collapse of a number of financial planning firms in recent years has dented
consumer confidence in financial advisers, but changes are afoot. The
government has tackled conflicts of interest with its Future of Financial
Advice reforms and the Australian Securities and Investment Commission has
proposed a national exam as an industry qualification. Moves to lift
educational requirements for financial planners had already been signalled by
the industry. This year, the Australian School of Business (ASB) commenced
degree courses in financial planning and has responded to an approach from Tim
Steele, director of AMP's Horizons Academy, which trains and licenses that
company's financial planners. Under a new agreement, eligible graduates from
AMP's Horizons program will be able to gain academic credit towards further
study at the ASB. Steele recently spoke with Knowledge@Australian School of