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Raising $100,000 for disadvantaged young Australians! The financial planning community is getting behind Future2’s flagship fundraiser, the Wheel Classic. The event aims to raise over $100,000 to bring new opportunity and hope to socially and financially disadvantaged young Australians. Financial planners from around Australia have expressed their interest, keen to test their mettle over nine days and to help Future2 raise funds. So far, 12 have committed to ride the full distance, over nine days, including FPA members who are riding the Wheel Classic for the third or fourth time. The Wheel Classic arrives in Brisbane for the start of

The Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) has today announced John Moran of Apt Wealth Partners as the winner of the third Gwen Fletcher Memorial Award. Mr Moran received the award for being the highest achiever in last semester’s CFP® certification program. He donated his $1,000 prize money to the FPA’s charitable foundation, Future2. “I want to thank the FPA for this award and pay tribute to the first lady of financial planning. Gwen Fletcher remains an inspirational role model, committed to campaigning for a better financial future for all Australians,” said Mr Moran. “This award brings to mind the

According to the Financial Planning Association of Australia, the success of its recent consumer campaign indicates that Australians are seeking to learn more about where to find good financial advice. The landmark campaign delivered a simple message about the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation and the high education and ethical standards it represents. The tactics included extensive print, radio and digital advertising, plus sophisticated online search engine and social media advertising. Online, the campaign is estimated to have reached 4.8m consumers in just ten weeks, resulting in over 37,000 online clicks and representing a conversion which is above industry average. Mark

Griffith Business School has teamed up with the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) to develop and publish the country’s first academic journal dedicated to financial planning. The new publication, titled The Financial Planning Research Journal, was announced in Sydney on Tuesday 23 June. “This is an important step for the financial planning industry and once more demonstrates Griffith University’s strong links and effective influence in this sector,” Associate Professor Mark Brimble, Discipline Head of Finance and Financial Planning, said. “The journal is a key initiative at a crucial time for the industry, and will provide a focal point for

According to the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA), today’s joint announcement with the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) and the Financial Services Council (FSC) is a sensible landing spot for the retail life insurance industry. The FPA is pleased that this industry response has been welcomed by Government, and will be taken into account in any response to the Financial System Inquiry (FSI). The alternative of level commissions only, as outlined in the FSI Inquiry, would not have provided comprehensive consumer protection, access to affordable advice and industry sustainability. These three elements have been core considerations in the response

According to the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA), the record attendance at its recent National Roadshow is a clear indication that advisers want support as they navigate the industry’s various regulatory changes and future opportunities for their business, specifically around best interest duty and retirement planning. Almost 3,000 financial planners have registered for the 2015 National Roadshow, with two of the 33 roadshows still to take place. The overwhelming response to the roadshows left capital city events with standing room only and saw registrations to Newcastle reaching capacity within weeks of opening. Dante De Gori, General Manager of Policy

Supporting disadvantaged young Australians through the financial planning community Future2, the charitable foundation of the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA), is calling for grant applications as part of its Make the Difference! grant program, which supports projects that create opportunities for disadvantaged young Australians. Community not-for-profits and charities are invited to apply for funding with the support of a local FPA member. The FPA member may be someone who is already involved with the grant applicant or can be someone who has only recently been introduced to the applicant but believes they deserve funding for the work they do.

The Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) today reinforced their commitment to improving the financial future of Australians by announcing a partnership with the not-for-profit social enterprise, 10thousandgirl. Created in 2009, 10thousandgirl runs educational programs aimed at improving the financial literacy and economic health of women, particularly in regional areas. According to FPA CEO, Mark Rantall, the FPA will play an integral role in one of 10thousandgirl’s major initiatives, the 2015-17 Regional Women’s Financial Literacy project due to kick off in July this year. The project includes a series of 12 webinars and 16 workshops held in regional areas covering

The Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) has said the big winners of tonight’s “responsible” 2015-16 Federal Budget announcement are set to be small business owners. According to Dante De Gori, General Manager, Policy and Conduct at the FPA, while the FPA has concerns with the proposed changes to the asset-test tapering rate for part-pensioners, it broadly welcomes the initiatives announced for small businesses. “With changes to the part-pension formally on the table, we are likely to see a number of part-pensioners being impacted negatively. This will obviously create financial concerns for the broader community, particularly given our ageing population.

The Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) has today released a Life Insurance Blueprint paper and a consultation survey to its members regarding the Life Insurance sector. “The FPA Blueprint is based on conversations with the Board and members to date, and seeks to further collaborate with members on key matters,” said Mr Mark Rantall, CEO of the FPA. “The Government has given the industry weeks not months to sort out its reform position for the life insurance industry. Our aim is to drive a competitive, professional, and ultimately a valuable service to Australian consumers, in what is a critical