In today's economic and financial landscape, navigating risk has become increasingly challenging due to many factors impacting the global economy and financial markets. The complexities are extensive and quite unlike anything experienced in decades, if ever before. The issues are contributing to the uncertainty and inconsistent market behaviour:
The recent ARF article, 'The wealth adviser exodus has bottomed out (for now),' began with the numbers. "More than 12,000 financial advisers have retired or handed back their registration since the financial services royal commission, which levelled widespread allegations of misconduct against the sector in 2018. The exits represent a 43 percent decline in workforce size in just five years".
The business of financial advice isn't getting any easier. We know. It's an understatement. Turbulent market conditions, escalating client expectations and the rising cost of compliance don't make for a smooth ride.
The two significant trends in contemporary financial advice are active portfolio management and Managed Accounts. While the client and business drivers are independent, both innovations are transforming financial advisory practices.
The transfer of governing powers from FASEA to ASIC, including the wind-up of FASEA from 1 January 2022, places increased demands on Financial Advisers.
Financial advisers regularly undertake an exploration of client goals to gain a better understanding of their clients. However, the targeting of specific financial goals in portfolio management is still not commonplace. The reliance on risk profile, in effect, dislocates client goals from Portfolio Management and makes it harder for investor clients to understand the value of financial advice.
The world today is ruled by clients. Clients, customers, consumers; call them what you may. Never before have clients had so much access to information, or been so highly empowered to make informed purchase decisions. This requirement is the new norm for adviser-client retention and business growth.
