Tania Milnes, general manager membership with FAAA, said this is the second year of the FAAA Awards.

“The FAAA Awards are designed to recognise members who deliver the highest standards of professionalism and trusted advice to Australian consumers, as well as those who have gone above and beyond to support their local community through pro bono and volunteer work.

“The awards also highlight the outstanding university students who represent the bright future of the financial advice profession.”

The finalists in the 2024 FAAA Awards for each professional category are:

FAAA CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional of the Year Award

• Teneale Laister CFP® – Alman Partners (QLD)
• Bianca Musico CFP® – Warr Hunt (VIC)
• Scott Quinlan CFP® – Solace Financial (QLD)

FAAA Adviser of the Year (sponsored by Zurich Australia)

• Melinda Brown – UniSuper Advice (NSW)
• John Cachia – Thriving Wealth (VIC)
• Rebecca Pritchard – Rising Tide Financial Services (VIC)

FAAA Inspire Women – Excellence in Advice Award (sponsored by TAL)

• Robyn Arnold – Kreate Wealth (QLD)
• Kelsey Dent – Alman Partners (QLD)
• Magdeline Jacovides CFP® – Mazi Wealth (QLD)

FAAA Professional Practice of the Year (sponsored by Cbus Super)

• Capital Partners (WA)
• Warr Hunt (VIC)
• Alman Partners (QLD)

FAAA Gen Next Rising Star of the Year

• Jakob Ayres – Apt Wealth Partners (VIC)
• Kirra Sharrock – Bravium (ACT)
• Simone Vasnaik – Verse Wealth (VIC)

FAAA University Student of the Year (sponsored by UniSuper)

• Phillip Ambrose – QUT
• Emma McKenzie – Deakin University
• Brandon Rerrie – Griffith University

Ms Milnes paid tribute to the companies sponsoring four of the award categories, noting their commitment to supporting excellence in financial advice.

“Now more than ever, we want to shine the light on the positive, life-changing advice that FAAA members provide to their clients.  By supporting the FAAA Awards, they help us celebrate commitment, talent, and passion within our profession.”

Zurich Australia head of adviser channel, Kieran Forde, said: “The three finalists for the Adviser of the Year award have distinguished themselves by exemplifying excellence and the highest professional standards.

“They are dedicated professionals, whose contributions greatly benefit their clients and the broader financial community.”

TAL general manager, retail sales & new business, Beau Riley, said: “The Financial Advice Association of Australia Inspire Women – Excellence in Advice Award highlights the outstanding contributions women make in the financial advice profession, and the three finalists exemplify excellence in delivering high-quality financial advice and helping their clients secure their financial futures. They serve to inspiring others to join the financial planning community and we honour their success.”

Cbus Super senior manager, advice services, Simon Power said: “The quality of the applications this year for the FAAA Professional Practice of the Year award has, once again, made it a difficult task to choose the finalists. All finalists should feel extremely proud of their achievements and the strong client focus they clearly demonstrate.”

UniSuper general manager, financial advice and education, Andrew Gregory, said: “With so many exceptional entries for the FAAA University Student of the Year, selecting a winner will be no easy task. Congratulations to the finalists who set the standard for excellence. It’s clear that the future of our profession is in good hands, and UniSuper is committed to supporting the next generation of advisers who will drive our industry forward.”

The winners in each category will be announced at the FAAA Awards Gala Dinner at the FAAA Congress in Brisbane on 28 November.  

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Christine Cupitt

A football coach, accredited netball umpire and martial arts trainee are among the women in risk advice who’ve been crowned 2024 ReCALIbrate grant recipients.

The annual program run by the Council of Australian Life Insurers (CALI) offers $2000 to five risk advisers to attend the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA) Congress.

This year’s ReCALIbrate recipients are:

• Nicole Bendeich, Calibre Life
• Janice Choo, Big Oak Financial Services
• Nikki Szprinc, DC Advice
• Rebecca Pritchard, Rising Tide Financial Services
• Samantha Greene, Greene Financial

“Each of these incredible women have a unique story to tell and through their work they provide essential peace of mind for people, especially other women, during life’s biggest challenges,” said CALI CEO Christine Cupitt.

Proud Wiradjuri woman and financial adviser Nicole Bendeich believes the grants will help inspire more women to prioritise and invest in their own growth and development.

“Balancing family life or a business can make it difficult for women to prioritise their own growth, yet it is essential, not only for us but also for our clients and the advice profession as a whole,” said Ms Bendeich.

The ReCALIbrate program helps foster diversity across the life insurance industry to ensure it is representative of the community it serves and that it provides opportunities for more women to participate.

“Women in risk advice are essential role models in our industry. They give customers the option to talk to someone who is like them and who understands their unique experiences,” said Ms Cupitt.

“Our research shows that women are more concerned than men about the cost of living and the impact on their financial safety net. That’s why it’s more important than ever that women get access to the right financial advice to help them make informed choices about their financial future.”

The ReCALIbrate grants will go towards any expenses that support recipients to attend the FAAA Congress in Brisbane later this year, which is the flagship event of the financial advice industry. The theme is “Power Up” and the event will offer advisers a platform to exchange ideas, insights and knowledge across three days.

“We once again applaud CALI’s ReCALIbrate initiative to foster the next generation of women in financial advice and to help address the decreasing number of financial advisers in Australia,” said FAAA CEO Sarah Abood.

“We look forward to welcoming the 2024 ReCALIbrate recipients to the FAAA Congress in November to learn, build lasting professional relationships and have a memorable experience.”

As part of the program, the five recipients will also be paired with senior women in the industry to provide a forum for mentorship, learning, support and career advice.

“Previous recipients have told us that the chance to meet with a senior leader in the industry is an invaluable part of the ReCALIbrate program. Recipients have kept in touch over many months and fostered a mutually beneficial professional relationship and connection,” said Ms Cupitt.

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Now in its 15th year, the Award recognises extraordinary emerging talent in financial advice and has proved to be a springboard for a successful career in the advice industry.

The 2019 AFA Rising Star finalists are:

• Chris Carlin (VIC): Master Your Money Now
• Victoria Devine (VIC):  Zella Wealth
• Ellie Fordham (QLD): dozzi Financial Advice
• Daniel Jackson (NSW): DBK Financial Solutions Pty Ltd
• Jade Louise McKay (WA): Essential Financial Advice
• Rebecca Maher (NSW): The Fiscal Mum

Phil Kewin, AFA CEO  said, “The AFA is very pleased to join with OnePath to champion newer advisers who are fast becoming the leaders of our profession. The Award celebrates their commitment, talent and achievements, while also helping them to develop personally and professionally in the company of the industry’s best new advisers.”

Natalie Jarvis, Head of Strategic Accounts and Sales Strategy at OnePath said, “ANZ OnePath is proud to have supported the AFA Rising Star since inception 15 years ago and we take much pleasure in congratulating this year’s finalists.”

This year’s judging panel included:

• Phil Kewin: AFA CEO
• Natalie Jarvis: OnePath, Head of Strategic Accounts and Sales Strategy
• Rebecca Pritchard: Wealth Enhancers, Financial Coach
• Matt Hale: Rising Tide, Director and Senior Financial Planner

All finalists will attend a full day Personal Breakaway workshop in Sydney. The 2019 AFA Rising Star will be announced at the Gala Dinner held during the AFA Conference in Adelaide on 29 August.

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Celebrating the financial advice industry’s dynamism and innovation, the AFA Rising Star Award recognises new ideas and talent in advisers with four or less years’ experience.

2018 Rising Star Award winner and 2019  judge, Rebecca Pritchard says nominating a candidate is a great way to recognise the skills of advisers beginning their careers in the industry, especially those who bring fresh approaches and new thinking to their role.

“The Australian advice industry is a healthy incubator of great new talent. The AFA Rising Star Award is a chance to shine the spotlight on this, to lean in and to give a colleague an opportunity of a lifetime,” Ms Pritchard said.

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Rebecca Pritchard

Rebecca Pritchard of Wealth Enhancers is the 2018 AFA Rising Star.

The AFA Rising Star of the Year Award (the Award), which has been supported by ANZ Wealth since inception in 2005, recognises outstanding advisers with four years or less experience.

AFA CEO Phil Kewin said, “Rebecca has a refreshing and energetic approach to providing financial advice. Her strong technical skills combined with dynamic communication have quickly established a solid foundation for future success. Rebecca is a true Rising Star.”

Don Sillar, Head of Sales, ANZ Wealth said, “Rebecca’s professional experience at KPMG and her strong technical capability has shaped her passion for wealth advice. Her can-do attitude and her purpose as a financial coach to make this generation of Australians the most financially free, makes her stand out as a rising star.”

The Award was presented at the AFA National Adviser Conference on the Gold Coast this afternoon.

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Now in its 14th year, the Award recognises emerging talent in the financial advice industry who provide quality advice, excellence in client experience, contribute to the financial literacy of their clients and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing professional development.

The 2018 AFA Rising Star of the Year Award finalists are:Rachael Bursell – Finance Your Future

• Andrew Debono – Announcer Group
• Sam Jewell – Rising Tide Financial Services
• Jacinta Martin – Altitude Financial Management
• Rebecca Pritchard – Wealth Enhancers
• Ryan Skeen – Zella

Phil Kewin, AFA CEO  said, “We are delighted to be able to recognise some of the best and brightest talent in our profession. These individuals will be the future leaders of our industry and will help our industry evolve through a period of change.

“It was a hard task to pick only six finalists from such a strong group of applications. They have all shown exceptional work with clients and are all innovating in their practices to provide quality advice.”

ANZ Wealth Head of Sales, Don Sillar, said, “We are very excited about the calibre of this year’s professionals. We are constantly impressed year after year by the industry’s best new advisers and 2018 brings no exception.

“This year’s program has a great pool of talent and we are honoured to be in the company of these professionals. They have already made great contributions to the industry through client service, outstanding advice and community engagement. It is important we support these advisers for the future of the advice industry and we look forward to helping them develop both personally and professionally.”

This year’s judging panel included:

• Phil Kewin – AFA CEO
• Don Sillar – Head of Sales, ANZ Wealth
• Jenny Brown – Founder and CEO of JBS Financial Strategists
• Vanessa Bennett – CEO Next Evolution Performance
• Patricia Garcia – Director and Financial Adviser WB Financial
• Matt Hale – Director and Senior Financial Planner Rising Tide

Finalists will attend a full day ‘Personal Breakaway’ workshop run by Slipstream Coaching on 12 September in Sydney, covering business, financial and personal objectives and ID profiling to help identify drivers and values.

The winner will receive quarterly, personalised coaching from experienced Business Coach and qualified financial adviser, Phil Little for 12 months.

The Award winner will be announced at the AFA National Adviser Conference at Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast on 10 October 2018.

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