Financial advice firm Total Life has made membership of Financial Advice NZ a requirement for its adviser network.
A statement from Financial Advice NZ says this is part of Total Life’s national growth strategy that aims to see the firm expand from 38 people to 100 by the end of 2027.
Total Life is a New Zealand-owned advisory business founded in Southland, now with teams in Invercargill, Christchurch, Cambridge, Tauranga and Auckland. The firm provides advice across insurance, investments, KiwiSaver, mortgages and commercial and rural needs.
Total Life chief executive Craig Kura says membership of Financial Advice NZ is a natural fit as the business grows.
“We’re building a legacy business and we want every adviser who joins us to be connected to the wider profession from day one.
“Membership builds a visible layer of trust for the public, holds us to higher professional standards and gives our advisers access to the education, advocacy and collective voice that comes with belonging to the professional body for advisers,” he says.
Financial Advice NZ chief executive Nick Hakes says the move is significant.
“When Financial Advice Providers require professional body membership for their advisers, it sends a clear signal. It reflects the strength of a unified body representing advisers and the wider advice community. One that champions advice quality, upholds professional standards, advocates for advisers, and reinforces the value of belonging to a recognised profession.”
He says more FAPs are making this call “…and it’s a shift that reinforces positive consumer perceptions and strengthens the entire sector.”