I believe 2020 marks the beginning of a highly positive period for advisers in New Zealand.

It’s very easy for us to get bogged down with the new requirements, particularly the qualifications that are part and parcel of the new regime. But on the positive side, there is no doubt in my mind that once this is behind us, we will be much better equipped to advise our clients through being more knowledgeable and more aware of the bigger financial advice picture. 

Another major plus is that we will be perceived in a more favourable light by our clients and the general public. They will know we are properly qualified to give them advice of the highest quality.

We will likely earn less for life and health sales. But it wasn’t too many years ago that a large bunch of us qualified for MDRT, and re-qualified many times, when commission rates were less than 100%. So no major drama on that score then.

We could easily become fixated by change but in my humble opinion we will, in future, be better regarded in the marketplace and better able to give top quality advice.

I urge you to grab hold of what you need to do, get stuck in, and get on with it. Once you’ve completed all the requirements you’ll be able to present yourself in a fresh new way with the goal of being the very best adviser that you can be.

Your clients need you to be nothing less.