Will Brimble’s FPEC resignation clear air?


Amid expressions of angst by some planners about the make-up of the Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority board and the use Financial Planning Education Council (FPEC) register, one of its key academic members, Dr Mark Brimble has resigned as chairman of the FPEC.
Brimble’s resignation was announced by the initiator of the FPEC, the Financial Planning Association (FPA), with the organisation’s statement saying his resignation had followed FASEA’s announcement that it would be adopting FPEC’s framework and course approval list.
Brimble and other members of the FASEA board, who were appointed by the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services, had been the subject of angry claims by some financial planners that they may be conflicted because they are attached to academic institutions whose degrees are included on the FPEC list.
His resignation also came as FASEA and the major financial planning organisations move to begin consultations around the education pathways likely to be open to planners.
Sharon Taylor, Senior Lecturer at Western Sydney University and current Deputy Chair of FPEC, would act as Chair until the FPA Board appointed a suitable replacement.
Recommended for you
ASIC has released the results of its first adviser exam to be held in 2025 with 241 candidates attempting the test.
Quarterly Wealth Data analysis has uncovered positive improvements in financial adviser numbers compared with losses in the prior corresponding period.
Holding portfolios that are too complex or personalised can be a detractor for acquirers of financial advice firms as they require too much effort to maintain post-acquisition.
As the financial advice profession continues to wait on further DBFO legislation, industry commentators have encouraged advisers to act now in driving practice efficiency.