Better path needed for new mortgage advisers

Matthieu Olo-Whaanga

He says the NZQA New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services (Level 5) is not enough for advisers new to the industry who have little business or life experience.

“That's not to say, that we make it harder for people to get into the industry, but there should be a lot more knowledge added to the qualification and perhaps a proviso that new advisers once they have their certificate go through a two-or three-year registration process similar to valuers and other professions, or a mentoring programme.”

Olo-Whaanga set up Tasman Finance Partners in October after buying his client book from Float Mortgages where he has worked for several years.

It took him only a couple of months from the six months allowed to study and gain the Level 5 certificate, but he had significant business and life experience before starting.