MenuThe Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) attracted over 1,100 delegates from around the country to its sold out 2017 FPA Professionals Congress in Hobart last week where financial planners were encouraged and equipped to embrace technological, social and regulatory change.
The Future2 celebration at MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) and the Women in Wealth breakfast were two distinct highlights of Congress this year, according to delegates. The Congress ran from 22-24 November and featured an impressive line-up of speakers including Mike Walsh, Dr Daniel Susskind, Claudia Hammond, Katerina Kimmorley, Waleed Aly, Dr Susan Carland and Paul Roos, among others.
Commenting on the success of this year’s Congress, Dante De Gori CFP®, CEO of the FPA, said, “This was the first time our annual gathering was held in Hobart and we were very pleased to see Congress sell out. Our intent was to offer a program that engaged delegates on all levels, including a diverse range of topics from technical and regulatory updates to business development, staff and culture development, body language, and client engagement.”
The new report from the FPA, entitled ‘Mapping Fintech to the Financial Planning Process: Why Fintech is not a Threat’ was released at the opening keynote session on 23 November. The report was discussed at the ‘Fintech – powering innovation in delivering change’ workshop and delegates learnt more from the eight fintech businesses that presented at the fintech hub as to how to help future-proof their business with available technologies.
“The focus on fintech this year has prompted many of our members to actively seek out fintech solutions for their financial planning businesses,” said Mr De Gori.
“We are also delighted to be expanding the reach of our philanthropic activities. Beyond our ongoing Future2 fundraising efforts which awarded $133,000 in grants this year, the FPA looks forward to building our partnerships in 2018 with the Cancer Council, Banqer, and Financial Executive Women (FEW), all of whom were represented at Congress.”
At the Congress, the FPA also announced the inaugural print edition of Money & Life, the magazine for financial planning professionals. The new magazine, which is a rebrand of Financial Planning magazine, aligns directly with the FPA’s Money & Life Professionals website and e-newsletter.
The FPA recognised the outstanding achievements of its members with a series of awards at the Congress. Perth’s Capital Partners Private Wealth Advisers featured twice in the awards, once as FPA Professional Practice of the Year, and in an individual award for financial planner Michael Hayward CFP® as 2017 FPA CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional of the Year.
Finally, Sydney was named as host city for the 2018 FPA Professionals Congress from 21-23 November next year.
