Through Affinia Access, licensees benefit from a range of tools and support materials tailored to their brand and business, including comprehensive white-labelled AFSL infrastructure, compliance and advice resources, marketing and business development support and access to professional development courses.

Head of Affinia, Marcus O’Sullivan, said, “Affinia Access aims to empower AFSLs to operate independently and with confidence.  Being a financial planner and operating a licensee are very different roles requiring different skills and expertise. For this reason it is important for AFSLs to partner with dealer-to-dealer services to assist them in navigating the regulatory environment.

“Simply outsourcing compliance audits does not always mean the licensee is meeting their obligations. That’s why we partner with AFSLs to help them manage their licensee and responsible manager obligations. That way they can continue to run their businesses efficiently and compliantly so they can continue to do what they do best: giving great advice to Australians.

“The Affinia community is a team of highly experienced individuals with a mix of licensee management, advice, commercial and technical skills. Through Affinia Access we are equipping AFSLs with sound advice infrastructure, professional standards frameworks and management strategies to create a service offering suited to the specific needs of their business and clients.

“We are passionate about supporting a well-informed financial advice sector ensuring financial planners can provide the best possible outcomes for their clients while evolving their own businesses,” he said.

By consulting with the AFSL Affinia Access can tailor the services and unique infrastructure requirements by selecting the relevant services from our broad suite, which could include:

• Bespoke AFSL infrastructure comprised of self-branded documents, including tailored business rules and advice guidelines
• Quarterly Responsible Manager symposiums
• Professional Standards Handbook
• Quarterly file audit services
• PD Days and annual conference
• Business coaching and growth consulting
• Annual AFSL review and report
• Professional standards consulting
• Breach and incident handling support
• Complaints handling support
• AR appointment due diligence
• Membership to a professional advice community.

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Steve Helmich

TAL is committed to the important role that independent financial advisers provide in delivering quality advice to Australian consumers. To support that commitment TAL is re-affirming the importance of its growing Affinia business with two key appointments: Mr Steve Helmich as Chair to the Affinia Board and Marcus O’Sullivan as Head of Affinia.

Affinia is a specialised licensee of independent risk advisers and offers advisers a life risk business culture with rigorous compliance frameworks, technology tools and professional development.

Affinia has ambitious growth plans over the next three years and the appointments of Steve and Marcus will help drive the execution of Affinia’s strategy.

TAL Group CEO Brett Clark said the appointment of Steve to the Affinia Board as Chair is an important appointment for Affinia and will bring enormous depth and experience of financial advice to the Affinia Board.

“We are very excited that Steve will Chair the Affinia Board. Steve has had an outstanding career in financial services and financial advice in particular. Steve will provide invaluable direction for Affinia, supporting our growth objectives and ensuring it operates efficiently and effectively, particularly during this transition period for the industry. We are committed to advisers and the important role high quality financial advice has in the community. Steve’s stewardship will ensure excellent leadership to the Affinia Board.

“It is crucial that our board has strong governance structures in place and I am confident Steve will provide unique expertise and insight for our Affinia business to help drive our growth ambition. I am absolutely delighted he has accepted the role of Chair”, Mr Clark said.

Of the appointment, Mr Helmich said: “I am very excited about the opportunity with Affinia and the TAL Group. It became clear to me early in the process that Brett and his team are determined to see Affinia become one of the leading licensees in the advice profession with a strong focus on supporting advisers to provide the best possible advice and service to their clients. This combination of putting clients first and being very adviser focussed had great appeal to me and made my decision to take on the role an easy one.”

Steve joins as Chair of Affinia after a long and very successful career at AMP.

Marcus will be Head of Affinia, effective 1 November. Marcus has extensive experience working with financial advisers. He has been an executive with TAL since 2012.

“Marcus is passionate about financial advice and has over 20 years’ experience and has held a number of senior management positions across life companies, reinsurers and dealer groups, including chief underwriter and director of life-risk. We welcome Marcus to the role,” Mr Clark said.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Craig Parker for his leadership of Affinia. Craig launched Affinia and his commitment and passion to the business has made it what it is today. We are currently working with Craig on new opportunities within TAL.”

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