griffith University (QLD)

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