AXA paraplanners to work under one roof

AXAhas unveiled plans to centralise its nationwide paraplanner operations in Melbourne by the end of the year with its non-Victoria based staff being offered the chance to relocate.

AXA-owned dealer groupCharternational manager Bruce Birchall says the move is in response to its planners, which will remain state-wide, wanting faster turnaround times and more consistency in plans.

“By streamlining the process, there should be a considerable improvement in the turnaround time,” Birchall says.

AXA is promising its advisers a five to seven-day turnaround for all plan types from the centralised paraplanner operation. At present there are 15 paraplanners based throughout all states.

“All plans will use the preferred plan template as a move to improve quality. There will also be one to two-page executive summaries and plans will cost between $240 and $420 per plan,” Birchall says.

Charter has also introduced a new elite ranking for its top dealers called the Charter Leader Group.

Birchall says the dealers have to be invited to join the top group, which will be limited to 20 members and membership will only be for a year.

To qualify, the dealer group must have one adviser to CFP/DFP education standards and must also have a business plan that identifies a growth strategy.

“We also want their compliance rating to be either A or B and be in the top 20 dealer groups by gross revenue,” he says.

The benefits of being in the Leader Group, which the criteria for membership will be judged in December, will include higher value support and gaining access to new services first, Birchall says.

“We are also looking at covering the cost of Visiplan as an additional benefit,” he adds.