Kylie George

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) formally recognized a number of outstanding members of the financial advice community at the 2015 AFA National Adviser Conference in Cairns last week.

In partnership with Zurich, the AFA bestowed the professions most significant individual honour – the AFA Adviser of the Year Award – on Sydney’s David Reed of The Retirement Advice Centre. Melbourne-based Kearney Group was awarded the prestigious AFA Practice of the Year Award.

The AFA Adviser of the Year Award pays tribute to advisers who demonstrate outstanding adviser performance, advice strategies, dedication to professional education and achieving informed client consent through building the financial literacy of their clients. The AFA’s Practice of the Year Award is awarded to a financial advice practice that has achieved outstanding levels of client satisfaction, business performance metrics, effective marketing, efficient operations and a proven contribution to the profession.

Mildura-based adviser Kylie George of Harvest Wealth became the 2015 AFA Rising Star. The AFA’s Rising Star Award, supported by ANZ Wealth recognizes emerging talent within the financial advice profession.

The AFA, partnered by TAL, also named Victorian NAB Financial Planning adviser Sharon Walker as the winner of the AFA Female Excellence in Advice Award. This Award recognizes a female adviser with a passion and commitment to professionalism and quality advice, and who actively supports other women in financial services whilst also contributing to the betterment of financial literacy for women.

Charles Badenach received the AFA Excellence in Education Award, supported by Asteron Life, which recognizes an adviser’s commitment to ongoing professional education and self development.

Industry stalwart and Synchron Queensland state manager Gerry Porter was awarded the AFA’s Michael Murphy Award for his contribution to the advice community and the growth of the AFA. The Award is named in honour of AFA legend Michael Murphy who, after leading the resurrection of the AFA, lost his battle with cancer in 2012.

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Gerry Porter

Synchron’s Queensland state manager and industry stalwart Gerry Porter was last week presented with the AFA’s prestigious Michael Murphy Award (the Award) at the AFA 2015 National Adviser Conference in Cairns, for his unwavering service and contribution to the financial advice community.

Synchron Director Don Trapnell said “We are proud of the contribution Gerry Porter has made over the years which is consistent with Synchron’s support of the AFA and the work done by that association.”

The Award is a tribute to an individual who has contributed substantially and consistently to the AFA advice community and is named in honour of the late Michael Murphy who was its inaugural 2009 winner. A distinguished member of the AFA, Michael lost his battle with cancer in 2012.

In presenting the Award AFA CEO Brad Fox described Gerry as the passionate, committed godfather of the AFA’s Genxt initiative and credited him with helping to resurrect the AFA about 10 years ago and shape it into the great association it is today.

In accepting the honour, Gerry acknowledged Michael Murphy as being the leader of that resurrection, saying that nothing would have been possible without Michael’s vision and dedication.

“Murph was the type of bloke who wouldn’t let anybody stand alone in the corner,” he said. “I’m humbled to win an Award named in his honour.”

Gerry was made a life member of the AFA 11 years ago. “The AFA has been going for 65 years and I hope we have at least another 65 in us,” he said.

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In announcing his loss to AFA members, AFA CEO Richard Klipin said Mr Murphy, who was affectionately known as ‘Murf’, served the AFA with great distinction.

“Murf was instrumental to the AFA in so many ways,” Mr Klipin said. “He contributed in so many roles, in so many capacities and over so many years. He served as AFA President and as State Director for his home state of South Australia. He was a Life Member of the AFA; he was instrumental in the AFA’s policy work and appeared before a number of government enquiries. He served on the Board of the AFA Foundation and led us through some very tough times and out the other side. His loss is keenly felt by the entire AFA community.”

As 2002 South Australian director, Mr Murphy is credited, along with the 2002 Board, of putting in place measures which financially resurrected the AFA. As 2005/06 President, he set the foundations which allowed the AFA to grow. He was also fundamental in the decision to recruit Richard Klipin to the role of CEO.

Mr Murphy started his career in the life insurance industry in 1986, as an agent with Legal and General, progressing his career through study and experience to ultimately hold his own AFSL in 2003.

As well as his terms as President and State Director, Mr Murphy also served as Chairman of the Public Affairs Committee from 1999 to 2006, making representations to the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Financial Services Reform on behalf of advisers in the lead up to the implementation of the Financial Services Reform Act (FSRA).

He was the Australian delegate to the Asia-Pacific Financial Services Association and was invited to join their Management Board in 2004. In this capacity, he was involved in negotiating an International Standard for Financial Planning, and was the signatory on behalf of the Asia-Pacific Financial Services Association’s registering the International Federation of Financial Standards (Rotterdam), established in conjunction with the European Financial Planning Association, setting international standards for the Financial Services Industry. He was also a Top of the Table qualifying member for the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT).

In 2009, Mr Murphy became the inaugural winner of the AFA’s ‘best and fairest’ award which was named the AFA Michael Murphy Award (the Award) in his honour.

“The Award recognizes exceptional service on the part of AFA members to the further growth and development of the association,” Mr Klipin said. “But it is much more than that. It celebrates the spirit of the man, who had a way of including, of engaging that still runs through the veins of the AFA today.  Murf welcomed all to the AFA from the newest newbie to the most experienced practitioner.”

Mr Murphy fought his battle with cancer bravely and with great humour, enduring multiple surgeries and courses of many drugs, including experimental. He also lived what he spoke.

At a final presentation to Gold Financial advisers in Adelaide in March this year, for his great friend and fellow AFA Life Member, Bernie Toohey, Mr Murphy said, “I haven’t spent the last six years dying, I have spent the last six years living.”

He said he had planned succession in his business and had been paid out on the income protection, trauma and life insurance (via terminal illness benefit) policies he had put in place to protect himself and his family.

Mr Klipin said Mr Murphy will be remembered by the financial advice community as a man of great humanity, great compassion and overwhelming conviction about the value of advice and its power to transform the lives of ordinary Australians.

“As he said in the AFA’s 65th anniversary book, ‘We are all put on this earth to serve.’ He touched many lives and has been a great example to so many others. To the end he has been a leader to his peers.”

Mr Murphy is survived by his wife, Charlotte; their adult son; five adult daughters, and only granddaughter. His funeral will take place this Friday 15 June at St Ignatius Church Adelaide at 1.30pm followed by a private party in his honour. He will be buried on Saturday 16 June. In typical Murf style, he didn’t want to break up the party on Friday.

13 June 2012

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