It’s back to school for AFS advisers

Peter Daly

Dealer group Australian Financial Services (AFS) has declared its Business School initiative a resounding success, with 31 of its senior advisers and practice managers travelling to Melbourne to participate in a two-day program that focused on building a successful practice in the increasingly competitive financial services industry.

AFS managing director Peter Daly said the program, which featured talks from industry experts and academics, was the first of many planned sessions to help advisers improve and grow their practices.

Daly said the program addressed the challenges advisers face in meeting the changing needs and growing sophistication of their clients. He identified one of the most pressing issues facing the industry as the “war for talent”, saying that a practice’s ability to attract and retain quality staff will be crucial to its success.

It has been a busy week for AFS, which also launched a Paraplanner Academy for its advisory network.

“Feedback from our practices confirmed that many are experiencing growing difficulty in recruiting qualified paraplanners and the AFS Paraplanner Academy seeks to address that concern,” Daly said.

Seven candidates have begun the inaugural six-week training course in Sydney, which involves both classroom sessions and supervisory training in individual practices. The next course will begin in February next year.

“AFS has developed an innovative value proposition that provides leadership, business transformation and growth initiatives; programs that deliver real value and support for advisers and a genuine relationship that places the highest priority on the ongoing business wellbeing of the dealer group’s advisers.”