Sam Perera

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) today announced Sam Perera has been appointed the AFA’s National President.

Mr Perera’s appointment follows a decision by National President Michael Nowak to resign after many years of contribution to the AFA Board as a board member and President.

AFA Treasurer, Matthew Hawkins, also announced his resignation after seven years on the Board.

“I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to Mike and Matt who have been long-serving members of the AFA Board,” Mr Perera said. “Mike has served for nine years, three of those as President, and Matt for seven years, a year as Treasurer.”

Mr Perera said the past few years have seen enormous pressures placed on advisers and the AFA, which represents them and advocates on their behalf.

“Mike has been an outstanding President of the AFA, tireless in his advocacy on behalf of the AFA as the Royal Commission reforms have continued unabated and the COVID-19 pandemic created major operational challenges for the AFA and our members,” he said.

“As Vice President, I had a unique insight into how the passion and absolute commitment Mike has for the AFA translated into a huge workload as President on top of his family and business commitments.

“The AFA Board fully supports Mike’s decision to share the load and allow somebody else to take on the presidential responsibilities.”

Mr Perera also acknowledged the contribution made by Matthew Hawkins.

“Matt also has significant work and family commitments and it’s time for somebody else to take on this significant role to allow him to focus on his other commitments,” he said.

Mr Perera said that at a Board meeting following the AGM, the other appointments made were:

• Michelle Veitch, Vice President
• Samantha Robinson, Treasurer

The AFA’s new president has been a member of the AFA Board for two years, one as Treasurer and one as Vice President.

All appointments are effective immediately.

The appointment of Sam Perera as President, Michelle Veitch as Vice President and Samantha Robinson as Treasurer are decisions of the Board to fill casual vacancies until the next AGM in 2022.

The AFA Board is now:

• President – Sam Perera
• Vice President – Michelle Veitch
• Treasurer – Samantha Robinson
• NSW/ACT – Katherine Hayes
• VIC – Vacant
• QLD – Patricia Garcia
• SA/NT – Jawad Ahmad
• WA – Stephen Knight
• TAS – Vacant
• Shaun McDonagh (Independent Director)

AFA CEO Helen Morgan-Banda thanked Mike and Matt on behalf of the AFA’s HQ team.

“Mike has been an inspirational leader for the AFA, and I want to thank him and Matt for supporting me and my team during a period of challenge and change,” she said.

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Mr Nowak has been a member of the AFA Board for eight years and is the immediate past Vice President, serving two consecutive terms. He was also the 2013/14 President during the Future of Financial Advice (FOFA) reform period.

“I am honoured to again serve as the AFA’s national president,” Mr Nowak said. “The AFA has set a firm forward strategy, with a strong policy and advocacy focus and a business plan that is well positioned to meet the current challenging COVID-19 economic conditions.

“I acknowledge that there are significant challenges ahead for financial advisers, but it is encouraging to see a change in the tone regarding reform. It is crucial that reform is delivered to ensure that financial advisers can continue to serve the financial advice needs of Australians.”

The AFA also announced Katherine Hayes has been appointed to the Board as the new State Director for NSW/ACT and Stephen Knight has been appointed to the Board as WA State Director.

Six of the nine Board members will remain, including the three Executive members and also Sam Robinson in Victoria, Patricia Garcia in Queensland and Jawad Ahmad in South Australia.  This provides continuity and stability for the AFA.

Members of the AFA Board hold office for two years and must be practising financial advisers.

AFA CEO, Philip Kewin said, “We welcome the new AFA Board Executive team and the new State Directors and are looking forward to working with them to further our vision for financial advice.

“We would also like to thank our outgoing President, Marc Bineham, for his outstanding contribution to the AFA. Marc is a passionate advocate for financial advice, and has served on the Board for 10 years, including two consecutive terms as President. We would also like to acknowledge the contribution from outgoing WA State Director James Ford, who steps down after six years on the Board.”

Members of the current AFA Board include:

Executive

• President – Michael Nowak
• Vice President – Sam Perera
• Treasurer – Matthew Hawkins
• Company Secretary – Philip Kewin

State Directors

• NSW/ACT – Katherine Hayes
• VIC – Samantha Robinson
• QLD – Patricia Garcia
• SA/NT – Jawad Ahmad
• WA – Stephen Knight
• TAS – Vacant

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Launched in 2005, the Award is a highly desirable accolade for new advisers providing quality advice, who demonstrate a commitment to education and who are making a valuable contribution to their industry and to their community.

This year’s entrants demonstrated strong capabilities in all areas, highlighting the depth of the talent pool the advice industry is attracting.

AFA CEO Brad Fox says the Australian advice industry has been successful in making financial advice an attractive profession to new entrants, and in highlighting the real demand and need for good financial advice required by all Australians.

“This year’s entrants are particularly strong,” he says. “We are seeing the work the industry has done over the past five or so years to promote our profession now coming through in terms of professional qualifications, experience and most importantly, a desire to provide clear, transparent and trusted advice.”

ANZ Wealth Head of Sales, Don Sillar says, “The professionalism, education and passion of the candidates this year confirmed these Rising Stars are focused on delivering great advice to their clients.”

The 2016 AFA Rising Star of the Year Award finalists are:

• Peter Hodgson – ANZ Financial Planning
• Cathryn Gross – The Wealth Network
• Brent Story – AMP Financial Planning
• Maritza Kriel – Synchron
• Gregory Adam Bloom – Yellow Brick Road
• Erin Truscott – Financial Wisdom

This year’s judging panel included:

• Brad Fox – CEO of AFA
• Jenny Brown – Founder and CEO of JBS Financial Strategists
• Don Sillar – Head of Sales, ANZ Wealth
• Laura Halbert – Head of Marketing, ANZ Wealth
• Chris Browne – Founder Rising Tide and 2007 Rising Star Winner
• Dave Slovinec – State Director SA/NT – AFA
• Matthew Hawkins – State Director TAS – AFA, Director Scanlon Richardson Financial Group

The Award winner will be announced at the AFA National Conference at the National Convention Centre in Canberra on 7 October 2016.

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Matthew Hawkins

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) will roll out its new look AFA Genxt Connect Tour in all major capital cities from 9-18 February.

AFA Genxt National Chair Matthew Hawkins said the tour aims to inspire the emergence of change leaders in the financial advice profession.

“The Genxt Connect Tour agenda brings knowledge and implementation together in an environment that encourages innovation. We want those in our profession who understand the need for change, the need to do things differently, to be empowered with the confidence to create their own future as a professional financial adviser,” Mr Hawkins said.

This year’s keynote speaker is business coach and Founder of Audere Coaching and Consulting, Stewart Bell. Mr Bell will present the case as to why there has never been a better opportunity for advice firms to create their own future, and how Silicon Valley success stories hold the key to solving the problems that are holding advice businesses back.

The Genxt Connect Tour has been built to include workshop sessions where advisers will have the opportunity to take the knowledge being shared throughout the sessions and build plans and actions that they can immediately implement into their advice and business approach.

Other sessions featured at the AFA 2016 Genxt Connect Tour include expert insights from Chris Unwin of Chris Unwin Training and Consulting Services, and Joint Managing Director of Netwealth, Matt Heine. Mr Unwin will reveal how Genxt advisers can motivate GenY clients to understand the value of life insurance and take action to implement cover, while Mr Heine will unveil an innovative approach to unlocking client psychographics, investment strategy, and business opportunities. The program is also supported by a number of award winning advisers sharing their experiences on creating success as an adviser.

To join the AFA 2016 Genxt Connect Tour in your state visit www.afa.asn.au/events.

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Kylie George

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) today announced the program for the AFA’s signature event for forward thinking advisers, the AFA 2016 Genxt Connect Tour.

“Genxt is an incubator for new advisers starting in the profession and existing advisers who are focused on the future,” said Nick Hakes, AFA General Manager Member Services, Partnerships & Campus AFA. “The Genxt Connect Tour is the perfect opportunity for advisers to explore the critical issues and opportunities that are specifically relevant to them.”

Mr Hakes said the learning outcome of the Genxt Connect Tour is to empower Genxt advisers to develop the soft skills that will help them demonstrate their credibility to a new generation of advice clients.

“Genxt advisers continually tell us that they value exploring innovative new ways of doing things in regards to the advice process and client engagement,” he said. “They want to learn soft skills such as how to present advice to clients and they are also interested in exploring how technology can help clients better understand their advice options and strategy.”

Mr Hakes said new clients to financial advice consume information in different ways, and their language and the types of relationships they are seeking from financial advisers are different.

“Accordingly, our profession needs to adapt as well,” he said. “Genxt has always been an incubator of new ideas and with the 2016 Genxt Connect Tour we have really amplified this message. As an example, Charles Badenach – AFA Excellence in Education Award Winner – will share his approach to engaging with a younger client generation through technology-enabled personal advice.”

Ryan Watson, a former AFA Rising Star finalist and Genxt success story will share how he has built an outstanding, multiple adviser practice centered totally on client experience and outcomes.

Another key feature of the Genxt Connect Tour will be two hands-on, practical workshops focusing on client-led innovation and advice conversations that empower clients to want to take action. Other highlights include keynote speaker Stewart Bell, who will deliver an expert insight into what advice firms can learn from the agile environment of Silicon Valley and why there has never been a better opportunity for advisers to create a different future.

2015 AFA Rising Star, Kylie George will share her secrets to networking and building client value – the very things that earned her the Award.

AFA National Genxt Chair Matthew Hawkins said, “Genxt is our community for advisers that want to be different; that want to innovate; that want to throw off the shackles of legacy-thinking and deliver on their own vision of an incredible financial advice experience. Simply, the Genxt Connect Tour is for advisers that want the future of advice to arrive today.”

The Genxt Connect Tour kicks off in Hobart on 9 February, and will also visit Adelaide, Perth, Sydney and Melbourne before wrapping up in Brisbane on 18 February. To view the program and to register for the 2016 AFA Genxt Connect Tour, visit http://www.afa.asn.au/events.

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Matthew Hawkins

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) has announced the appointment of Matthew Hawkins as chair of the AFA’s GenXt community of practice.

Mr Hawkins is a director and senior financial adviser at Scanlon Richardson Financial Group and is also the AFA’s Tasmanian State Director.

AFA CEO Brad Fox said he is delighted that Mr Hawkins has accepted the role which provides important national leadership to the next generation of financial advisers across Australia. “Matt is a great ambassador for GenXt. He has strong values and has also ready demonstrated terrific leadership skills through his involvement with the AFA in a range of capacities over recent years.”

GenXt was launched eight years ago by the AFA to support newer financial advisers in becoming successful as quickly as possible. It is the most successful initiative of its type. “The mandate for the GenXt community of practice is to facilitate the transfer of knowledge, skills, experience and networks from experienced advisers to those building their career,” Mr Fox said.

The communities of practice concept, which also includes AFA Inspire and the AFA Leaders Forum, brings together groups of advisers who share a particular passion and range of challenges. Through the process of sharing information and experience within the group, members learn from each other and have an opportunity to develop themselves both personally and professionally.

Mr Hawkins said he is excited to lead GenXt and play a vital role in helping less experienced advisers to develop their careers. “The GenXt initiative is an open forum, built on collaboration, through which we ensure that the future of the profession is in good hands. It continues to attract great new advisers and aspiring practice owners.”

Mr Hawkins is supported by a national GenXt Committee including:

• NSW
Sacha Loutkovsky
• VIC 
Matt Hale
• QLD 
William Burke
• TAS 
Lauren Miller
• WA 
Mark Rattigan
• SA 
Shaun Hunt

The GenXt program also offers younger advisers the opportunity to be a voice for the profession. “Like the AFA’s other communities of practice, GenXt provides a framework for members to step up and be a voice for their profession,” Mr Hawkins said. “There are so many changes facing advisers at the moment and GenXt is the means by which younger advisers, who will one day represent the majority of our profession, can be heard on important issues.”

Mr Hawkins will host the GenXt National Roadshow, which will launch in Tasmania and tour the country in the first two weeks of February 2015. “Regularly attracting around 1,400 attendees, the roadshow provides a kick-start to the planning year for younger financial advisers, offering them the opportunity to connect with other professionals, participate in market-leading CPD content, and be inspired to higher quality advice. Last year advisers rated it 84.7 out of 100 for quality and we sold out in three states. Advisers should put it in their diaries now.”

Dates for the GenXt roadshow are at http://www.afa.asn.au/eventsawards/afa-events. Registrations open 5 January 2015.

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Deborah Kent

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) announced its new Board of Directors (the Board) at the AFA National Adviser Conference in Cairns yesterday, with former AFA Treasurer, Deborah Kent, appointed National President for a two-year term.

Ms Kent said the incoming Board is committed to the AFA Strategic Plan, and each member brings a range of different experiences and talents to the table.

“This Board comes to the helm at an incredibly challenging and exciting time for the advice profession,” she said. “All directors have clearly expressed their desire for the AFA to continue living up to our reputation as the association of choice for financial advisers.”

Every director on the AFA Board is required to be a practising financial adviser. “This contributes to the strong pro-advice advocacy the AFA provides on behalf of our members and their clients. It’s a strong, energetic team,” she said.

Ms Kent is also chair of the AFA Inspire initiative and was appointed to the role of AFA Treasurer earlier year from the role of NSW State Director. Ms Kent has owned her financial planning practice, Integra Financial Services, for over 18 years.

AFA CEO Brad Fox acknowledged the attributes Ms Kent brings to the role. “Deb has already made a significant contribution to the AFA and is well-equipped to lead the Association,” Mr Fox said. “She brings experience, enthusiasm and candour to what is a very demanding role.”

Mr Fox recognised the considerable achievements of outgoing board members, including Michael Nowak’s contribution as National President over the last two years.

“Michael’s contribution to the AFA in his time as National President has been instrumental to our overall vision for the future of financial advice,” he said. “He and his Board worked tirelessly to provoke new thinking and ideas to help the AFA grow, to develop professionalism in advice and to represent our members and their clients with authentic leadership and conviction in what has been a very challenging two years for financial advice.”

The AFA has welcomed three new Board members for a two-year term including 2013 AFA Adviser of the Year Jenny Brown to the role of Vice President, 2008 AFA Rising Star winner Chris Browne as Victorian State Director and James Ford as WA State Director. Former Victorian State Director Steve Crawford was elected to the role of Treasurer.

The 2014-2016 AFA Board:

Executive Directors

• President – Deborah Kent
• Vice President – Jenny Brown
• Treasurer – Steve Crawford

State Directors

• NSW- Jeff Thurecht
• VIC- Chris Browne
• QLD- Dianne Charman
• SA- David Slovenic
• WA- James Ford
• TAS- Matthew Hawkins

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