Aussie Risk Advisers Don’t Know Their Options Beyond 2021

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Many risk advisers in Australia contemplating their future remain unaware of the options available to them – especially in the area of general advice, says Life Plan FP’s Mark Dorling.

According to Dorling, whose licensee firm joined the Australian Advisory group of AFSL businesses this year, at least 70% of the 237 advisers the group surveyed had no idea they can transition most of their risk clients to a general advice model.

If they are ‘risk-only’ clients and don’t have complex advice needs, many may be able to be served on a general advice basis, says Dorling, while those with more complex needs would still require personal financial advice.

Dorling adds that feedback the group has received from advisers who operate under both models is that their time and workload has been reduced by up to 60% for those clients that have been transitioned to a general advice service model.

…their time and workload has been reduced by up to 60% for those clients that have been transitioned to a general advice service model

For this reason, one of the key messages from Dorling – at least for risk specialist advisers – is that a general advice service offer may be their best option beyond 2021, irrespective of whether the adviser has passed or will pass the FASEA exam.

He says those predominantly risk advisers who pass the FASEA exam can transition suitable clients to a general advice model, while retaining personal advice for the rest of their base.

For those who have not or will not pass the FASEA exam, for whatever reason, one of their key options that will delay their departure from their business and from the sector remains the general advice path, says Dorling.

Dorling’s Life Plan FP dealer group continues to press its agenda, as previously reported, that risk focussed and risk specialist advisers don’t necessarily have to sell their business and leave the industry if they ultimately don’t pass the FASEA exam or achieve minimum education qualifications by 1 January 2026.