The ifa Show

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Ben Marshan, director of Marshan Consulting, to unpack the implications of Labor's sweeping electoral victory for the financial advice sector.

Marshan explains what the heavy majority means for financial legislation, including what the potential ministerial candidates could bring to the table that could influence the pace and direction of regulatory reform.

Listen as they discuss:

• Why the appointment of the next financial services minister will be pivotal.
• How proposed policies like the $3 million super tax could impact the tax system and the potential unintended consequences.
• What the options are for the Treasury portfolio on the opposition's side.

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Dr Ben Neilson, financial adviser at Complete Wealth, to unpack how ongoing volatility in investment markets are affecting clients and how different cohorts are reacting.

As tariff announcements have caused a roller-coaster on stock markets, it is hard to blame clients for fretting. According to Nielson, the best way to manage concerned clients is to reach out proactively and ensure they know their adviser is in it with them.

Listen as they discuss:

• Demystifying the broader implications of market volatility for clients.
• The difference a few days can make in periods of rapid change.
• How to use unpredictable events as a tool to shift clients' mindset.

In this week's special episode of The ifa Show, we present outgoing Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones' address at Momentum Media's Election 2025 event, followed by a Q&A covering the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes reforms.

In what was possibly his last address in front of an advice audience ahead of his retirement from politics, Jones outlines what he achieved over his three years in the role and how the Labor government plans to deliver on what he couldn't if they are successful at the upcoming election.

Tune in to hear about:

• How the education standards reforms will help the profession recover its numbers.
• What is being done to address the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort.
• The role of the new class of advisers in bridging the advice accessibility gap for retiring Australians.
• Why an extra six months would have done the trick.

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Sarah Abood, chief executive of Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA), to break down the Coalition's promises to the advice profession if they come into power and the merits of the latest draft legislation of Labor's advice reforms.

Ahead of the federal election, Abood explored some of the possible solutions offered from both sides for addressing the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort, as well as the possible implications of superannuation funds providing retirement advice through collective charging.

Listen as they discuss:

• What the FAAA wants from the incoming government.
• Why it's important that advisers gain access to the ATO portal.
• How government funding could boost new entrants to the profession.

In this week's special episode of The ifa Show, we present shadow treasurer Angus Taylor's address at Momentum Media's Election 2025 event, followed by a Q&A covering the Coalition's plans for the financial services sector.

Taylor outlines what a Peter Dutton-led government would deliver for the Australian economy, why the role of financial advisers is "absolutely central" to its economic blueprint, and how the nation's leader needs to handle negotiations with US President Donald Trump.

Tune in to hear about:

• The Coalition's plans to reshape the economy.
• How Taylor plans to get the cost-of-living crisis under control.
• Why the shadow treasurer aims to double financial adviser numbers.

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by independent financial adviser Nathan Fradley to discuss the Aged Care Act reforms set to come into effect on 1 July and how advisers can prepare their clients.

With the funding of aged care also heading for change, Fradley breaks down what advisers who don't specialise in the space need to know and the value of building a network of professionals they can refer clients to, to ensure they can meet the needs of clients navigating the complex aged care space.

Listen as they discuss:

• Why it's so important that advisers stay up to date on the incoming reforms.
• The value of specialisation within the advice industry.
• What impact DBFO 1.5 could have on clients' retirement income and Centrelink eligibility.

In this episode of The ifa Show, hosts Keith Ford and Maja Garaca Djurdjevic are joined by Phil Anderson, general manager of policy, advocacy and standards at the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA), to break down the latest tranche of financial advice reforms.

With an election on the horizon, there won't be any meaningful movement on the draft legislation, but the version delivered last week has fallen well short of the FAAA's expectations, with Anderson characterising the association's response as having a "fairly strong tone of disappointment".

Listen as they discuss:

• What's in the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes (DBFO) exposure draft – and what isn't.
• Why the FAAA is so strongly against the legislation in its current form.
• The specifics around what advice super funds would be allowed to collectively charge members.
• Whether there are any real differences between the proposed client advice record and a statement of advice.
• How little there was in the budget for financial services and advice.

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Eugene Ardino, chief executive of Lifespan Financial Planning, to discuss some of the hot-button topics impacting financial advice and why, despite some challenges, there is still plenty of reason for optimism.

Financial advisers are facing headwinds in the form of sluggish regulatory reform and the growing impact of the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort (CSLR), which Ardino said is currently the biggest issue for advice, though high demand and deregulation on the horizon should see things improve.

Listen as they discuss:

• What steps need to be taken to ensure the CSLR is sustainable without crippling financial advice.
• How the advice profession can work to attract more new entrants and sell the positives of the sector.
• Whether a change in minister is likely to speed up the implementation of reforms.

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Marc Fabris, founder of Risk Hub, to discuss how technology and artificial intelligence are being used to boost efficiency in the advice process, making risk advice commercially viable for holistic advisers.

While commissions have certainly played a significant role in the exodus of holistic advisers from the risk sector, Fabris explains how regulatory changes and compliance requirements have made risk advice more challenging and expensive, which has ultimately led to an underinsurance issue in Australia.

Listen as they discuss:

• The likelihood of government addressing risk commissions soon.
• How collaboration with insurers could streamline the risk advice process.
• Why advisers need to embrace AI to stay competitive for the future.

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Katherine Spitzkowsky, founder and principal adviser at Yulania Financial, ahead of International Women's Day to discuss the specific needs of women seeking financial advice, as well as how advisers can work with neurodiverse clients.

While many financial advisers aim to tailor their offering to every client based on their individual needs, Spitzkowsky explains why it is still important to understand the differences in the way that men and women approach financial literacy to ensure clients receive the best outcome from the financial advice process.

Listen as they discuss:

• The value of referring clients to other advisers who would be a better fit.
• Why neurodiverse clients can often be perceived as difficult because of a mismatch in communication styles.
• How financial advisers can provide a better service through flexibility in their processes.