UniSuper gets FPA Professional Practice accreditation


UniSuper has become the first profit-to-member fund to have each of its advice offices in Australia accredited under the Financial Planning Association (FPA) Professional Practice program.
The accreditation means each office is required to demonstrate the highest professional and ethical standards through the FPA code of professional practice, and a majority of advisers in each office hold a certified financial planner (CFP) designation.
UniSuper's executive manager for advice, Jack McCartney, said the accreditation allows its advice offices to be a trusted environment for members seeking professional tailored advice across a broad range of topics.
"We've built our national advice footprint in response to increased demand from members for professional advice that covers not just superannuation-related topics but broader financial issues such as investment strategies, wealth accumulation, insurance or retirement, and estate planning," he said.
"Our membership base is unique, they are engaged, well-educated and we have privileged access which enables us to design products and solutions — such as our open defined benefit division — specifically for our members.
UniSuper advice is fee for service and avoids any commissions for recommending investment strategies or insurance products.
Recommended for you
Financial Services Minister, Stephen Jones, has assured the cost and time to enter the financial advice profession will soon be halved, as shadow treasurer Angus Taylor pledges to reach 30,000 advisers.
The positive results of the latest financial adviser exam have helped the advice profession reach 15,600 yet again, according to Wealth Data analysis.
Financial advice firms have told Adviser Ratings they are planning to increase their compliance spend by almost a third, including on enhancements to their cyber security which ASIC has identified as an enforcement priority.
The digital advice platform is officially launching into the financial advice sector, offering up its services to practices as a means of engaging with the next generation of clients.