Financial advice firm, Eureka Whittaker Macnaught has enlisted two new employees in the 2023/24 Professional Year program, raising the number of people to participate in the group’s PY program to four.
Based in Sydney, EWM Client Service Manager, Julian Chan, 25, will commence his professional year of under the supervision and mentorship of the group’s Chief Executive and Certified Financial Planner, Greg Cook.
Based in Brisbane, EWM Paraplanning Manager Liam Roche, 33, will commence his professional year under the supervision and mentorship of General Manager and Certified Financial Planner, Sally Bell.
Since the introduction of the PY requirement in 2019, Cook and Bell have successfully guided two trainees through their professional year and onto a successful career as a financial adviser.
The group’s 2020/21 PY graduate Tim Manwaring, 27, recently completed the Certified Financial Planner program and gained certification from the FAAA.
The firm says that Manwaring is understood to be the first professional year graduate to also become a CFP.
Cook says the professional year is a critical part of the advice industry’s journey to professionalism because it gives graduates invaluable on-the-job experience.
He says the firm is passionate about helping people achieve their personal goals “…not only financial but professional too. Being a financial adviser is a fantastic career and, as an industry, we need to take collective action to build up the next generation of advisers.”
…running a professional year program is a significant undertaking, especially for an SME, but it is not impossible and it’s highly rewarding…
Cook adds that running a professional year program is a significant undertaking especially for an SME “…but it is not impossible and it’s highly rewarding. It forms part of our succession strategy and it sends a message to clients that EWM is looking to the future and focused on being around for the long-term to serve their needs.”
Under education and training requirements, new entrants seeking to become a financial adviser must complete a full-time professional year including at least 1,500 hours of work activities and 100 hours of structured training (a total of 1,600 hours). This is in addition to holding the relevant tertiary qualifications and passing the Financial Adviser Exam.
