Over 2,000 advisers left industry year to date


The movement in adviser numbers this was week was dominated by Commonwealth Bank’s shut down of Commonwealth Financial Planning (CFP) which translated into a departure of 74 advisers.
Additionally, the total net loss for the week was compounded by heavy losses at AMP (-38) and IOOF (-28) with a very little take up of advisers elsewhere, according to Wealth Data.
The firm’s director, Collin Williams, said that AMP experienced the losses across the board and “none at this stage have switched to alternate licensees”.
“IOOF did see some advisers leave and commence work under their own self-licensed arrangements. Also, IOOF losses was compounded by several ‘staff’ (non-client facing) coming off the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s Financial Adviser Register,” Williams said
Following this, three licensee owners saw net losses at four, including NTAA, while another two licensee owners lost two advisers, and 22 had seen net losses of one adviser each.
Commenting on the year-to-date data, which saw net losses past 2,000, Williams said that it was noteworthy that the only growing are was the self-licensed sector compared to other financial planning business model peer groups.
Across that sector, there were 113 licensees that commenced and only 45 that exited. By comparison, across the ‘accounting – limited advice’ sector, there were 105 closures and zero new licensees which commenced in the year-to-date.
Oreana remained out in front, counting year-to-date in terms of growth for licensee owners with over 50 advisers, as it saw a net growth of 37 and was followed by Centrepoint at 15.
Also, five licensees shared third place – Advice Evolution, Bombora Advice, Canaccord, Capstone and Count.
The total number of advisers continued to fall and as at 2 December, 2021, it stood at 18,574.
Source: Wealth Data
Recommended for you
The Reserve Bank of Australia has delivered its first rate decision since the introduction of a new board structure last month.
ASIC was active in the first quarter of 2025 with several financial adviser bannings and court action, while the FSCP also handed down outcomes to advisers.
With a joint venture announced between WT Financial and Merchant Wealth Partners, the firm may have a US background, but partner David Haintz has a long history with Australian financial advice.
The big four bank is set to see $40 million per annum in cost savings as it continues to migrate customers from its Asgard wealth platform to BT Panorama by FY26.