Fidelity Life is celebrating a record-breaking year for its Career connect programme, with 29 graduates completing the programme in 2025 – the highest number since the initiative began.
The company says the graduates were recognised at a celebration at its offices which marked the completion of the graduates’ Level 5 qualifications in life, disability and health insurance.
Michelle Doyle, Head of Solutions, says that with a record 29 graduates, it’s a milestone for Career connect and a testament to the calibre of people coming through the programme.
“We created Career connect to open doors, remove barriers and give aspiring advisers the skills and confidence to build meaningful careers. It’s incredibly rewarding to see that vision translate into real outcomes for people and the industry.”
A diverse cohort
The firm says the 2025 graduating cohort reflects the breadth and diversity Career connect was designed to support.
Of the 29 graduates, 62% are women, with participants ranging in age from 20 to 65+. “This highlights the programme’s appeal to both early‑career changers and those bringing significant life and professional experience into financial advice.”
The cohort includes graduates who identify as Māori, Pasifika, Asian, Middle Eastern and European, with one in five identifying as Māori or Pasifika “…reinforcing Career connect’s focus on building a more culturally representative advice profession in New Zealand.”
Connecting Graduates with Advice Businesses
Fidelity Life says it’s launching a Career connect employer registry, designed to help adviser businesses connect directly with motivated, trained and qualified graduates.
“The employer registry provides participating adviser businesses with access to short graduate profiles, including background, location and the types of opportunities graduates are seeking. Participating adviser businesses can select graduates they’d like to connect with and receive contact details directly.”
Doyle says the graduates are ready to make an impact “…and advice businesses are telling us they value the fresh perspectives, strong foundational knowledge and genuine commitment to customer outcomes these graduates bring.”
Career connect sits within the insurer’s broader Adviser edge programme, which supports advisers from entry into the profession through to advanced business ownership development.
Bronwyn Kirwan, Chief Commercial Officer, says programmes like Career connect are critical to the future of advice in New Zealand.
“By investing early in diverse, motivated talent, and connecting them with adviser businesses ready to nurture their growth, we’re helping ensure more New Zealanders can access quality advice from advisers who better reflect the communities they serve,” she says.
The 2026 intake, including scholarship recipients, will be announced in May (see: Applications Open for Adviser Programmes).
The celebratory event was attended by industry leaders, including Nick Hakes, CEO of Financial Advice NZ, Russel Hutchinson and Aneel Ravji from Chatswood Consulting, and members of Fidelity Life’s Adviser council Andrea Reid – Aliya Brokers, Cory Bennett – Float Mortgages, Dave Jochem – Insure Ltd, James Pearson – Total Life and Sarah Hunger – Cura Advisers.
