Fidelity Life celebrates its 50-year history with advisers with expanded careers development programme.

Media release

25 September 2023

New Zealand’s largest locally owned life insurer Fidelity Life has revealed an exciting expansion of its successful Career connect adviser skills and training course to support financial advisers at every stage of their career.    

A sneak peek of Adviser edge, due to launch in April 2024, was shared with advisers at Fidelity Life’s flagship adviser conference Engage this month.   

With three components – Career connect, Professional pathways and Advice masters – each tailored to specific career stages, and an increase in capacity, Adviser edge will offer an extensive range of on-demand, online and in-person educational resources to support advisers to take their careers and businesses to the next level.   

Fidelity Life Chief Sales and Service Officer Bronwyn Kirwan says Adviser edge is a key part of the company’s commitment to advisers and to the future of the advice industry.    

“Financial advice and advisers have been at the heart of our business for the last 50 years and we expect that to be the case for the next 50. Financial advice is proven to deliver good outcomes for New Zealanders and that’s why we continue to champion advisers and advice careers.   

“Following the early success of our Career connect course, which is already producing newly qualified advisers and placing them into roles with advice businesses, we’re excited to up our investment in this space.  

“Advisers have told us they are tired of webinars. Adviser edge takes things to the next level in the form of an extensive engagement programme for up to 125 advisers each year, designed to foster connections with a like-minded community of high-performing, professional advisers.”   

Adviser edge comprises three components:   

Career connect.   

For advisers new to the industry (0-1 years' experience), Career connect is Fidelity Life’s comprehensive adviser skills and training programme, aimed at attracting, training and connecting the next generation of financial advisers to the industry.  

With a focus on boosting diversity, it also offers 7 scholarships for groups typically under-represented within the financial services sector including for Māori, Pasifika, women and rural applicants.   

Following its success to date, Career connect will open for its third intake to 15 candidates in February 2024. An additional 30 candidate spots will be available via two new intakes:   

• Adviser-nominated programme:  Advice businesses will have the opportunity to nominate candidates to upskill to become a qualified financial adviser. Open to up to 15 candidates, the course will run in parallel to the public Career connect programme.  
• New to industry adviser course: This streamlined course is open to 15 advisers who have already achieved their Level 5 New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services and will focus on developing the essential soft skills needed to be successful in the profession.   

Professional pathways.   

Launching in April 2024 to 50 advisers with 1-7 years of experience, Professional pathways is an extended training and professional development programme, offering access to customisable and targeted educational resources, training, mentoring and development opportunities for motivated advisers to help elevate their businesses, sales capabilities and customer experiences.   

Relevant internal and external experts will provide training across topics such as mitigating small business risks, understanding family trusts and estate planning, effective business and succession planning, preparing for audits, and advanced underwriting and advice training. .   

Advice masters.   

Intensive training and personalised professional development for 30 experienced business owners (7+ years in the industry) to take their financial services businesses to the next level.  

Launching in April 2024, Advice masters will build a professional network of high performing business owners and industry leaders who are passionate about driving professionalism in the industry and delivering unparalleled customer experiences.  

Following a detailed needs analysis, Advice masters participants will receive their own tailored programme, delivered 1:1 or in small groups by industry experts. Specialist topics include mergers and acquisitions, capital structuring and funding, value optimisation, succession planning, purpose-driven strategy, governance and sustainability.  

Financial advisers are encouraged to reach out to their Fidelity Life Business Manager with their expression of interest in Adviser edge.   

For more information, please visit our Solutions page.