Kaplan Professional has launched a training initiative called the Financial Adviser Accelerator Suite designed to fast track new entrants and help early-career financial advisers prepare for the profession.
“We have built the program to simulate the real-world challenges advisers face so individuals can build confidence, capability and client readiness from day one,” Kaplan Professional chief executive Brian Knight revealed.
The initiative is meant to run concurrently with the professional year and establish a clear and structured entry pathway into financial advice.
“What we wanted to do is create a dynamic environment where advisers learn by doing – they practice client conversations, make ethical decisions and solve client problems in a safe, supportive environment,” Knight explained.
The following five topics are already available: mastering the art of strategic client meetings, achieving personal and professional goals through effective teamwork, launching your financial advice career, navigating ethical dilemmas in financial advice and taking the risk out of compliance.
Seven more topics are set to be released soon, with 20 expected to be available by the end of the year.
Advisers can choose to do as many or as few topics as suits their individual or business’s needs. There is a $275 cost per topic, but a spokesperson said there are also corporate rates available.
Advisers can choose between 20 hours of structured training per topic contributing to professional year requirements or five continuing professional development hours recognised in Kaplan Professional’s Ontrack platform.
“This is about building a stronger, more sustainable financial advice profession,” Knight pointed out.
“We listened to what the industry needed – confident, capable and client-ready professionals – and built a solution we think delivers exactly that.”
Although best suited to new entrants and early-career advisers, Kaplan confirmed any adviser who wants to significantly enhance their soft skills, client engagement techniques and overall professional impact can take part.
The Accelerator Suite topics will also be available through the Financial Advice Association Australia’s soon-to-be-launched Financial Advice Academy.
For licensees and employers, the initiative should enable faster onboarding, reduced training costs and a pipeline of talent that is “client-ready, culturally aligned and future-focused”, Kaplan said.
