The NZFAA, which formed from the merger of the Life Brokers Association (LBA) and TNP Professional Association (TNPPA), launched at the start of the year and had its first adviser meetings as a merged organisation last week.

David Yates, general manager of the NZFAA, said the organisation's main focus was on registered financial adviseers, although a number of its 200-odd members are authorised financial advisers.

“I think one of the characteristics of a profession is a professional association or professional associations. If the adviser is looking to present themselves as professional they should be a member of an association.”

Yates said professional associations required four features: professional development, professional designations, compliance support and advocacy.

And he said the answer was “categorically yes” as to whether there was room in the market for more than one of these associations in New Zealand.

“If you look at models around the world such as in the UK, the USA and Australia, there are a number of professional associations serving the different needs of adviser channels. There is absolutely room for
two or three good quality professional associations in the market.”

Yates wouldn’t disclose the NZFAA’s end-of-year membership target but said the association expected to reach its target by September or October.

He said the feedback from advisers on both sides of the merger had been positive and there had already been about a dozen non-financial LBA members who had become financial members of the NZFAA.

Advisers had accepted the association’s compulsory CPD requirement, he said.

“There’s a legal obligation to conduct your practice with care, diligence and skill and there’s general recognition that professional development is part of that.”