"It was a great opportunity to introduce our new Master of Professional Practice (Financial Planning)."

Financial planning professionals and academics from around Australia, converged at the Deakin Melbourne City Centre for the Financial Planning Academics Forum (FPAF) late last month.

Held bi-annually, the FPAF provides academic leadership in financial planning in the key areas of research, tertiary education, curriculum development, government and industry development, policy consulting, financial planning professional community development and Australian community interest advocacy.

2016 co-chair Dr Adrian Raftery says that with high-profile keynote speakers including Julian Sheezel, Chief of Staff – Minister for Small Business & Financial Services, the forum was a success.

‘The FPAF exists to interconnect and represent the interests of members with government, commercial, academic and community stakeholders,’ he says.

‘We once again had an overwhelming response to the forum, with 60 registrations for the day – ranging from academics representing 14 tertiary institutions across the country, five professional bodies, dealer groups and professional practitioners.’

Agenda items included the AMP Challenge, financial planning internships, ethical literacy in financial planning and the introduction of Deakin’s new Master of Professional Practice (Financial Planning).

Dr Raftery says that with the federal government earmarking a deadline of 31 December 2023, for financial advisers to obtain a relevant bachelor’s degree, the FPAF was a great opportunity to introduce Deakin Business School’s (DBS) new degree.

‘DBS has always been regarded as one of the nation’s top two financial planning schools and we are leading the way again with this innovative degree.  It is a wonderful feeling to stand up in a room of industry professionals and be so confident in your university and its amazing new program,’ he says.

You can find some snapshots of the day in our gallery below and social media updates at #FPAF12.