New education standards leave advisers in short supply
Financial advisers and career paraplanners are in short supply thanks to the lift in the industry’s education standards according to Hays.
The recruitment firm’s latest quarterly report, covering October to December 2017, found with remediation programs offering high daily rates, and the opportunity to try something new in advice, there was a shortage of suitable financial advice candidates.
Career paraplanners were also in short supply as most paraplanner roles were used as a stepping stone into an adviser position.
“The tenure is typically two to four years and paraplanners rarely move between these roles. In addition, remediation projects are attracting good paraplanners to be trained into the remediation case manager role, further adding to the supply shortage,” the report said.
Advisers and paraplanners with a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) qualification were also in high demand.
Hays attributed this to the fact that it took time to achieve, and employers wanting to get ahead of the game in terms of the industry’s new education requirements.
“They also want the most technically strong advisers delivering advice to their customers,” the report said.
Hays Australia and New Zealand managing director, Nick Deligiannis, said there were several factors behind the growing demand in professional and business services.
“Rapid technological change, a need for strategic, technical and financial advice, a move to get closer to customers through the use of data and a desire from customers for full end-to-end services are all behind this trend,” he said.
“Cost-saving is another factor, with businesses looking for advice or services from those who are experts in the exact area where assistance is required. This is leading to the emergence of more specialised professional and business services companies who in turn require highly-skilled staff to deliver the necessary services and retain customers.”
Recommended for you
The FAAA has written to over 2,000 affected members to warn them of the upcoming education deadline with the organisation warning the numbers yet to meet the requirements are “very, very high” with just six weeks to go.
HUB24 has taken an equity stake in Finura Group’s digital arm to accelerate the development of its SaaS platform, triggering the separation of Finura’s advisory business.
Coastal Advice Group has announced a rebrand to mark the next phase of the firm as it pushes to hit a target of 15 acquisitions in FY25-26, expanding its national reach across Australia.
Despite the advent of new advice technologies which promise to streamline the adviser-client relationship, research by Praemium and CoreData has found the trust and human relationship is most valued by clients.

