NEWS

Suncorp-owned dealer group Guardian Financial Planning announced today that the group has formed a partnership with the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA), joining the AFA’s Licensee Partnership Program.

The partnership puts Guardian on the front foot with Government to fight for the rights of advisers in the light of the FoFA (Future of Financial Advice) reform package announced on 28 April.

As an AFA partner, Guardian has the opportunity to create and maintain quality relationships with the AFA’s influential members and enjoy the following benefits: 

• Representation before the Government and regulator on policy issues.
• Opportunity to work with Australia’s leading advisers.
• Reduced membership fees for Guardian advisers.

AFA CEO Richard Klipin said: “The AFA is delighted to welcome Guardian Financial Planning on board as a licensee partner. Guardian is home to around 150 authorised representatives operating across Australia who look after the needs of more than 130,000 clients in Australia.”

Guardian Financial Planning Executive Manager Simon Harris said it was Guardian’s ongoing responsibility and commitment to advisers that compelled the group to join the association.

“Our partnership with the AFA gives our advisers a stronger voice in the current dynamic and changing regulatory environment,” Mr Harris said.

The partnership will also ensure that Guardian works collaboratively with the AFA’s Licensee Working Group to allow advisers’ interests to be represented fairly and adequately before the Government and regulators.

“Over the last three years, the AFA has reinvigorated itself as an association that truly understands and cares about advisers - and one that has championed their needs in the face of significant regulatory change,” Mr Harris said.

Mr Klipin said Guardian’s membership complements the growing number of quality advisers and planning groups the AFA engages with.

“The AFA’s strategy is to welcome more advisers to the association so that their voice is heard more distinctly and strongly within our industry and in Canberra.

“The AFA is and always will be an association which represents the concerns of advisers, adviser businesses and the clients they serve.”

The AFA represents 7,000 advisers through its relationships with licensees across Australia and individual adviser members.