MenuThe Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) has announced the launch of FPA Wellbeing, a free comprehensive health and wellbeing program providing confidential support by qualified counsellors and psychologists for FPA members, amid unprecedented change in the emerging financial planning profession.
According to the National Mental Health Commission, the cost of mental ill-health in Australia each year is around four per cent of GDP or about $4,000 for every tax payer, and it costs the nation more than $60 billion[1].
The FPA is focused on prevention and early intervention initiatives like FPA Wellbeing help minimise the mental health impact on its 14,000+ professionals as they transition to new education and regulatory standards, among other challenges.
The FPA Wellbeing program is free to all FPA practitioner members including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals, Financial Planner AFP® and Associate members. It includes:
- Personal, confidential support sessions with qualified counsellors and psychologists via phone, Live Chat or face-to-face.
- Access to a library of health and wellbeing resources available via a mobile app, computer or tablet via Benestar’s website (benestar.com).
FPA CEO Dante De Gori CFP® acknowledges the toll the recent Royal Commission and related legislative changes now underway have taken on many financial planners. “We are in the midst of extraordinary change as a profession. Higher education standards are forcing many of us to go back to the books and study, which is not easy when you’re running a business, a family, and volunteering in your community, like so many of our members do.
“Let me be clear that raising standards and advancing change is absolutely necessary, but at the same time very, very difficult. We’re encouraging members to prioritise their wellbeing and reach out if they need more support to navigate the changes affecting all of us in different ways. Our new FPA Wellbeing support program is one way to do that,” he said.
The FPA has partnered with Benestar® to deliver the comprehensive health and wellbeing program. FPA practitioner members can access FPA Wellbeing by logging into the FPA Member Centre.
“Managing your mental health during times of change and challenge is important for everyone. I’m proud to be offering this service to our members, and we’ll be providing more ongoing resources, insights and support for managing mental health and wellbeing via Money & Life Professionals and other FPA member communication channels,” said Mr De Gori CFP®.
[1] https://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au/media-centre/news/economics-of-mental-health-in-australia.aspx
