The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA), in partnership with Zurich, have opened nominations for the 2016 AFA Adviser of the Year and AFA Practice of the Year awards (the Awards), launching the search for Australia’s leading advisers and advice businesses.
In its 14th year, the AFA Adviser of the Year Award recognises an individual who is excelling in the delivery of life-changing financial advice, whereas the Practice of the Year Award, in only its third year, focuses on identifying a practice or business that fulfils broader criteria across all aspects of advice excellence and practice management.
AFA CEO Brad Fox said that both Awards symbolise the enthusiasm of professional advisers to assume a leadership role at a time when the advice profession is undergoing considerable change.
“The AFA is seeing advisers and practices reinventing themselves as they recognise the trends affecting the political, legislative, economic, societal and technological paradigms. The AFA Adviser of the Year Award and the AFA Practice of the Year Award apply the most rigorous judging process used by any financial services award in Australia so that we can identify absolute industry best practice. Importantly though, the winners of these awards then share their knowledge and experiences with our Members through articles, roadshows and workshops reinforcing the AFA peer-to-peer culture.
“These Awards also help to showcase the quality advice outcomes available to Australians through receiving financial advice. Each award has its own unique criteria, giving the opportunity for both practices and individual advisers, who may be employees, to be rewarded.”
Zurich CEO Tim Bailey reinforced the importance of these awards, saying that to win is to become a standard bearer for the financial advice profession.
“The AFA Adviser of the Year and Practice of the Year Awards have come to stand for many things – vision – leadership – excellence. They have come to symbolise a pioneering spirit and the highest professional standards. These are qualities which now, more than ever before, we must celebrate. The AFA Adviser of the Year and AFA Practice of the Year Awards shine a spotlight on those advisers and practices that are leading the industry through their support for new and innovative ideas, their drive for customer-centricity and commitment to professional excellence.”
Both awards will be judged by the same panel, comprising Brad Fox and Deborah Kent from the AFA, Rebecca Sheils (Beddoes Institute), Graham Peatey (Practice Management Consultant), Peter Sobels (Riskinfo), and Kristine Brooks and Andy Marshall from Zurich. Advisers and practices may nominate themselves, or can be nominated by any industry participant. The judging process includes due diligence with regard to each applicant.
Nominations for Adviser and Practice of the Year open 9 May 2016 and close 22 July 2016, with the winners announced at the AFA National Adviser Conference, in Canberra on 7 October.
