Applications open for FPA mentoring program

Applications have opened for the Financial Planning Association of Australia’s (FPA’s) Women in Financial Planning Mentoring Program.

The six-month program, which would begin in February, would match female FPA members with experienced FPA members in a mutually-beneficial development program.

“The FPA Women in Financial Planning Mentoring Program aims to support women in financial planning to further their careers by pairing eligible females in the financial planning sector seeking guidance and support with more experienced practitioners who are willing to commit time and energy to the professional development of another practitioner,” the organisation said.

It would include online training, reading material and workshops, scheduled program webinars and at least monthly contact between mentor and mentee.

The FPA suggested a mentor relationship could help with career development, achieving professional goals, improving specific skills and discussing professional ethics or workplace challenges.

If an application was successful, candidates would attend three webinars and be asked to complete an Art of Mentoring online training. Mentors and mentees would then establish their own timetables for meetings.

To be a mentor, candidates could be male or female and have at least three to five years of experience in paraplanning, business development, compliance, practice management or advice role.

To be a mentee, candidates needed to be a FPA member, a woman working in financial planning, and one of the following:

• 16 to 34 years old;
• Over 50 years old;
• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander;
• In a rural or remote area;
• Re-entering the workforce after a career or maternity break;
• Entering the profession for the first time and/or changing your career to financial planning;
• Wishing to upskill or refresh your skills in order to achieve leadership roles within the profession;
• Experiencing financial hardship; or
• A new migrant.

There was a maximum of 100 mentees and 100 mentors per program.

Applications would close on 14 January, 2022.