The ifa Show

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Bryce Quirk, Group Executive of Distribution at CFS, and Recep Peker, Managing Director of Empower Business Advisory, to explore the findings of the firms’ recent Advice Practice Profitability Report.

Quirk and Peker break down the report’s most important insights for advisers, from the way practice inefficiencies are hindering their ability to serve a greater number of clients to the importance of investing in the foundation of their businesses to accommodate future growth.

Listen as they discuss:

• How to address the ongoing issue of advice accessibility.
• The importance of advocating for the value of financial advice and reducing servicing costs.
• The role of managed accounts in simplifying processes and improving client outcomes.
• Why advisers should seek technology partners that facilitate consistency and simplicity and how this can boost profitability.

In this episode of The ifa Show, co-hosts Keith Ford and Maja Garaca Djurdjevic sit down to discuss tranche two of the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes legislation and Liberal senator Andrew Bragg’s admonishment of the government for the ever-extending timeline to deliver a draft of the legislation. Together, the pair delve into the potential impact of Australia’s 2025 federal election and how politics are playing a role in the legislative process, suggesting financial services could become a key battleground as the election nears.

Listen as they discuss:

• The private member’s bill hoping to provide advisers a reprieve from onerous statements of advice.
• Advisers who are left in a state of limbo as they await legislative change.
• The Compensation Scheme of Last Resort and the ongoing battle against Dixon Advisory.

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Conrad Travers, director and principal consultant at Tangelo Advice Consulting, to discuss the ATO’s final determination on tax deductibility of advice fees and how advice firms can put the changes into practice to benefit their clients. Travers explains how the new guidance works, what has changed from the draft determination that was released last year, and why it is important to work alongside accounting professionals to ensure the best outcomes for clients.

Listen as they discuss:

• Why advice firms need to identify areas of friction in their processes to enhance their operational efficiency.
• How to get your practice ready for the changes coming out of the first Delivering Better Financial Outcomes (DBFO) legislation.
• What to expect from the second tranche of DBFO and why you shouldn’t rely on regulatory change to improve your practice.

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Dr Ben Neilson, a financial adviser from Complete Wealth, to discuss a new framework for advice – developed through his recently completed PhD – focusing on six critical barriers: professionalism, trust, engagement, comprehension, costs, and serviceability. Neilson discusses the role of technology in improving efficiency in the advice process and the need to outsource administrative tasks to increase client capacity and reduce the cost to serve.

Listen as they discuss:

• The key barriers impacting financial advisers.
• How firms can act to reduce the cost of advice.
• The perception of financial advice as a profession.

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by specialist financial adviser Nathan Fradley to discuss the growing importance of aged care advice in Australia as the population gets older, and the need for specialised knowledge to successfully handle complexities of Australia’s aged care system. Fradley discusses his journey to aged care advice, the challenges of navigating complicated relationship dynamics, and what can happen when people receive incorrect advice.

Listen as they discuss:

• The emotional side of aged care advice.
• Unique challenges of advising clients on aged care and retirement.
• The evolving landscape of aged care legislation.

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Grant Hackett, CEO of Generation Life, and Rebecca Pritchard, senior financial planner at Rising Tide Financial Services, to discuss the increasingly complex financial landscape shaped by evolving superannuation and tax policies.

Together, they explore the key challenges these changes present for advisers and clients, and how financial professionals can navigate this new terrain to better serve their clients’ long-term financial goals.

Tune in for expert insights into critical issues, including:

• The effects of recent regulatory changes on financial planning strategies.
• How superannuation reforms are transforming retirement planning.
• New research from Generation Life revealing that 75 per cent of Australians are concerned about their retirement savings. ·         The evolving role of financial planners in helping clients navigate uncertainty.
• Effective strategies for sustaining client confidence during economic and policy shifts, and more.

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by ifa deputy editor Keith Ford to discuss a range of issues within the financial advice space, including the opposition’s strong statement on delays to implementing the Quality of Advice Review’s (QAR) recommendations. The pair delve into shadow financial services minister Luke Howarth’s criticism of the government due to the lack of movement on the second tranche of the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes (DBFO) bill, despite the final QAR report being handed down more than 650 days ago.

Listen as they discuss:

• Whether there is still time for DBFO tranche two legislation to be delivered.
• The public inquiry into the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort, Dixon Advisory and wealth management companies.
• Super funds embracing digital advice and the response from the advice community.

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Dawn Thomas, a senior wealth adviser with The Wealth Designers, to explore the challenges of completing a PhD while continuing to work as a financial adviser, as well as the ongoing challenges that the profession faces. Thomas discusses her PhD on Generation Z’s initial experience with superannuation, and the heavy workload of pursuing her research while balancing work and family obligations.

She also shares why she believes that combining her academic background with her practical experience will enhance her expertise and help improve financial literacy among younger individuals, ultimately fostering greater engagement with the superannuation system.

Listen as they discuss:

• The sacrifices she’s making to complete her PhD.
• Advisers’ struggle to be viewed as a profession.
• Improving people’s engagement with their super, and more.

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by author and financial adviser Helen Baker to unpack the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and how financial advisers can highlight prime investment opportunities in the market. Baker identifies the industries set to benefit from AI for advisers looking to integrate these into client portfolios and the ethical concerns surrounding these new technologies. Listen as they discuss:

• The revolutionary benefits and potential dangers of AI.
• How clients can benefit from AI investments.
• The ESG considerations that advisers should keep in mind.

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Olympian and financial adviser at HLB Mann Judd Sarah Carli to discuss her experience at the 2024 Paris Olympics and the importance of being well prepared both on and off the track. Having competed in the 400-metre hurdles at the recently completed Paris Games, Carli explains the thought process of transitioning to retirement from athletics and dedicating more time to her financial advice career. Listen as they discuss:

• Readjusting to an office environment after competing in the Olympics.
• How a career as a track athlete has helped her become a better adviser and vice versa.
• Why financial advice is an appealing career for young people who may not know what it entails.