The AFA has recruited a former Suncorp executive manager to the oversee the development of alliances with business partners that benefit members of the Association.
The industry body appointed David Plant as General Manager of Strategic Alliances from the start of September, after he held the role in an interim capacity from June of this year.
Plant was previously running his own business development consultancy and prior to that was an executive manager overseeing operations and strategy at the Suncorp Group. He has also held roles at Aon Hewitt Financial Advice, AXA, ING and ANZ Bank.
At the AFA, plant will be responsible for building mutually beneficial alliances across the financial advice sector to promote the importance of advice.
“The direction that the AFA is taking, being passionate advocates for advisers and advice, attracted me to the role. I’m a strong believer in the value of advice and hope to make a difference through this role,” Plant said.
In related news, the AFA has joined with David Koch’s Pinstripe Media to launch a consumer-focused financial advice expo to be run over two days in Sydney in November.
The inaugural Your Money and Your Life (YMYL) Expo will be held at the International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour on November 9 and 10 and will be free to consumers.
AFA National President and YMYL convenor, Marc Bineham said many people did not understand what financial advice was, what good advice looked like, and were cautious about seeking help.
“Over the course of the year we have also received a lot of feedback from members. We have listened to this feedback and believe it is our role to help change this consumer view and provide a positive message to the Australian community on the value of financial advice,” Bineham said.
He added that the partnership with Pinstripe Media would allow the AFA to deliver parts of the expo program to people outside of Sydney via webcasts and social media and through the AFA’s Your Best Interest program.
“We believe that our industry has a very real collective responsibility to educate, inform and demystify financial matters for consumers while providing a positive, proud message of the good work they do every day on behalf of Australians,” Bineham said.
