FPA launches Aged Care Specialist designation for financial planning professionals


The Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) has today announced the launch of the FPA Aged Care Specialist professional designation in collaboration with Aged Care Steps’ Accredited Aged Care Professional TM program.

The FPA is committed to providing its members and the wider financial planning profession with the skills and resources to meet the needs of Australians moving into the later stages of their retirement.

FPA CEO Dante De Gori CFP® said that aged care advice is a specialist area of financial planning and requires specific skills and a commitment to ongoing training.

“Not all financial planners will become Aged Care Advice specialists, but all financial planners must be aware what aged care is and the role that our profession plays in guiding Australians through this process,” he said.

“As we move into our senior years, encountering frailty is a reality we will all experience. With the FPA Aged Care Specialist designation, financial planners can be there to support and give advice to those considering their options for later life.”

This FPA specialist designation is designed for financial planners looking to master and enhance their offering through a specialisation in aged care advice and provides professional recognition of this expertise.

Louise Biti, Director of Aged Care Steps, has been running the program for six years and says and over 2000 financial planners have completed the course.

“Aged care advice is now part of mainstream financial planning and an essential service for Australians in the transition phase of their retirement,” she said.

“While there are only a couple of hundred financial planners in Australia who specialise in aged care advice, a large number of those who have completed the training have built some aspect of aged care advice into their service proposition.

“Moving into aged care can be an emotional decision for clients and financial planners are uniquely positioned to provide completely objective guidance and advice.”

FPA members who are CFP® professionals or Financial Planner AFP® members can apply to become an FPA Aged Care Specialist in two simple steps:
– Complete the Aged Care Steps Accredited Aged Care Professional program. FPA members who register and attend this program before 31 January 2021 can receive a 10% discount by providing their FPA membership number on the registration form.
– Upon completion of the accreditation program, apply to become an FPA Aged Care Specialist by completing the FPA application form.

Successful applicants will be required to complete 9 CPD hours in the area of aged care each year to maintain their ongoing training and uphold the designation.

FPA members who have previously completed the Aged Care Steps Accredited Aged Care Professional program before 1 January 2019 must complete the Aged Care Steps Accreditation Refresh workshop and assessment before applying to become an FPA Aged Care Specialist.

This new FPA Aged Care Specialist designation is part of a suite of new specialist designation programs that FPA is currently developing in order to support our members to gain in-depth education and ongoing development in areas of advice.

For full information visit the FPA website.