Fidelity Life has celebrated its latest 20 Career connect graduates who have all completed their Level 5 qualifications in life, disability, and health insurance.
The insurer says Career connect has been designed to bring in fresh talent and greater diversity to the financial advice industry, with the 2024 cohort representing the largest intake and highest number of graduates since the programme began in 2023.
This year 95% of graduates were women, and a quarter of the group identifies as Māori or Pasifika.
Michelle Doyle, Head of Solutions, says Fidelity Life is proud to support the growth and development of the next generation of financial advisers.
…More than 60% of the graduates who asked for introductions to adviser businesses have already landed jobs…
“More than 60% of the graduates who asked for introductions to adviser businesses have already landed jobs,” she says.
“Career connect is bringing passionate people to the industry and removing some of the barriers so we can help build the world’s best life risk advisers.”
The insurer notes that Career connect is part of Adviser edge, Fidelity Life’s career and professional development programme which it says is tailored for advisers at every stage of their career and includes three programmes – Career connect, Professional pathways and Advice masters.
Since its launch in 2023, Career connect has had more than 200 registrations for 70 course places, welcomed 47 students and helped almost 40 people gain their Level 5 qualifications in life, disability, and health insurance.
The company says one of the programme’s benefits is its facilitation of networking opportunities with established adviser businesses. Career connect students can opt-in to be connected with suitable businesses in their area for potential employment opportunities.
…more than 40 advice businesses have joined the Career connect register as potential employers…
To date, more than 40 advice businesses have joined the Career connect register as potential employers and more than 60% of all graduates have secured placements with adviser businesses across the country.
Five graduates will also join Fidelity Life at the three-day Financial Advice New Zealand National Adviser Conference in April through scholarships from FANZ and its strategic partner, the PAA Legacy Trust.
Fidelity Life’s 2024 graduates are:
- Anna Devereux; Women in finance scholarship recipient (Dunedin)
- Ashlee Cuttance (Dunedin)
- Awhina Scott; Pounamu scholarship recipient (Christchurch)
- Briar Evans (Auckland)
- Caitlin Hayward (Morrinsville)
- Christabel Bertie (Auckland)
- Grace McIntyre; Rural scholarship recipient (Dunedin)
- Harpreet Rehal (Auckland)
- Jenny Silva; Kōwhai scholarship recipient (Queenstown)
- Kim Forsythe (Invercargill)
- Kirsty Gobbie (Auckland)
- Leean Te (Auckland)
- Marna Breetzke; Pāua scholarship recipient (Auckland)
- Matthew Roxburgh (Dunedin)
- Myja Gregory (Auckland)
- Namrata Kumar (Auckland)
- Shiwangni Mala (Auckland)
- Sydnee Taylor; Toe Toe scholarship recipient (Christchurch)
- Taylah Marr; Rāngi Po scholarship recipient (Christchurch)
- Vanessa Jones-Dutton (New Plymouth)
Back row L-R: Kirsty Gobbie, Anna Devereaux, Grace McIntyre, Matthew Roxburgh, Awhina Scott, Campbell Mitchell (Fidelity Life CEO), Myja Gregory, Briar Evans, Jenny Silva, Shiwangni Mala, Marna Breetzke, Harpreet Rehal, Taylah Marr. (Image courtesy of Fidelity Life.)