Fidelity Life has opened applications for its 2026 professional development platform, Adviser edge, and announced a record 13 scholarships for its Career connect programme.
The insurer says that Adviser edge, which is now entering its third year, takes a full-career lifecycle approach from entry into the profession through to senior leadership and governance‑level roles.
It says the three flagship programmes – Career connect, Professional pathways, and Advice masters – are designed to support advisers at every stage of their career.
Michelle Doyle, Fidelity Life Head of Solutions, says the company’s ambition with Adviser edge “…is to help build the world’s best risk advisers – and that takes long‑term, intentional development.”
“We’re seeing advisers move through multiple programmes over time, reinforcing that this isn’t a one-off intervention, but a long-term development pathway that supports both individual growth and meaningful contribution to the profession.”
Advanced Programmes
Fidelity Life is accepting applications for its two advanced Adviser edge programmes:
- Professional pathways – a customisable programme for motivated advisers looking to accelerate their professional development through structured learning, coaching and mentoring.
- Advice masters – an intensive programme for experienced advice business owners ready to scale and lead at a higher level, with personalised guidance from industry experts focused on leadership, commercial performance and long-term sustainability.
It says that members of the Advice masters cohort are also eligible to join the Adviser edge Study tour in 2026, an immersive international programme offering select advisers global insights and leadership development following a successful inaugural tour to Sydney and Melbourne last year.
…Fifty advisers will be accepted into Professional pathways and 30 business owners into Advice masters…
All programmes run over a six-month period starting in June 2026, with limited places to ensure depth and impact. Fifty advisers will be accepted into Professional pathways and 30 business owners into Advice masters. Applications close early-March.
The next generation of advisers
Career connect, Fidelity Life’s programme focused on attracting new talent into the advice profession and building a future-ready pipeline of advisers, is offering 13 scholarships in 2026, up from eight the previous year.
The scholarships are supported by Fidelity Life alongside industry partners Kaplan Education, Farmers Mutual Group and FMG Insurance, and new supporters the New Zealand Home Loan Company and Share NZ Services, with a focus on improving accessibility and increasing diversity across the advice sector.
Career connect participants are supported to complete their Level 5 Certificate in Financial Services (Life, Disability and Health Insurance), while also developing the soft skills needed to succeed as an adviser.
To date, 67 people have gained their Level 5 qualification through Career connect, with more than 60% going on to work as advisers or within the financial services industry.
Applications for Career connect close 27 February.
The company says that the Adviser edge programme continues to deliver strong results, with more than 200 advisers participating across the three programmes to date.
Click here for more information or to apply.