Most adviser engagement this week was focused on our report that Fidelity Life is to expand and enhance its offering to upskill the advisers it works with…
Fidelity Life is to expand its Career connect adviser skills and training course to support financial advisers at every stage of their career.
Adviser edge will launch in April next year and Fidelity Life Chief Sales and Service Officer Bronwyn Kirwan says it is a key part of the company’s commitment to advisers and to the future of the advice industry.
The initiative features three levels of training:
Career connect
Career connect aimed at attracting, training, and connecting the next generation of financial advisers to the industry.
With a focus on boosting diversity, it also offers seven scholarships for groups typically under-represented within the financial services sector including for Māori, Pasifika, women, and rural applicants.
Career connect will open for its third intake to 15 candidates in February 2024. An additional 30 candidate spots will be available via two new intakes:
- Adviser-nominated programme: Advice businesses will have the opportunity to nominate candidates to upskill to become a qualified financial adviser. Open to up to 15 candidates, the course will run in parallel to the public Career connect programme
- New to industry adviser course: This streamlined course is open to 15 advisers who have already achieved their Level 5 New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services and will focus on developing the essential soft skills needed to be successful in the profession
Professional pathways
Launching in April 2024 to 50 advisers with 1-7 years’ experience, Professional pathways is an extended training and professional development programme, offering access to customisable and targeted educational resources, training, mentoring and development opportunities for motivated advisers to help elevate their businesses, sales capabilities and customer experiences.
Adviser edge takes things to the next level…
Experts will provide training across topics such as mitigating small business risks, understanding family trusts and estate planning, effective business and succession planning, preparing for audits, and advanced underwriting and advice training.
Advice masters
This offers intensive training and personalised professional development for 30 experienced business owners, with seven or more years in the industry.
Launching in April 2024, Advice masters will build a professional network of high performing business owners and industry leaders who are passionate about driving professionalism in the industry and delivering unparalleled customer experiences.
Kirwan says that following a detailed needs analysis, Advice masters participants will receive a tailored programme, delivered one-on-one or in small groups by industry experts.
Specialist topics will include mergers and acquisitions, capital structuring and funding, value optimisation, succession planning, purpose-driven strategy, governance and sustainability.
Advisers have told us they are tired of webinars…
Each element is to be tailored to specific career stages, and – says Kirwan – will include an extensive range of on-demand, online, and in-person educational resources to support advisers’ career development.
“Following the early success of our Career connect course, which is already producing newly qualified advisers and placing them into roles with advice businesses, we’re excited to up our investment in this space,” said Kirwan.
“Advisers have told us they are tired of webinars. Adviser edge takes things to the next level in the form of an extensive engagement programme for up to 125 advisers each year, designed to foster connections with a like-minded community of high-performing, professional advisers.”
Financial advisers are encouraged to reach out to their Fidelity Life Business Manager with their expression of interest in Adviser edge.
Click here for more information.