GUEST COLUMNIST – KATRINA SHANKS
After three long and tumultuous years, being able to hold this year’s Financial Advice NZ conference in person felt like a victory, says Katrina Shanks (pictured above). Here, she looks at some of the highlights of the two-day Ignite event.
We wanted our 2022 event to be a dynamic, interactive display of ideas catering for all tastes and needs. We wanted it to send out sparks of curiosity, inspiration, and positive energy – hence the ‘Ignite’ theme. And advisers responded.
The attendance in Christchurch was huge, our biggest to date, with more than 500 delegates over the two-day event. It’s clear that our sector has braved the storm and come out stronger.
However, for those who couldn’t be there, here are some takeaways I’d like to spotlight…
The key goal of our annual conference has always been to open up opportunities for inspiration, encouragement, and reflection. Our advisers put their hearts and time into helping New Zealanders thrive, and it doesn’t happen often that we can all get together, pause, and acknowledge the great work done.
This year’s conference was all this and more. Being under the same roof, for the first time since 2019, signalled the end of an intense transition and the beginning of bigger and better things to come.
Knowing all too well that advisers want to move forward, we invited an energising line-up of speakers from different backgrounds, to share new ideas and perspectives.
Futurist and optimist keynote speaker Chris Riddell talked about how innovative businesses are adapting to a changing world. He was followed by global economic expert Jonathan Pain, who painted a compelling picture of the current geopolitical landscape.
…our 2022 conference provided a holistic approach, blending innovative thinking with practical tools…
Then was the turn of Kamal Sarma, showing us how to create deep human connection and turn it into a competitive advantage. And lastly, All Black legend Sir Michael Jones shared his incredible story of sports and having a platform to make a difference in people’s lives.
Day one was also about our lightning speakers Samantha Barrass (FMA), Vic Crone (past CEO of Callaghan Innovation), Victoria Devine (multi-award winning financial adviser), and technology innovator Sir Ian Taylor. Each gave a snapshot of their leadership and talked attendees through their vision for the future.
I took away plenty of food for thought, and abundant notes, as I’m sure did many in the audience: there’s nothing quite like a good real-life story to get those creative juices flowing.
New tools
As we know, the financial advice profession is neither static nor it does operate in a vacuum: it’s continuously evolving to meet people’s changing needs and adapt to the environment that advisers work in. With this in mind, our 2022 conference provided a holistic approach, blending innovative thinking with practical tools for business and personal development.
The importance of trusted client relationships was the overarching message flowing through all the business workshops. Several speakers took the stage, offering a glimpse into New Zealand’s changing demographic, how to identify who the core customer is, and ways to build and communicate brand value.
Of course, quality advice is more than just business: it’s real people helping real people succeed, and the past few years have been especially challenging for both sides of the relationship. So, the ‘Tools for You’ workshops focused on how advisers can take care of their own well-being while helping Kiwis with theirs.
See our report: Adviser Award Winners Announced
From building resilience through to performing under pressure, removing internal barriers and staying motivated, these interactive sessions brought about a sense of deeper awareness. They encouraged us all to be kinder to ourselves and find balance in the whirlwind of everyday. We can do so by sticking together as an industry, and acknowledging that not all is always well, no matter our plans and goals. The key thing is how you bounce back, and what you decide to do next.
We celebrated our strengths
Once again, I’d like to congratulate our Financial Advice NZ winners, who shone through despite the difficulties. Thanks to their empathy, integrity, and sheer passion for people, these advisers keep making a big difference in Kiwis’ lives.
But it’s not just the winners who deserve the praise. This year, the high quality of entrants was a testament to the strength of the whole financial advice sector in New Zealand. In spite of the pressure on advisers to perform in a hectic environment, our industry proved to be resilient. At the end of the day, this is what our awards recognise.
As we look ahead to what’s next for our sector, I believe it’s important that we acknowledge the road travelled so far, with all its turns and detours. For my part, I look forward to the next leg of the journey, alongside the great people I’ve come to know throughout these years.
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Financial Advice NZ was founded with a single-minded purpose: to help New Zealanders, and New Zealand as a whole, be financially better off.