National advice firm Viridian Advisory is encouraging school leavers to consider financial advice as a future career choice, having taken almost 20 individuals through its professional year (PY) program.
The firm, which has almost 30 offices across NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, the ACT, South Australia and Tasmania, said the financial advice industry is experiencing surging demand from consumers.
Adviser numbers sit around 15,500, according to Wealth Data, but since the start of FY24, there have been 270 new entrants joining the Financial Advisers Register.
Viridian said financial advice can offer a career path that is exciting and rewarding, as well as provide growth and purpose.
Brett Arnol, general manager for advice at Viridian Financial Group, said: “The industry has undergone significant transformation in recent years, and with an increasing need for financial advice, there’s never been a better time for young talent to join and help shape the future.
“This is a unique moment for young talent to step into an industry on the rise. The financial advice sector is ready for the next generation to bring fresh ideas, meet increasing demand, and shape its future for years to come.”
The firm already runs a PY program which combines technical training and skills development, and so far 12 candidates have completed the program and seven are currently taking it.
It flagged the PY offering features personalised learning paths, mentorship, and development of soft skills such as emotional intelligence and client engagement.
If school leavers are interested in pursuing financial advice, they can undertake a specialist degree in financial planning or supplement a traditional business or commerce degree with specialist qualifications from providers like Kaplan.
“These pathways provide the flexibility to tailor their education to their career goals while meeting the profession’s standards.”
Earlier this year, organisation Striver announced a partnership with BT to support the generation of new talent in advice.
The Striver Career Pathways Program is an online-based learning and development program that addresses the adviser shortage in Australia and seeks to improve access to quality advice.
The course is aimed towards career changers, advice support staff looking to upskill, and university graduates. In conjunction with Striver, BT’s mission is to introduce 5,000 new advisers to the profession over the next decade.
