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.