Conference Choices 2013 – Advisers Vote With Their Feet

Advisers have left a clear message about their intentions when it comes to which of the two main adviser association conferences they will attend in 2013.

So far, almost three quarters (74%) of advisers have said they will only attend the AFA Conference in 2013.  14% say they will attend neither, while only 9% said the FPA Conference is their preference.  This appears to be a one-sided outcome, particularly when the extensive list of riskinfo subscribers includes thousands advisers who are members of the FPA or AFA, or both.

One adviser, who indicated she was a member of both associations, commented:

“I attended the AFA Conference for the first time this year, which was the best conference I have ever attended.”

Others comments suggest the AFA has been given the nod of approval because of the way in which it represented adviser interests in Canberra throughout 2012, as part of the Future of Financial Advice reform negotiations, and also because of the success of its 2012 Conference.

2013 promises to be a year where many advisers, licensees, institutions and other service providers will be preparing for, and then implementing, the outcomes of the issues debates that have coursed through the industry over the preceeding three years.  Both the AFA ‘New Frontiers’ National Conference (being held on the Gold Coast) and the inaugural FPA Professionals Congress (in Sydney), hold the promise of being important events for advisers in the 2013 calendar.  But, as we observed when we launched the poll last week, these conferences are being held virtually back-to-back in October next year, meaning that only a small percentage of advisers will be attending both events.

We are keen to hear from more advisers, both in adding their vote to this, our last poll of 2012, and in adding their comments about the reason for their selection.  Tell us what you think!