Speaker & Session Information

 

Thursday, 17 November

Conference opening
08.35 – 08.45  
Matthew Rowe CFP®, FPA Board Chair, Financial Planning Association

Report to members
08.48 – 09.00
Mark Rantall CFP®, Chief Executive Officer, Financial Planning Association

09.00 – 09.50
Develop a winning culture
David Smorgon OAM

David Smorgon tells his story in an articulate, provocative and inspiring way.  His rules for success are the result of his own experiences in a large family business together with his involvement in a number of other Business and Communal Organisations.  In particular, his Presidency of AFL club, The Western Bulldogs for the past 14 years has confirmed that the ingredients for success are achievable as long as certain fundamentals are understood and implemented.
David’s recipe for success:
1. Have a dream: Push yourself beyond the boundaries
2. Plan: Write it down
3. People: Work with “do-ers” rather than “blockers”
4. Back yourself: Don’t sit on the fence 
An experienced speaker, David challenges his audience to aim higher to fulfil their true potential. 
David Smorgon is a well-known, respected and successful businessman. He spent 25 years as a senior executive and Director of one of Australia’s largest family companies, Smorgon Consolidated Industries.  In 1995, the company announced a staged divestment of all of the business interests and David then established his own investment company, Generation Investments Pty Ltd.
Since October 1996, David has been President of the Western Bulldogs Football Club, one of 17 clubs in the Australian Football League.  David’s commitment and dedication to his Club is widely acknowledged. David has been a Governor of the Sony Foundation since its inception in June 1999. The Foundation assists the youth of Australia and has distributed over 15 million dollars.  He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in June 2000 for services to the Western Bulldogs Football Club and to the community through health, education and social welfare organisations. In 2008, David accepted the role of Ambassador for Ochre – supporting Indigenous health through art for the Menzies School of Health Research – Australia’s leading research organization in indigenous health and tropical diseases.
CPD = Assessed onsite

Threats to discretionary trusts. Can trusts still be trusted?
10.10 – 11.05
Emma Woolley, Special Counsel, Hall & Wilcox

Discretionary or family trusts have been used comprehensively by  clients as effective structures to protect assets in a flexible, tax effective way.  However, changes heralded by the ATO this year have raised serious concerns about the future use of trusts – and accordingly  new challenges for advisers’  clients.   
In this session Emma Woolley will address:

  • Trusts –  Who uses them and why
  • New tax laws –what has changed and what is still to come
  • Trust security – can they still provide credit and family protection
  • Know-how – avoiding the common traps and having the right conversation

Emma Woolley is a Special Counsel in the Private Clients team at leading Melbourne law firm, Hall & Wilcox. Her practice includes estate planning, testamentary trusts, trust establishment and ongoing administration, asset protection, structuring for succession of ownership and control of family businesses and family business governance. Emma has extensive experience in personal and business succession planning. Her clients include high net worth individuals, families and family businesses.
CPD = 1 Financial Planning / Capability

Personal efficiency and building time for change in your business
10.10 – 11.05
Cyril Peupion, Director, Primary Asset Consulting

Financial planners are notoriously busy. It is no wonder that many planners feel overwhelmed and out of control. Worse, they struggle to find the time to manage their current priorities, let alone dedicate time to implement the current industry changes.
Following on from the success of last year’s FPA National Conference presentation Cyril is back this year to help planners prepare themselves to manage the changes in the financial planning profession. The Managing Partner and co-founder of Primary Asset Consulting and acclaimed author of “Work Smarter: Live Better,” Cyril Peupion is an expert in efficiency and effectiveness solutions for Australia’s financial services industry.
Cyril Peupion is a Partner and Director of Primary Asset Consulting. He is a passionate coach who focuses on helping people to change work habits, to take ownership and dramatically improve their performance.

CPD = 1 Attributes & Performance

Government update
10.10 – 11.05  
Dante De Gori, General Manager of Policy & Government Relations, Financial Planning Association

This session will focus on the key reviews and regulatory changes underway, with various panellists providing their assessment of what the likely outcomes and issues might be.

Dante De Gori has over 10 years experience within the financial planning industry, with particular focus and experience in supporting financial planners through the development of technical strategies and legislative analysis
CPD = 1 Capability/Financial Planning

Masterclass 1 – FPA / PortfolioConstruction Masterclass, brought to you by PortfolioConstruction Forum

Attendance is limited to Masterclass sessions. If you wish to attend this Masterclass you must pre-register your interest during the conference registration process. Please note some Masterclass session will require pre-reading materials which will be provided to attending delegates closer to the event.

Developing your international equities policy
How to translate international economic growth into Australian investor portfolios
10.10 – 14.05
Moderator: Graham Rich – Publisher, brillient!
Tim Farrelly, Principal, farrelly’s Investment Strategy
Amanda Gillespie, General Manager Funds Research, Lonsec
Tim Murphy, Co-Head of Fund Research, Morningstar
David Wright, Director & Co-Founder, Zenith Investment Partners
Jeff Wells, Senior Consultant, Mercer
Jonathan Ramsay, Manager Asset Consulting, van Eyk
Jeff Mitchell, Director, Standard & Poor’s Fund Services

We all know that international equities should be included in most diversified portfolios and that, ordinarily, a fund manager is the most sensible way of accessing offshore markets. But, international equities markets have never been so difficult to read – added to which, they haven’t performed for Australian investors over the past 20 years! 
Now, not only are international equity markets increasingly complex and volatile, we also have to cope with a high Australian dollar and the issues that brings, as well as whether to bias towards emerging markets or developed markets. And then, of course, we have to select a mix of quality fund managers and investments.
This FPA Masterclass, brought to you by PortfolioConstruction Forum, includes presentations by farrelly’s Investment Strategy and the six major fund research houses – Lonsec, Mercer, Morningstar, Standard and Poor’s, van Eyk and Zenith – to help answer three key questions about investing in international equities…

How should we manage the developed/emerging markets economic growth dichotomy?
If much of the developed world is facing an extended period of low growth, is there really any point investing in their equity markets?

  • If emerging markets are where the growth is, shouldn’t we all be overweight to those markets?  If so, “overweight” compared to what?
  • How do we identify and compare the very different risks of the developed vs emerging economies?

What should I do about currency?

  • What are the real risks of that come from currency exposure?
  • What are the costs and benefits of currency hedging?
  • Even if we can’t forecast currencies, can we make sensible currency hedging decisions?

What are the key factors that should drive my choice of international equity managers?

  • Which managers fit my philosophy?
  • What analytics help me choose quality international equities managers?
  • How do I decide when to fire an international equities manager?

This four-hour workshop is designed to help senior, experienced financial planners and investment advisers (and their support staff) develop their international equities portfolio construction policy, methodologies and skills. 

Moderator:
Graham Rich is a pioneer of retail managed funds research in Australasia, and of financial planning in New Zealand. He started his financial services career in New Zealand in 1975 and, in 1983, began his own business delivering funds research and financial advice professional development services.
After selling his funds research business, Morningstar, in 2002, Graham established PortfolioConstruction Forum to provide independent, professional development services for practitioners involved in constructing portfolios for investors.

Portfolio Strategist:
Tim Farrelly established farrelly’s in 2004 to help investment advisers make superior asset allocation decisions for investors. farrelly’s is the Australian financial services industry’s first dedicated asset allocation research house. Prior to this, Tim was with Macquarie for 14 years, including roles as Executive Director of Macquarie Bank Ltd, and Director of Macquarie Investment Management Ltd including sitting on the asset allocation and risk committees. Tim has a MBA (Distinction) from Harvard Business School.

Amanda Gillespie joined Lonsec in March 2000 after spending six years at BT Funds Management in Sydney working in the areas of tactical asset allocation, research and risk management. As General Manager Research Amanda has overall responsibility for the Lonsec Managed Funds, Structured Products, Natural Resources, Direct Property and Infrastructure research teams, as well as Lonsec‘s Investment Consulting division. Amanda‘s academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) with an Econometrics major, from Monash University.

Fund Research House Consultants:
As  Co-Head of Fund Research at Morningstar, Tim Murphy is jointly responsible for leading Morningstar’s qualitative research program for Australian and New Zealand funds, ETFs, and LICs, as well as managing Morningstar’s model portfolios and relationships with consulting and adviser clients. Before joining Morningstar in 2005, Tim worked in equity derivatives trading with Optiver Australia, and prior to that, in mortgage securitisation with Macquarie Bank.

David Wright is heavily involved in all aspects of  Zenith Investment Partners’ business, including manager research, model portfolio construction and participation in client investment committee meetings. He has over 19 years investment industry experience. Prior to establishing Zenith in 2002, David was head of research at IWL, and associate director and head of managed funds research at Lonsdale.

As a Senior Consultant with Mercer, Jeff Wells is involved in preparing advice to Mercer’s superannuation and institutional clients on investment issues including strategy formulation, portfolio construction and manager selection and monitoring. Prior to joining Mercer in 1997, Jeff worked in a variety of consulting and administration of corporate superannuation roles.

Jonathan Ramsay is Manager Asset Consulting with van Eyk As such he is responsible for overseeing all aspects of advice delivered to van Eyk’s clients. He has 14 years’ experience in asset consulting and funds management in the UK and Australia including roles in funds research, managing a managed account-based hedge fund of fund strategy and investment strategy and risk management at a boutique Australian small companies fund manager.

Jeff Mitchell is a director of Standard and Poors Fund Services. In his role as a senior investment consultant, Jeff supports S&P’s large wealth management clients with asset consulting services including model portfolio development and construction. Prior to joining S&P in 2008, Jeff he was a director and head of investment research at Pitcher Partners Investment.

PortfolioConstruction Forum is Australia’s leading professional development service for portfolio construction practitioners, enabling better quality portfolio construction knowledge and skills. It presents contemporary and emerging portfolio construction information and tools, delivered through six exceptional, interactive professional development programs, supported by a web-based resources centre.

*NB: This session will include a working lunch and pre reading materials will be provided closer to the event.
 CPD = 4 Capability& Critical Thinking/Financial Planning

Masterclass 2 – Implementing the FPA Code of Professional Practice into your business

Attendance is limited to Masterclass sessions. If you wish to attend this Masterclass you must pre-register your interest during the conference registration process. Please note some Masterclass session will require pre-reading materials which will be provided to attending delegates closer to the event.

10.10 – 12.05
Facilitated by: Dr June Smith, CEO, Code Compliance Monitoring Committee
John Bacon, General Manager – Professional Standards, Financial Planning Association

The FPA Code of Professional Practice (“the Code”) represents the benchmark for best practice financial planning advice and establishes the professional obligations for all FPA Members.  In this workshop, Dr June Smith will explain the Code, answer your questions and help you to apply it correctly in practice. 
You will cover:

  • The elements that make up the Code
  • The value proposition behind Professionalism
  • The new and more challenging areas of the Code  such as scoping your terms of engagement
  • Case studies and scenario’s to workshop the Code in action
  • Checklist to implement the Code

True to June’s personality and style, this workshop will offer plenty of opportunities to ask questions, discuss scenarios and seek clarification of issues.
Dr June Smith is the Chief Executive Officer of the Code Compliance Monitoring Committee and Executive Manager of the Code Compliance Committee.  Her office administers compliance against the Code of Banking Practice, the Mutual Banking Code of Practice and the Insurance Broker’s Code of Practice. 
John Bacon is the General Manager, Professional Standards at the FPA and is responsible for developing, maintaining and enforcing the FPA Code of Professional Practice and other FPA professional requirements. He was a member of the Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB) Code Committee which drafted the first global Code of Ethics and Practice Standards for FPSB affiliates, and is a proud architect of the FPA’s Code of Professional Practice. John holds combined honours degrees in law and political philosophy from Macquarie University and his professional background as a lawyer extends over 20 years. 
CPD = 2 Professional Conduct (Ethics)/Financial Planning

Trust succession and estate planning
11.10 – 12.05  
Michael Schneider, Partner, Diamond Conway Lawyers
 
This session is aimed at providing planners with the ability to assist their clients address trust succession issues in an estate planning context. Many clients hold assets within trusts. There are different types of trusts that are typically employed and there are different types of assets these trusts typically hold. What should planners be looking for in different situations?
Attendees will be taken through a checklist of issues to consider when assessing trusts as against their clients estate planning objectives. Case studies will be used, for example, to illustrate strategies aimed at providing greater certainty as to the ultimate treatment of assets owned within typical discretionary trusts.
Michael Schneider is a partner of the Sydney city law firm Diamond Conway. He has previously held positions in the financial services industry focused on compliance and delivery of technical support to planners. He appreciates the pivotal role a financial planner can play in assisting a client develop and implement their estate plan.
For the last fifteen years, Michael has focused exclusively on estate planning and business successions. His clients range from straight-forward families with their typical concerns to business owners with complex entity arrangements spanning jurisdictions and with challenging estate planning objectives.
CPD = 1 Financial Planning / Capability / Critical Thinking

Contribution caps and insurance pitfalls – getting it right
11.10 – 12.05
Deborah Wixted, Executive Manager, Technical Services Colonial First State Global Asset Management

Contribution caps and insurance structuring can be two tricky technical areas to get right. Deborah Wixted will provide you with some take home tips to apply to your business by looking at the common questions being raised and learning from where others have got it wrong. In this session we will review some of the issues facing you and your clients, how to recognise problems and what to do about them especially in regards to:

  • Making effective use of available contribution caps while avoiding excess contributions tax;
  • Structuring a client’s insurance – inside or outside super – for maximum benefit.

Deborah Wixted has twenty years experience in various technical roles with funds management, financial planning and life insurance businesses. As Head of Technical Services at Colonial First State Investments she provides specialist technical expertise to all parts of Colonial First State’s business, particularly advice and distribution.
CPD = Assessed onsite

Understanding employment law
11.10 – 12.05
Karl Rozenbergs, Partner, Hall & Wilcox

Karl’s session will cover two areas.  The first being disciplining employees with a view to dismissing them and avoiding a successful unfair dismissal claim.  He will then look at how you can protect your business from ex-employees via the use of appropriate post-termination restraint clauses.  Karl will be using everyday case studies to make the session as practical as possible.
Karl Rozenbergs is a partner in the Employment & Workplace Relations team at leading Melbourne law firm, Hall & Wilcox. He has been advising a cross-section of small and large, private and public sector clients on employment law issues for over 14 years. Karl’s practice covers both the litigious and non-litigious application of employment and industrial relations law. He regularly advises on drafting and implementing employment contracts, staff issues and workplace policies and procedures.
CPD = 1 Capability/Generic Knowledge

Philanthropy – it’s good for your business
13.00 – 14.05
Chris Cuffe, Company Director, SVA & Third Link Executive
Kelley McLendon CFP®

Philanthropy is on the rise in Australia. As such, financial planners need to provide advice on the alternatives for giving as part of their client value proposition. This session will help planners to discover the various ways to introduce the topic of philanthropy and to work with clients to develop and implement the best giving strategy, based on the client’s tax situation, wealth position, family interests and legacy goals.
The session will include an introduction to private ancillary funds, public ancillary funds, bequests and other alternatives for giving, utilising real life examples.  This discussion will also include the most up to date information available on the federal government’s interest in the sector, including its recent review of both private and public ancillary funds, and the need for a national regulator/coordinator for the sector.     
Our speakers will also explain why discussing philanthropy with clients will enhance the long term financial health of the planner’s business by enabling the planner to begin to work with the next generation of the family, increasing investments managed and providing a broader advice offering, again using actual client case studies. 
Chris Cuffe is Chairman of the SVA Future Trust. He has more than 20 years’ experience in building successful wealth management practices at Colonial First State Investments and Challenger Financial Services Group.
Kelley McLendon has worked as Director of Philanthropic Services for JBWere where she worked with clients to develop and implement their strategic philanthropy goals based on their tax, wealth, family and legacy interests.  Prior to JBWere, Kelley was Group Manager of Corporate Community Investment at National Australia Bank.  
CPD = 1 Capability/Financial Planning

Academic showcase – a rundown of the latest research in financial planning
13.00 – 14.05
Chaired by Dr Deen Sanders, Chief Professional Officer, Financial Planning Association
Dr Mark Brimble, Associate Professor, Griffith University

A profession is not only measured by the level and quality of the debate it engenders in its professional community but also its related academic community. At any one time there are more than 15 academic research projects underway into financial planning in Australia and until now there has been no avenue to promote that research to our community.
This is the first of our academic showcases that will introduce financial planners to the latest cutting edge research that may well shape the future of our profession and practice. Leading academics will be invited to present their findings in a showcase of the top 5 research projects from this year and  synthesise some of the other research that will have a bearing on the future of our profession.
This is a must see session for all those interested in the big picture of what we’re learning from financial planning research.
Dr Deen Sanders is the Chief Professional Officer at the Financial Planning Association and works closely with regulators, industry and consumers. Deen is charged with the role of improving on the established professional identity of financial planners and building a strong and respected system of professional regulation that supports good practice in financial planning.
Dr Mark Brimble is an Associate Professor (Finance) in the Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics in the Griffith Business School. He has a Phd on capital markets and has active research interests in financial markets, sustainable finance, personal finance and finance education, with publications in various national and international journals.
Mark has a number of years experience in teaching and learning leadership roles, with seven years as the Program Director of a Bachelor of Commerce program and numerous teaching and learning grants, citations and awards, including being part of the team that won the 2010 Business and Higher Education Round Table award for the best higher education and training collaboration.  He is also the foundation director of the Centre for Financial Independence and Education, a Centre that engages in community programs on financial capability/literacy. Mark is a CPA, a fellow of the Finsia and a foundation member of the Financial Planning Association’s Future Financial Planners Council.
CPD = 1  Capability/Financial Planning

Stump the strategist
13.00 – 14.05
Ashton Bishop, Director, Step Change Marketing
Jeff Cooper, General Manager, Step Change Marketing

We’ll take on your chewiest, crunchiest marketing challenge and solve it live in the room – against the clock in under 9 minutes!
Ashton Bishop is a commerce and law graduate with a passion for the communications sector. He has spent over eleven years working in Australia and the UK for the biggest communications agencies, on some of the world’s biggest brands. He has significant major campaign experience including new product development, brand repositioning and launches.
Jeff Cooper is General Manager of Step Change Marketing  advising some of Australia’s most influential business leaders on marketing strategy. During his career Jeff has conceptualised and implemented million dollar campaigns for some of the world’s biggest brands.
CPD = Assessed onsite

Understanding how social media can build your business
13.00 – 14.05
Rachel Staggs, Managing Director, S.R.S Coaching and Consulting
Owen Cope, General Manager, Easywebtech

Discover how social technologies will play a important part in your business in a post FOFA environment. Learn the why, what and how of social media and technology to enhance your brand reputation and ultimately build value. In this session you will see live demonstrations of simple, low cost tools, tips and strategies that you can implement straight away. Rachel Staggs and Owen Cope will demystify the world of social media in a plain english presentation specific to the needs of financial planners.
Rachael Staggs is the Founder and CEO of SRS Coaching & Consulting with more than fifteen years experience in Financial Services. She works with Financial Advisors to assist them to increase their profit through the implementation of a proven sales and marketing system which guarantees to increase their revenue.
Owen Cope has spent over a decade working with and developing teams in the professional services industry. He has developed specific expertise in demystifying complex technology and making it simple to understand to get a business outcome. Owen now runs his own business educating small business owners on how to get online easily to grow their business, and working with medium businesses to leverage technology to increase their profit.
CPD = 1.5 Capability& Attributes & Performance/Generic Knowledge/Financial Planning

14.15 – 15.15
Hon Bill Shorten MP, Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation
Bill Shorten was first elected as the Labor Member for Maribyrnong in 2007. Immediately following the election, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services. Following the 2009 Victorian bushfires, he was allocated the additional responsibility of Parliamentary Secretary for Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction. After the 2010 election, he was appointed to the Ministry as Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation.
CPD = assessed onsite

Going for professional gold
15.45 – 16.45
Kieren Perkins OAM

The challenges facing business leaders and their employees are vast; how do we navigate these uncertain times, do we have the skills to overcome the obstacles, where is the confidence Kieren has relied on for so long in his career?

In 1996 Kieren Perkins defied the odds to come back from Lane 8 and win the iconic men’s 1500m freestyle, a win that has become part of Australian sporting folklore. The journey Kieren has undertaken in his career post-swimming gives him a unique insight into the process of coming back from the brink, not just to survive, but to thrive and win.
CPD = Assessed onsite

 

Friday, 18 November

 

The future of financial advice Q&A
09.00 – 10.20
Facilitated by Tony Jones, Host, Lateline

Greg Cook CFP®Managing Director, Eureka Financial Planning
Senator Mathias Cormann, Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation
Simon Hoyle, Editor, Professional Planner
Mark Rantall CFP®, Chief Executive Officer, Financial Planning Association
Bernie Ripoll, MP, Federal Member for Oxley
David Whiteley, Chief Executive Officer, Industry Super Network

Tony Jones is the compere of ABC television’s award winning LateLine programme. Tony also hosts the ABC’s Q&A political panel discussion show which highlights his challenging style and provides a provocative and credible window on today’s world.
Greg Cook is Managing Director and co-Founder of Eureka. He has been a Certified Financial Planner since 1998 and is a Justice of the Peace. In 2008, Greg was made a Fellow of the FPA, and in 2010 he qualified as a Life Risk Specialist. In 2008 and 2009 he was a finalist in the Value of Advice Awards and in 2010 he became a Member of the FPA’s Conduct Review Commission. He is the FPA National Conference Chair for 2010 and 2011 and is the former Chair of the Financial Wisdom Advisor Forum. Greg is actively involved in representing the FPA’s interests in the media.
Senator Mathias Cormann was appointed to the Senate to represent the State of Western Australia in June 2007. He is the Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation. He is also the Chair of the Senate Select Committee on the Scrutiny of New Taxes.
Simon Hoyle has been a finance journalist for more than 25 years. He worked on BRW and Personal Investment magazines, and was part of the team that launched Money Management, where he spent five years. He spent 11 years at the Australian Financial Review, before moving on to be an investment writer for The Sydney Morning Herald and for The Australian.
Simon was appointed editor of Professional Planner in late 2007 and has guided it through its development into a leading publication in the financial planning space, actively promoting the ideals of professionalism and ethical standards in the financial planning industry.
Mark Rantall is highly qualified and respected within the profession and has a wealth of experience working with financial planning practices of all sizes over the past 25 years. In 2008, Mark was involved in the creation of The NAB Academy, where he was Dean of Advice until his appointment as FPA CEO. Prior to this appointment Mark chaired the CFP Certification Committee for the FPA, and initially joined NAB as Managing Director of financial planning firm Godfrey Pembroke from 2003 – 2008. During 2006 Mark successfully helped Godfrey Pembroke transition more than 200 advisers to a fee-for-service remuneration model.
Bernie Ripoll was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1998 and re-elected at each subsequent election of 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010. In 2007, he was appointed Chair of the Corporations and Financial Services Joint Statutory Committee. The committee plays an integral role on the reporting and activities of ASIC and the operations of the corporations legislation as well as undertaking national inquires in matters of relevance to the operation of associated legislation. In 2010, the committee tabled the Ripoli Report, the result of a substantial inquiry into the financial services sector.
In addition to this role, Bernie has been appointed as Chair of the Sustainable Australia Caucus Committee following the election of the Labor government in 1020. This Committee looks at the development of policy for a sustainable Australia.
David Whiteley is Chief Executive of Industry Super Network (ISN).  ISN manages collective projects on behalf of a number of Industry SuperFunds with the objective of maximising the retirement savings of five million industry super members.
CPD = Assessed onsite

Ethics in financial planning and commissions
10.45 – 11.45
Dr Simon Longstaff, Executive Director, St James Ethics Centre

Financial planners have long operated with one foot in the market place and the other in the world of the professions. Reforms associated with the Future of Financial Advice (FOFA) are shifting the balance decisively in favour of financial planning becoming a fully-fledged profession. Some people welcome this shift as a golden opportunity. Others are deeply concerned that they will be disadvantaged by the change. Dr Simon Longstaff will draw on decades of experience in working with the professions to outline the preconditions for prospering in the field of professional services. This session will provide an opportunity for practitioners to engage directly with the ethical foundations on which the profession of financial planning must now be built.
Dr Simon Longstaff is the Executive Director of the St James Ethics Centre. A former student and lecturer at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Dr Longstaff has a Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy, with research centring on related questions arising in the areas of political philosophy, ethics and the philosophy of education. Dr Longstaff was inaugural President of The Australian Association for Professional & Applied Ethics and is a Director of a number of companies. He is a Fellow of the World Economic Forum and a member of the International Advisory Committee of the Foreign Policy Association, based in New York. His first book, Hard Cases, Tough Choices was published in 1997. He is currently preparing a second on the role of conscience. Dr Longstaff serves on a number of committees and is a Director of Our Community.
CPD = 1  Professional Conduct (Ethics)/Financial Planning

The client perspective: seeing the world through their eyes
11.55 – 13.20
Neer Korn, Chief Executive Officer, The Korn Group

This presentation is all about the client perspective. Based on over 100 large scale studies with Australians of all ages it will introduce delegates to their key segments and discuss key issues that will help engender loyalty.  The first part will provide a brief overview of key consumer segments, their attitudes and priorities. The second will look at key trends to consider such as Who can you Trust? In Search of Positivity, Smart Living, From the Horse’s Mouth, A DIY approach and how small gestures can be very powerful.
The presentation weaves a story of the Australian psyche using video quotes and best practice communication to bring the issues to life thus allowing delegates to step into their customers’ shoes and see the world through their eyes.
Neer Korn founded The Korn Group as a social, market and consumer research organisation. His areas of research encompass all areas of life including: careers, leisure, shopping, health, nutrition and wellbeing, finance, relationships, politics, image & identity, dreams and aspirations to name a few. He consults to a who’s who of Australian blue chip companies and organisations as well as government and charities.
CPD = 1.5  Attributes & Performance/Generic Knowledge

Bad practice – the top consumer complaints on financial planners
11.55 – 13.20
Facilitated by Dr Deen Sanders, Chief Professional Officer, Financial Planning Association
Panellists: 
Jocelyn Furlan, Chairperson, Superannuation Complaints Tribunal
Prof. Dimity Kingsford Smith, Chair, Conduct Review Commission (CRC)
Alison Maynard, Ombudsman, Investments, Life Insurance and Superannuation at the Financial Ombudsman Service Limited
Delia Rickard, Senior Executive Leader, Financial Literacy, Consumers, Advisers & Retail Investors, and ACT Regional Commissioner, ASIC

The aim of this session is to highlight the common consumer complaints heard by the financial services disciplinary bodies each year. This session will examine the complaints process, how the complaints were handled and discuss the outcomes. Delegates will walk away with a better understanding of common complaints and encourage planners to review their practice to avoid future issues.

Jocelyn Furlan was appointed Chairperson of the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal for a five year period in June 2009. Prior to her appointment she was the Acting Chairperson from September 2007 and prior to that she was appointed Deputy Chairperson from March 2006. Jocelyn holds law and commerce degrees and has in excess of 25 years’ experience in the superannuation industry. Previous roles include Compliance Manager of legalsuper, Executive Manager Corporate of the Victorian Superannuation Board and its predecessor the State Superannuation Board, and Company Secretary of VicSuper. Jocelyn is a founding member of the International Network of Financial Ombudsmen and is a member of the ATO’s Superannuation Consultative Committee, the Indigenous Financial Services Network and SuperLife. She is also Independent Expert to the Victorian Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Fund.
Professor Dimity Kingsford Smith is the Chair of the FPA’s Conduct Review Commission, a professional disciplinary panel in the financial services industry. She has advised the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and consulted to the Canadian Investment Dealers Association. Professor Kingsford Smith has served on the Executive Committee of the Australian Corporate Law Teachers Association, and is a member of the Australian Society of Legal Philosophy and the Julius Stone Institute. She holds membership of the US and Canadian Law & Society Associations.
Alison Maynard is the Ombudsman, Investments, Life Insurance and Superannuation at the Financial Ombudsman Service. Previously Alison was appointed Chief Executive of FICS in 2001 holding that position for seven years until July 2008 when FICS merged with the Banking and Financial Services Ombudsman and the Insurance Ombudsman Service to form the Financial Ombudsman Service. Alison was admitted to legal practice in 1982. After five years as a Solicitor in Community Legal Centres, she became the Supervisor of Clinical Training at Leo Cussen Institute. One of her notable former students is Julia Gillard.
Delia Rickard has over 20 years of experience working in the area of consumer protection and financial services. She joined the Australian Securities and Investments Commission in 1999 and is presently their Regional Commissioner for the Australian Capital Territory and also their Senior Executive Leader for Financial Literacy, Consumers, Advisers and Retail Investors, working closely with the consumer sector, industry and other areas of government. Her present role includes responsibility for leading Australia’s financial literacy work; regulating financial advisers, overseeing dispute resolution systems and a range of co-regulatory initiatives designed to further consumer protection for financial consumers.
CPD = 1.5 Professional Conduct/Financial Planning

The emotional intelligent adviser
11.55 – 13.20
Sue Langley, Partner, Langley Group

How do the best financial advisers positively influence clients and expertly manage their often turbulent emotions in the advice engagement process?
Emotional management of a client’s financial situation will become more critical as the profession evolves. This workshop creates a deeper understanding and capability for financial advisers in how they can influence client outcomes and understand using the power of neuroscience and emotional intelligence.
During the critical first interview, myriad emotional interactions are occurring between adviser-client and within the client’s own mind. The most skilful trusted advisers understand these subtle interactions and actively manage the emotions and perceptions of clients throughout the various trust-building gates in the engagement process, from the initial rapport building phase to discovering emotional drivers of client and positioning the pay off of advice.
If you’ve felt out of your depth in managing the emotions of the client across the table this powerful workshop will teach you fundamental trust-building skills and techniques aligned to a best practice engagement model.
Learn how to read people, how to tap into the emotional context, how to influence and building trust more effectively.

Sue Langley has extensive experience working with organisations to achieve higher performance, with her work taking her to Asia, Europe, the USA and Africa. She loves the diversity of people and never fails to enthuse and inspire. Her expertise lies in human development, working with individuals and organisations. She trains in leadership, sales, customer service and management as well as running Emotional Intelligence, Stress Management and Personal Development programmes in Australia and overseas. She is accredited to deliver the state of the art Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) as well as many other psychometric tools. Sue holds qualifications in Psychology, Management, Organisational Development, Retail and Frontline Management, Marketing, Leadership and Training and Development. She is also a graduate of the Harvard Positive Psychology programme.
CPD = 1.5 Attributes & Performance / Generic Skills

SMSF Essentials for 2012
11.55 – 13.20
Joanne Hall CFP®, SMSF Specialist Advisor®. Cornerstone FG
Peter Hogan, Senior Technical Manager, MLC Advice Solutions

This session will hit the hot issues impacting your SMSF advice in 2012. SMSF specialists, Jo Hall and Peter Hogan, will bring you up-to-date with the latest issues and legislation changes from a unique technical and planner perspective. Topics to be discussed and tackled include:

  • 2012 – Key issues impacting your SMSF advice
  • Superannuation borrowing rules – hot off the press improvements on property rules
  • Excessive contribution cap option – to have it refunded and taxed at your marginal rate
  • Death Benefits & CGT – Issue and impact of the recent Government announcement

Joanne Hall has been involved in the Financial Services industry for over 13 years. In 2010 Jo established her own specialised Self Managed Super Fund practice along with a specialised SMSF paraplanning business which is expanding rapidly. After completing her degree in Bachelor of Applied Economics, she moved to Australia and discovered her passion for financial planning moving into a paraplanning position with AMP Financial Services. Jo then stepped into a financial planning role with a private financial planning practice becoming a Partner in 2007. Jo helped build the practice to an efficient team of 5 financial advisers with 8 support staff. She was instrumental in seeking new opportunities for the practice including the introduction of Self Managed Super Fund advice and a fee for service pricing structure.
Jo’s passion is to provide easy to understand advice that adds value to every client. She is the resident of the
Kawana Waters Chamber of Commerce, an active Specialist Member of SPAA and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®.
Peter Hogan joined MLC Technical Services as a Senior Technical Manager in 2010. He is a visiting lecturer at Adelaide University’s International Centre for Financial Services and is on the Board of the Self Managed Superannuation Fund Professionals Association of Australia (SPAA).
For the past four years, Peter has worked in his own business as a specialist SMSF adviser. Prior to this, he was Head of Technical Services at Colonial First State Investments for seven years and held the same role at Macquarie Bank for five years. Peter holds a Bachelor of Laws from Sydney University, a Diploma of Financial Planning from Deakin University and is accredited as a Specialist Superannuation Adviser by SPAA.
CPD = Assessed onsite

Masterclass 3 – Are You Fit for FOFA Masterclass
Attendance is limited to Masterclass sessions. If you wish to attend this Masterclass you must pre-register your interest during the conference registration process. Please note some Masterclass session will require pre-reading materials which will be provided to attending delegates closer to the event.
11.55 – 15.10
This session will cover three important parts of the FOFA process and will be addressed by experts in the field.
Legality issues of FOFA: Grant Holley, Partner, Holley Nethercote and Tim Nethercote, Partner, Holley Nethercote
This interactive session examines the FOFA reforms.  What does the legislation really say and what response does it call for from financial planners?
By the conclusion of the session participants will be able to:

  • explain the FOFA reforms;
  • identify risks arising from the reforms in relation to the giving of advice and to the value of their businesses;
  • list a range of resources providing further information and assistance;
  • describe the way in which their risk management framework and conflicts of interests procedures can be used to manage the risks associated with the FOFA reforms.

Administering FOFA – Matt Fogarty, Consultant – Advice Dealer Groups, OnePath
Encouraging clients to opt in – Alastair White, Facilitator, Phuel
Grant Holley was a member of the Victorian Bar between 1986 and commencing Holley Nethercote and Compact in March 1995. Grant’s practice has been predominantly in commercial law. He holds degrees in economics and law from Monash University and a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne. He is a fellow of the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia and is a graded arbitrator and accredited mediator.
Grant is a contributing author to a number of legal publications and journals and has authored the book ‘Management and the Law’. He is a founding member and Associate of the Australian Compliance Institute and has a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment. In 2001, Grant completed an AMP Financial Services Competencies Program.
Tim Nethercote was admitted to practise as a barrister and solicitor in 1978 after completing degrees in economics and law and obtaining a Diploma of Education at Monash University. Tim taught economics, business and legal studies at Camberwell Grammar School in Melbourne for ten years after which he practised as an employee solicitor with a Melbourne CBD legal firm for six years until March 1995. In addition to his being a principal of Compact and of the law firm Holley Nethercote Commercial Lawyers, Tim is a member of the Australian Institute of Training and Development, the Australian Life Underwriters and Claims Association, Australian Institute of Credit Management and the Financial Planning Association. Tim is also a founding member and Associate of the Australasian Compliance Institute and has a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment.
Matt Fogarty has been working in the financial services sector for over sixteen years. He is currently consulting within the OnePath aligned dealer groups team as the Best Practice Manager, working with various groups to transition their practices in line with the Future of Financial Advice (FOFA) reforms. He is a founding partner and director of The Encore Group and has been extensively involved in the AMP Horizons Academy. 
Alastair White began his career in surveying and real estate with Prudential Property Services in the UK before moving into a Financial Planning role with Allied Dunbar and latterly First Call Friends Provident. He began his Learning and Development career within AMP, working within their HR consulting area.  His last role before joining Phuel in 2006 was Regional Sales Manager for Aussie Home Loans where he helped pioneer the change from a team of 150 to almost 600 mortgage Brokers.
CPD = 3  Capability/Financial Planning

Walking and talking the black dog – coping with mood disorders and depression
14.15 – 15.10
Matthew Johnstone, Author I Had a Black Dog
Best selling author and illustrator, Matthew Johnstone will be presenting a story based around his experience of depression at the height of his career as a creative director in New York. It’s not a ‘poor me’ story nor is it depressing. In fact it’s an illustrated tale full of insight, hope and humour. Ultimately it’s about overcoming adversity and what can be learnt from it.
Matthew Johnstone is a creative consultant for the Black Dog Institute developing various creative, educational programs on understanding mental health, mood disorders, mindfulness and resilience for schools and the work place.
CPD = Assessed onsite

FOFA Implementation for Small Licensees & Responsible Managers 
14.15 – 15.10  
Claire Wivell-Plater, Managing Director, Gold Seal Risk Management and Gold Seal Legal Pty Ltd
As you would know, the Responsible Manager is the key person to whom ASIC will look to assess whether or not the license holder is meeting its obligations.  This session has been designed to support you to implement and monitor the key FOFA reforms coming into play, including:

  • Ensuring your revenue models are suitable for commission free business
  • Setting up your client engagement process to comply with Opt in
  • Using engagement letters to simplify the opt in process, secure your revenue and protect you from PI claims
  • Putting in place secure payment facilities for your fees
  • Risk managing the best interest obligation and the provision of scaled advice

Claire Wivell-Plater is Managing Director and majority owner of Gold Seal Risk Management Services and Gold Seal Legal. She sits on ASIC’s Business Advisory Committee for the Real Economy.
CPD = 1 Capability/Skills

Making a safe exit from your business – business succession planning in action
14.15 – 15.10
Jeffery Scott CFP®, Executive Manager, Business Growth Services, CommInsure
In this session, attendees will examine a real business case in relation to business succession planning and key person protection.  Attendees will be asked to provide recommendations on:  types of life insurance cover, sums insured, ownership, and beneficiary nominations.    These recommendations will then be discussed in detail.
Jeffrey Scott is Executive Manager, Business Growth Services at CommInsure. He has been in the insurance industry for twenty years and designed the first terminal illness benefits in Australia, which is now a standard feature on all Term Life Products.
CPD = 1  Critical Thinking/Insurance

Tales from a technical team – Super questions which make us go hmm
14.15 – 15.10
John Perri, Technical Services Manager, AMP Tapln

This advanced session will share with you the top and most interesting questions received by the AMP TapIn team related to getting money into and out of superannuation. We will do this by way of the real life client scenarios planners have put forward to us to solve, including:

  • How to demonstrate  to your clients that super is still the preferred retirement structure
  • Dealing with redundancy/termination payments and getting the money into super
  • Concessional Contribution Caps and satisfying the 10% rule for  self employed people
  • Using super to fund buy/sell arrangements for small business people
  • Maximising the tax efficiency of TPD and TMC entitlements

John Perri is a Technical Services Manager in the TapIn Technical team, specialising in the areas of superannuation and retirement income streams. He has over 25 years experience in the finance industry including 17 with AMP, 4 with Connelly Temple, 3 with St George Bank and 3 with the Australian Taxation Office. Since May 2011, John has been the Acting Product Technical Manager in TapIn, managing 2 staff and overseeing the technical interaction between TapIn and Product Manufacturing and Customer Solutions.
From July 2009 to December 2010 John was seconded to AMP Group Strategy as a Senior Strategy Analyst, where he helped develop the AMP positions on matters for inclusion in AMP Submissions to the Ripoll, Henry and Cooper reviews. He has a Bachelor of Commerce (majoring in Accountancy and Management Studies), is a CPA and has a Diploma of Financial Planning. John represents AMP on a number of industry committees, including:    

  • Member of the Financial Services Council (FSC) Superannuation Technical Working Group
  • Member of the FSC Stronger Super SMSF Working Group

John was also a former director of the Australian Retirement Income Streams Association (ARISA), and a former Chair and member of the ARISA Technical Committee.

Creativity has the power to change any business
15.20 – 16.15
Todd Sampson, Chief Executive Officer, Leo Burnett Ltd

Creativity is one of the last remaining competitive advantages companies have today. This presentation is a celebration of the power of creativity in solving any problem – big, small, social, political, economic or environmental.  It works from the premise that ‘creativity has the power to change the world, but fear has the power to stop that from happening and the most successful leaders and  organisations of the future will be the ones that can successfully balance both’.   
The presentation is built on real life experience and explores innovative ideas, cultural change and problem solving.  It weaves together real stories about the creation of Earth Hour, being a CEO of a leading company and climbing Mount Everest unguided.  The consistent take out has been ‘that has inspired me to think differently about how we work’, ‘it makes me think about the impact I can have as an individual’, ‘it encourages me to be braver and try harder to make a difference within my company’.   It is ultimately a combination of creativity, idea generation, leadership, culture change, earth hour, problem solving, innovation, bravery and adventure all wrapped up into one real life personal journey.  It offers practical advice in a unique and plain speaking way.  
Todd Sampson is the breakout star of the hit ABC television show The Gruen Transfer and features regularly on  channel Ten’s 7pm Project.  He is the co-creator of the Earth Hour initiative, which has been recognised as one the best ideas in the world and awarded the Yahoo Chair for Innovation.
CPD = Assessed onsite