The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) 2016 National Adviser Conference (the Conference) held in Canberra last week highlighted the AFA’s core strengths in attracting new members, adviser engagement and bringing together the voices of the financial advice community with Government.
Of the almost 700 delegates attending this year’s Conference, 33% were aged under-44 years, 16% were aged 45-54 and 7% were aged 55-64. The female representation also reached 35% of total delegates reflecting on the great momentum created by the AFA Inspire community of practice.
“This youthful representation flowed through to first time Conference goers, who represented 20% of delegates,” said Marc Bineham, the AFA’s 2016 National Adviser Conference Co-Chair and new National President. “The attendance of long term members was also strong. A whopping 42% of delegates had attended between one and four AFA Conferences, with 20% of delegates attending between five and nine Conferences. There was a standing ovation for the 6% of delegates who had attended more than 10 AFA Conferences.”
Membership duration data reinforced the success the AFA has had in attracting new members to the oldest association in the financial advice profession. The majority of members attending the Conference (23%), had been members for less than two years. A further 17% of members attending the Conference have been members of the AFA for between two and five years.
“We are extremely proud of the AFA’s ability to attract, adapt and grow in such testing times in our profession,” Mr Bineham said. “It reflects our efforts to listen, act and lobby for the interests of our members while also understanding the needs of everyday Australians.”
Attending this year’s Conference was the Honorable Kelly O’Dwyer, Minister for Revenue and Financial Services, who addressed delegates via a recorded message and in person at the AFA’s Licensee Leaders lunch.
Other interesting Conference information includes:
• 84% of delegates were AFA members
• 80% of delegates were advisers or Licensee heads
• 114 speakers presented across the three days
• 77,260 total views on the AFA Conference app
• App was opened by 1,200 unique visitors
Following his formal induction as National President at the AFA’s Annual General Meeting held during the Conference in Canberra, Mr Bineham revealed that he is on a mission to help the advice profession ‘break through the 20% glass ceiling’.
“At present, we have a 20% glass ceiling of Australians who are actively engaged with the work that advisers do,” he said. “Within 10 years, I want that to be 100 per cent.”
