BT has announced a collaboration with HR tech platform Striver to deliver a program that will attract and develop the next generation of financial advisers in Australia.
The program would include over 20 events across the country, attended by graduates and representatives from advice practices, and a range of activities to encourage new entrants and tackle the industry’s talent shortage.
To date, two virtual speed networking events have been held in Sydney and Brisbane, which resulted in 85 first-round job interviews for new entrants to the profession.
“Increasingly, we’re hearing from advisers that one of the key challenges they are facing is attracting and developing the next generation of advisers,” said Matt Rady, BT’s chief executive.
“We see our collaboration with Striver, who specialise in the advice industry, as a natural extension of our ongoing support for advisers to help them thrive.
“Providing specialist coaching and training opens up pathways to financial planning careers, which graduates may not have otherwise considered. We need more people to pursue the noble profession of financial advice so that more Australians can access the advice they need to achieve their goals and build a better financial future.”
Emphasising its commitment to supporting advisers, BT said it had participated in, sponsored, or organised some 125 adviser-focused events and activities in the last six months to March 2023.
Striver, which has facilitated nearly 1,000 successful placements across the wealth management and advice industries since it was first launched in 2013, said it looked forward to the collaboration.
“We are really proud to have opened up the potential for a rewarding career in financial advice to more than 20,000 candidates,” said Alisdair Barr, Striver’s chief executive and founder.
Among its other activities, the platform worked to generate awareness around the merits of a financial advice career, particularly among students and graduates who held academic qualifications with a “natural synergy” with advice.
Some of its university collaborations in 2022 included UNSW Business Society, Griffith University Commerce Society, and Monash Accounting Students Association.
“We look forward to working with BT in the year ahead, with an exciting line-up of targeted activities that bring together quality candidates and advice practices that are seeking to grow and strengthen their business,” Barr added.
Further down the pipeline, BT planned to focus on raising awareness on advice career pathways through social media channels and podcasts, along with mentoring programs, practical online training, and sessions with BT employees who would share their expertise.
Rady explained: “We want to help attract a new generation of advice professionals, and showcase the value of advice and the difference it can make in Australians’ lives.
“BT will be there at every step of the way, alongside advisers, listening to what matters to them and their clients, and taking action to support a bright future for the advice profession.”
