AFA general manager for member services, partnerships and campus Nick Hakes said consumers really value highly-educated advisers and the award demonstrates the direct link between investment in education and professional credibility.
“Over the last 18 months financial advisers have created a momentum shift towards embracing higher education standards,” Mr Hakes said.
“This Award showcases advisers who are investing in further education for themselves and their staff and then thinking about how they connect education to their clients’ financial wellness and their own business performance.
“Our 2015 winner, Charles Badenach, used education to improve the financial literacy of migrant groups in Tasmania,” he said.
“The AFA has always held a core belief in lifelong learning and the practical application of knowledge and Charles is a great example of an adviser living those values.”
Asteron Life executive manager Mark Vilo said Asteron is proud to continue its support, encouragement and celebration of professionalism within the financial advice community.
“Quite simply, the importance of this Award cannot be [overstated] in the current environment,” Mr Vilo said.
“I encourage all advisers who have a great story to tell about how they have used their education as a way to positively change perceptions of the financial adviser to nominate for the Award.”
National finalists will be announced in July at the AFA’s National Practitioner Roadshows, with the overall winner being announced at the AFA National Adviser Conference in Canberra in October.
The writing was on the wall quite a while back with respect to raising education standards. And the carrot? Remaining relevant in an ever-changing industry. I’ve spent the last several years completing my degree part time by distance education. Combined with a demanding full time role, it hasn’t been easy, but now it appears that it was well and truly worth it.
Its not a new award Gerry… first award winner was 2008…
Years ago there should have been a carrot held out there for advisers to lift their educational standards. But there wasn’t. Our industry leaders had no foresight but amazingly they now make it sound like it was their idea to raise educational standards.