Amelia Constantinidis

AMP’s financial planning academy Horizons, will launch an online Masters program with Griffith University which will allow candidates to gain a Master of Financial Planning through a flexible program that combines rigorous academic training and practical experience.

The innovative new education program has been jointly developed by Horizons and Griffith University, and will offer candidates a flexible pathway to gain a university qualification and employment opportunities across AMP’s licensee groups.

AMP Horizons Director Amelia Constantinidis said the program further underpinned AMP’s commitment to the highest standards of professionalism.

“AMP is committed to delivering high quality financial advice that makes a real difference in people’s lives.

“Through this program candidates will not only achieve a qualification with one of Australia’s leading academic institutions in Griffith University, they will gain practical financial planning experience through Horizons, as well as access to employment opportunities within the AMP network on completion.

“With a flexible combination of online and face to face learning we think this will really appeal to people looking to further their career as a financial adviser and aspire to the highest professional standards,” Ms Constantinidis said.

Griffith University Discipline Head of Finance and Financial Planning, Associate Professor Mark Brimble said the program will build on the theoretical and practical base of the existing AMP Horizons program, while for individuals aspiring to become advisers under the AMP banner, the new Masters degree will offer a learning process embedded within industry frameworks.

“We are delighted to partner with AMP which allows the provision of a financial planning program that strengthens educational opportunities within industry, but is also a great opportunity for Griffith University to engage with such a reputable nation-wide company like AMP.

“The Griffith University AMP Horizons program is the perfect fit as we are both leaders in our respective fields.

“There exists two major trends in education; developing the capabilities of students to study online, plus the alignment of study programs with the industry to provide a holistic practical and theoretical framework.”

The initiative strengthens AMP’s commitment announced last month to implement a series of measures to significantly lift the bar on adviser professionalism.

The measures include a requirement that all existing and new advisers must obtain a Certified Financial Planner® (CFP), a Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner (FChFP), or Master of Financial Planning (MFP) qualification.

New advisers must complete this qualification within five years of joining an AMP licensee while existing advisers have up to 31 December 2019.

The Masters program with Griffith University will provide an alternative pathway for advisers across AMP’s network to achieve AMP’s new education standards^[1].

The Griffith program enhances AMP Horizons’ current Career Changer Programs, which involves a 12-month structured training pathway to becoming a qualified financial adviser, as candidates can now attain a university qualification.

Horizons entry standards are already among the highest in the industry with a 10 week intensive academy course followed by a nine month supervised placement in the Horizons  practice.

AMP Horizons also has a partnership with the University of New South Wales (UNSW),  which provides eligible graduates of the Horizons Professional Year Program the opportunity to gain academic credit towards a Graduate Diploma or Masters qualification in financial planning at the UNSW’s Australian School of Business.

The Griffith and UNSW relationships are in addition to the AMP University Challenge, which aims to increase awareness of financial planning as a career choice for university graduates.  Now in its fourth year, the AMP University Challenge has seen a significant increase in student applications and universities embed the Challenge into their curriculum.

The first intake for the Griffith University course will commence in November 2014

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[1] Minimum 1.5 years full-time (for candidates with existing RG146).

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Eligible graduates of the Horizons Professional Year Program now have the unique opportunity to gain academic credit towards a Graduate Diploma or Masters qualification in financial planning at UNSW’s Australian School of Business (ASB). 

AMP Horizons Director Tim Steele said AMP is delighted to offer financial planners who graduated from AMP Horizons a competitive advantage by providing them the option of undertaking further study. 

“The partnership between AMP and UNSW highlights our mutual commitment to increasing standards of professionalism for financial planners.  

“The initiative – which we’ve called University Pathways for Horizons Alumni – creates a timely and cost-effective way for Horizons alumni to study towards becoming a Certified Financial Planner® professional,” Mr Steele said. 

The Financial Planning Association will require new members to be degree-qualified by 1 July next year.  Financial planners are already required to hold an approved Degree or Masters as a minimum for entry to the CFP certification program.

Professor Alec Cameron, Dean of UNSW’s Australian School of Business, said that UNSW is one of only a few Australian Universities offering postgraduate level financial planning programs recognised by the FPA.   

“ASB is delighted to be partnering with AMP Horizons to increase the professionalism of the financial planning sector and provide planners with life-long education.  This is timely given recent regulatory changes and it is an excellent example of industry and universities working together to meet changing sectoral needs,” Professor Cameron said. 

AMP Horizons graduates may formally commence study in the aligned UNSW Degree and Masters programs from Semester 1, 2013 or they can begin study early by entering one or two Summer Term courses.  Those interested should review special entry rules, which vary depending on the level of attainment of each graduate and on the different courses available. 

“This is something graduates of Horizons have been interested in for some time.  It’s envisaged planners will complete their studies part-time while maintaining their full-time financial planning commitments,” Mr Steele added.

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