The 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 Business.