Financial planning industry stalwart Steve Helmich is to leave leave AMP in September, bringing to an end a 41-year career with the company.
AMP issued a statement his morning outlining Helmich’s departure. It said Helmich joined AMP as a junior new business clerk in 1973.
He has held a number of senior roles at AMP, including leading the financial planning business and is currently executive director of financial planning.
In 2007 Helmich was made a lifetime member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) for his services to the industry.
Helmich’s planned departure continues recent senior-level movements in the ranks of AMP’s financial planning management. In May, Professional Planner reported that Kevin Stone, managing director of Charter Financial Planning, and Tim Steel, managing director of ipac Securities and Genesys Wealth Advisers, will leave the company at the end of this month.
AMP is adopting a “single manager for multiple licensees” model that has been shown to work with Michael Guggenheimer at the helm of both AMP Financial Planning and Hillross Financial Services. AMP said its strategy was “ultimately about making sure we have got the best strategy in place to help our customers, and so we can concentrate on the services and support that advisers value”.
In a statement, AMP’s group executive advice and banking Rob Caprioli said Helmich had made a considerable contribution to AMP.
“Steve is one of AMP’s longest serving employees and I’d like to thank him for his commitment and loyalty,” Caprioli said.
“His achievements are extensive, in particular his work to increase adviser professionalism, our ongoing focus on providing high quality service to our customers and the development of AMP’s financial planning model.
“Steve was the driving force behind the creation of AMP’s Horizons Academy and has led the way in improving education standards for advisers, not just within AMP, but across the industry.”
Helmich will continue to chair the International Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB). He is also chair of Future2, the charitable foundation of the Financial Planning Association of Australia.
