Jane Hume

In what will be his first address to the financial advice community since his appointment in June 2021, ASIC Chair, Joseph Longo, will appear on the opening day of the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA)’s upcoming EVOLVE Conference (the AFA Conference).

Mr Longo joins a distinguished line-up of expert speakers, including Senator Jane Hume, Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and the Digital Economy, who will deliver the opening keynote, and Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation, Stephen Jones, MP. Former Lego executive, Conny Kalcher, from Zurich’s UK headquarters, will discuss her customer journey from Lego to Insurance, and Australia’s former Deputy Chief Medical Officer and COVID-19 expert, Dr Nick Coatsworth is the closing keynote speaker.

AFA’s new CEO, Helen Morgan-Banda, said, “I am looking forward to welcoming AFA members to our EVOLVE conference, as we celebrate 75 years as an association. I want to join with financial advisers and use this conference to start charting a way forward after a period of unprecedented change.”

Hosted by Master of Ceremonies, Nigel Collins, the AFA Conference will run from 21-22 September 2021. Delegates will have virtual access to 35 industry expert presentations which will be broadcast live across the nation and subsequently made available to delegates on demand for up to four months. The complete AFA Conference program offers up to 30 hours of CPD and delegates will be able to immediately download their CPD certificates after viewing an on-demand session via a new CPD Hub. Those joining the conference will also be able to take part in interactive sessions and visit virtual exhibitor showrooms.

Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur, AFA Conference Chair, said, “Once again, the AFA Conference program has been expertly designed to help delegates increase their technical knowledge, while also giving them insights into how to grow their businesses. It provides an outstanding opportunity for advisers to access information that will help them to take their practices to the next level.”

The AFA Conference will also host a special 75th birthday celebration.

Other sessions include a comprehensive regulatory update from AFA General Manager, Policy and Professionalism, Phil Anderson; sessions on investment, pricing, and industry trends; updates from the AFA Foundation and Pro Bono Financial Advice Network; insights from industry heads of business, and seven panel discussions covering key issues across the profession.

The post AFA announces speaker program for EVOLVE Conference 21-22 September 2021 appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) is pleased to announce that AIA Australia and OnePath Life^[1] have partnered with the AFA Foundation to support our charitable work that is changing lives across the nation.

AFA Foundation Chair, Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur, said the partnerships will help the AFA Foundation provide additional valuable support to charities that assist people in need across the country.

“We thank AIA Australia and OnePath Life for partnering with us to help improve the lives of Australians who are doing it tough,” she said. “Their contributions to the AFA Foundation will allow us to broaden and strengthen our charitable giving efforts.”

Ben Walsh, Chief Insurance & Investments Officer at AIA Australia, said, “We are a partnering organisation that champions shared value and making a difference in people’s lives. By teaming up with the AFA Foundation, we are choosing to support a Foundation that significantly enriches the lives and livelihoods of others – which in turn will create meaningful impact and serve our community for the better.”

Nathan Taggart, Head of Sales at Zurich and OnePath Life, said, “In the face of the current challenges posed by COVID-19, we are incredibly proud to support the AFA Foundation’s efforts to support these important charities and in turn make a difference to everyday Australians and their families.  We have a responsibility to positively impact the lives of our customers, partners and the broader community. This initiative, and our long-standing partnership with the AFA, is another way we hope we can make a difference.”

Through the financial contributions and hard work of members of the AFA community and the AFA Foundation committee, over $2 million has been provided to charity partners across Australia since the AFA Foundation was established in 2007.

———-

[1] OnePath Life is part of the Zurich Group

The post Changing Lives AFA Foundation partners with AIA Australia and OnePath appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) is pleased to announce that its 2021 national conference – the AFA EVOLVE Conference (the Conference) – will be held from 21-22 September 2021.

The Conference, which will also celebrate the AFA’s 75th anniversary, will be a hybrid event streamed live from a Sydney studio and celebrated in capital cities across the country via in-person evening functions, hosted by AFA State Chairs on 22 September (subject to COVID-19 restrictions).

The Conference program has a line-up of live speakers, including a range of industry speakers and expert panellists, and will feature a keynote address from the Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and the Digital Economy.

AFA Conference Chair, Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur said, “Since 1946, the AFA has been proudly supporting financial advisers and advocating for the advice profession. As we reflect on the past 75 years, we recognise that the past two years have really tested even the most resilient and experienced advisers. We believe the AFA EVOLVE Conference will help our advice community to navigate the ever-changing business, regulatory, technological and cultural landscape and encourage them to look forward to the future.”

Delegates will be able to participate in the Conference online from anywhere in Australia and gain up to 30 hours of continuing professional development (CPD). Content will also be made available to them for up to four months.

Early bird registration for the Conference is now open.

The post AFA announces EVOLVE Conference 21-22 September 2021 appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) has announced that the 2021 AFA Foundation Grants Program (the Program) is now open.

The Program invites AFA members to nominate a local charity, which may not otherwise obtain funding, to receive a grant.

“We encourage our members to nominate a charity in their local community and have an impact at a grass roots level,” said AFA CEO Philip Kewin. “This is a rare opportunity for members of the AFA to make a meaningful difference to the funding of these worthy causes in their local communities.”

In 2020, the AFA Foundation awarded grants to nine charities across NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland.

Nominated charities must be registered as Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) charities and applications are assessed by the AFA Foundation Committee and the AFA Executive. Grants representing a minimum of $2,000 are awarded to successful recipients. “The total number of recipients depends on the volume and quality of applications, and available funds,” Mr Kewin said.

AFA Foundation Chair, Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur, said charities have seen demand surge due to COVID and the impact it has had on employment, incomes, mental and physical health. At the same time, donations have contracted, and funding is harder for small charities to source.

“What better way could an AFA member serve their local community than spending a short amount of time completing an AFA Foundation Grant application form to potentially secure funds that will make a difference to local people?” she said. “I encourage AFA members to participate in their community efforts to revive and thrive by completing an application form. Look at what a difference this made to the recipients of the 2020 Grants.”

Members have until 30 April 2021 to nominate their local charity via a one-page application form, available at the following link: https://www.afa.asn.au/foundation-grants-2021

Successful recipients will be advised by the end May 2021.

The post 2021 AFA Foundation Grants Program now open appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) raised over $6000 for the AFA Foundation during the AFA VISION conference (the AFA Conference).

The funds will be donated to Foodbank and other charity partners and will enable Foodbank to provide over 10,000 meals to Australians in need.

Foodbank helps Australians experiencing food insecurity. Donations help source and rescue 40 million kilograms of food to distribute to vital community pantries and dining halls, mobile soup vans, emergency hampers and breakfast or lunch programs and schools.

AFA Foundation Chair, Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur said Foodbank’s recently released Foodbank Hunger Report 2020, which provides a snapshot of Australia’s growing hunger problem has revealed that COVID-19 has increased the demand for food relief within Australia, with overall demand up by 47 per cent.

“What this tells us is that those who were already struggling are now doing it tougher and have been joined by people who’ve never experienced hunger before,” she said.

As this year’s AFA Conference provides delegates with four-month digital access to sessions, the AFA Conference Foodbank campaign will remain open until 13 November 2020. Donations may be made via the AFA Conference website at  https://www.afaconference.com.au/community

Over 660 delegates registered for  the AFA’s first virtual conference, which ran from 17-18 October 2020. The conference featured a program of on-demand and live events that provided up to 36 hours of CPD-accredited content, four months of on-demand access to content, more than 35 live speakers, a series of masterclasses and a virtual event and more than 30 partners and exhibitors. Delegates have access to the content until 12 February 2021.

AFA CEO Philip Kewin said, “We thank all those who supported and participated in our first virtual conference and also extend our thanks to our community, which dug deep once again to support the AFA Foundation.”

The post AFA VISION Conference raises over $6000 for charity partners appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2020 AFA Foundation Grants Program (the Grants Program).

Nine local charities from around the country were chosen from 25 submissions to receive a grant of between $2,000 and $5,000 each from the AFA Foundation.

AFA Foundation Chair, Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur said, “We were very pleased to see so many submissions this year, for charities right across Australia, including remote and regional locations, plus our very first submission from Tasmania.”

The Grants Program recipients include:

• Mama Lanas Community Foundation, NSW
• Goulburn Valley Family Care, VIC
• Pete’s Pantry, QLD
• The Pyjama Foundation, QLD
• Cancer Council – Gawler Relay for Life, SA
• Jamestown and District Royal Flying Doctor Service support group, SA
• A Paw Up, TAS
• Free 3D Hands, VIC
• St Patricks Community Support Centre, WA

Ms Sarah-Le Lacheur said that while fundraising opportunities have been limited this year, the AFA Foundation Committee, with the support of the AFA Executive, made the decision to continue with the 2020 Grant round.

“Restrictions imposed by COVID-19 mean the AFA is currently unable to host face-to-face events, which is where most of our fundraising traditionally takes place,” she said.

Ms Sarah-Le Lacheur said the AFA Foundation is now exploring new ways of fundraising using online donation capabilities and virtual fundraising events, like the Geoff Ramm ‘Celebrity Service’ webinar in July.

AFA CEO Philip Kewin said the AFA Foundation has reported that a number of the Grants Program recipients provide food or meal services, which are vital for those who have been impacted by COVID-19 changes to their income and employment status.

“It’s encouraging that our members are recognising and championing charities within their communities that are going the extra mile in these extremely difficult times,” he said. “The AFA Foundation has also reported that members are staying closely connected to the charities they have nominated, which allows us all to understand and appreciate the impact that the grants are having.”

Launched in 2019, the Grants Program offers AFA members the opportunity to nominate local charity partners that would benefit from a small donation, but might face challenges in finding funding via other avenues such as government assistance or larger charities. The nominated charity must have deductible gift recipient status and those nominating must be members of the AFA.

The post AFA Foundation supports local charities via 2020 Grants Program appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) Foundation has announced it has reached a significant milestone, donating $2 million to date, to a range of charities across Australia.

AFA Foundation Chair, Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur, said, “We are extremely proud to have raised over $2 million so far and we look forward to continuing to give back to those who need our help, while fostering community spirit and respect for the financial advice profession.”

Established in 2007, the AFA Foundation is an ongoing supporter of organisations such as MS Research Australia, Lifeline, Little Heroes and Make A Wish Foundation, all of which provide ongoing, life changing support.

“We are also responsive to immediate needs,” Ms Sarah-Le Lacheur said, “such as supporting Rural Aid to buy bales of hay and cows to help our farmers hit by drought and floods, and donating to Lifeline’s Community Recovery Program to support those affected by Australia’s devastating bushfires.”

The AFA Foundation recently provided Lifeline with a $10,000 donation towards the Program, which provides immediate psychosocial and ongoing counselling support to individuals and communities, as well as leading longer-term recovery through rebuilding or re establishing key community networks and support structures.

The AFA Foundation also supports local charities via its Grants Program. Launched in 2019, the Grants Program offers AFA members the opportunity to nominate local charity partners that would benefit from a small donation, but might face challenges in finding funding via other avenues such as government assistance or larger charities. The 2020 Grants Program, which will offer grants between $2,000 and $5,000, is open until 30 April 2020.

AFA CEO Philip Kewin said the AFA Foundation is a core pillar of the AFA and demonstrates member commitment to supporting the wider community and the greater good of society.

“The AFA Foundation works hard to make a meaningful difference to individuals and families in need. This creates opportunities which foster community spirit and connection within the financial advice profession,” he said.

Chaired by Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur and represented via State Chairs in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, NSW, Queensland and Tasmania, the AFA Foundation raises financial contributions from members through national events such as the AFA Roadshow and the annual AFA Conference, as well as through some local communities of practice education seminars and networking events. The largest AFA Foundation fund-raising event to date was the 2018 Kokoda Trail which raised over $117,000.

The post AFA Foundation reaches $2m milestone appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) has opened its 2020 AFA Foundation Grants Program (the Grants Program).

The Grants Program launched in 2019 and offers AFA members the opportunity to nominate local charity partners that would benefit from a small donation, but might face challenges in finding funding via other avenues such as government assistance or larger charities.

The recipients of the 2019 program were five charities from around the country, including Tour de Cure (NSW), WA Child Safety Services (WA), Wyong Neighbourhood Centre (NSW), BestLife Foundation (QLD) and Time for Kids (SA). Each organisation received a grant of $2,000.

AFA Foundation Chair, Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur, said that thanks to the philanthropic foresight of AFA members, and the ongoing generosity of the AFA community for over a decade, the AFA Foundation has been able to raise funds and make a tangible difference to the lives of those in need across Australian communities where members live.

“Now via the Grants Program, we are making smaller donations to support local organisations with deductible gift recipient status that are making a significance difference in their communities. We are particularly pleased to be able to make some of our initial grants available to grass roots organisations in regional communities in Queensland, Western Australia and NSW.”

AFA CEO, Philip Kewin said the 2020 Grants Program, which will offer grants between $2,000 and $5,000, is open until 30 April 2020. “We believe that small donations can often have a very real impact on communities and we are therefore encouraging our members to nominate their favourite local charities.”

Members can nominate a charity by visiting the AFA Foundation Grants Program page on the AFA website at the following address and downloading the information brochure containing the one-page application form: https://www.afa.asn.au/foundation-grants.

The post AFA Foundation opens 2020 Grants Program appeared first on AdviserVoice.

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.

The post AFA presents 2018 Community Awards appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Over $117,000 was raised for the AFA Foundation, making Kokoda 2018 the biggest single fundraising event in the foundation’s history.

Members and friends of the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) have completed the 96km Kokoda Trail which took place from 24 August – 2 September.

The group raised a total of over $117,000 for the AFA Foundation, making Kokoda 2018 the biggest single fundraising event in the foundation’s history.

The group included AFA CEO Philip Kewin, Alisdair Barr, Ross Barnwell, Brad Fox, Russell Hannah, Michael Molloy, David Mounsey, Adrian Raftery, Nathan Taggart and Cara Williams.

The funds will be distributed by the AFA Foundation which gives generously to a number of charities including Legacy, The Black Dog Institute, MS Research Australia, Make a Wish Foundation and Bears for Hope.

Mr Kewin said the group was proud to raise funds for the AFA Foundation, which encourages giving back to local communities via charity partners. “This truly was a memorable experience, challenging us all at both a physical and an emotional level. It was a privilege to complete the trek with such a great group of people who did an amazing job in raising funds for their chosen charities.”

Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur, chair of the AFA Foundation said, “The AFA Foundation engages AFA, members, partners and supporters in giving back to the community and working with our charity partners to make a meaningful difference for people in need.

“Over the past 11 years, we’ve shared over $1.6m with a wide range of charities across all states of Australia. Through the Kokoda program the AFA community has had the opportunity to participate in a life changing experience and raise much needed funds for our charity partners. We are very proud of the participants for their financial and physical achievements on the Kokoda trail.”

Brisbane-based financial adviser, Cara Williams, who did the trek to raise funds for Bears of Hope and to honour the memory of Darcy, her nephew who was stillborn, said, “Trekking Kokoda with the AFA Foundation was one of the most amazing weeks of my life. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done but worth every single moment. I would encourage everyone to consider trekking Kokoda. You will learn so much about what our soldiers went through, you will grow as a person and you will have the honour to trek with some incredible people who will be mates for life.”

The post AFA Foundation makes history raising $117,000 on Kokoda Trail appeared first on AdviserVoice.