FAAA looks to adviser numbers boost as operating deficit widens
The peak industry association, the Financial Advice Association Australia, reported an operating deficit of $880,000 for FY26, up from $635,000 the year before, but said it is optimistic that announced education changes will lead to a boost in adviser numbers. Its own membership held firm during the year, declining by less than 1 per cent.
Fewer but better-quality advisers a solid foundation for the future
Financial adviser numbers have stopped falling, and the profession now has a solid base on which to rebuild. The overall standard of remaining advisers is better than it was a decade ago, and new entrants are also higher quality than in the past. But improving access to advice in the near term will hinge on productivity gains rather than growth in adviser numbers.
Profiles and pitches of 18 candidates for the FAAA board of directors for 2026
The 2026 election for three seats at the FAAA board of directors has attracted 18 candidates. Here is their profiles and main pitch points for the 2026 election. CEO and managing director of Kingdom Financial Group Ben Ellingsen serves as treasurer of The Advisers Association. He has been chair of the Wide Bay Federal Divisional
FSCP decision reveals an underrated benefit of association membership
The financial adviser code of ethics requires advisers to uphold and promote professional ethical standards and hold each other accountable for protecting the public interest. This can be harder for advisers working in isolation or with restricted peer contact, and limited insight into how others operate.
Spotlight on Shield, First Guardian keeps victims top of policymakers’ minds
With no new consumer protections yet in place, a podcast by CHOICE and Super Consumers Australia wants to keep attention focused on the issues that led to thousands of Australians being harmed in the Shield and First Guardian collapse.
Pressure mounts on Big Tech’s role in Shield and First Guardian
Unlicensed financial advice and harmful lead generation on social media and in AI-enabled chat threads are emerging as yet another concerning cultural development that governments, households and financial professionals must grapple with as part of Silicon Valley’s social reckoning.
Transforming to serve 100,000 clients takes more than a rebrand
To achieve transformational change, advice businesses need four essential ingredients: direct client relationships, scale, capital and transformation capability. Until now, no advice business has possessed all four.
CSLR waterfall model gets qualified FAAA thumbs-up
Proposals for waterfall funding arrangements for the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort have received qualified support from the Financial Advice Association Australia, which says the financial advice subsector liability must be reassessed to avoid undue financial burden falling on a small business sector that has already funded a $20 million subsector cap.
Research reveals clients do know what they want to ask, after all
As AI is adopted more in financial advice, firms are experimenting with conversational AI to make first contact with clients who are unsure if they need financial advice or who are not yet ready to speak to a person. An Otivo and Borromean report shows that unlike what has been believed, clients do know the questions they want answers to.
Brighter Super adds indexed options in further support for advisers
The addition of two new indexed investment options by the $38 billion profit-to-member super fund Brighter Super follow its Adviser-Ready certification and Epic Retirement Tick and continue a deliberate decision to work with external financial advisers rather than compete with them.
Researcher Forum
This is the flagship event dedicated to the governance and construction of investment portfolios by financial advisers in Australia. It brings together influential stakeholders including research houses, asset consultants, platforms, licensees and responsible entities to debate best practice in investment research, advice and managed accounts.
Advice Policy Summit
This event is open to CEOs and senior leaders of financial planning licensees, dealer groups and boutique advice firms, along with C-suite executives in superannuation funds with oversight of advice, education and guidance.
How Nest is solving ‘the hardest problem in investment’
Nest Invest chief executive Mark Fawcett said the UK auto-enrolment scheme will launch its guided retirement product over the next few years, pairing a 20-year drawdown portfolio with a deferred annuity as it attempts to solve one of the hardest problems in pension investing.
Industry
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So long and farewell
Several months ago, I made the difficult personal decision to step down as Professional Planner editor. While I look forward to my future plans, it has been bittersweet to leave behind a masthead I have loved leading and a financial advice profession I have great respect for.
Risk
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How pro bono advice delivers a helping hand in tough times
Navigating the world of insurance claims can be daunting, especially for people facing significant health or financial challenges. Financial adviser Natalie Lackner volunteered for the Pro Bono Financial Advice Network to help those in need secure access to advice.
Industry