Financial Adviser Head Count Sees Marginal Gains

8

Despite the recent uptick, the overall trend for the calendar year remains concerning. WealthData's principal, Colin Williams, highlighted that many advisers previously counted among the fiscal year's large exits have returned under new licenses. This movement has somewhat cushioned the overall number, bringing active financial adviser registrations to 15,469 as of now.

Interestingly, since the beginning of the financial year on July 1, there have been 41 new advisers registered, including the 21 additions from the past week. These recent figures indicate a potential reversal in the downtrend, though the calendar year's net loss of 148 advisers can't be overlooked.

Weekly Adviser Activity Overview

• Net change of advisers: +39
• Total number of active advisers: 15,469
• Year-to-date net change for 2024: -148
• This financial year's net change: +121
• Net change for the last financial year (2023/24): -211
• 39 Licensee Owners achieved net gains amounting to 54 advisers
• 12 Licensee Owners faced net losses, losing 13 advisers
• Two licensees commenced operations, while one ceased
• 21 new advisers entered the scene
• Total advisery movements (appointments/resignations): 74 (down from last week's 246)

Licensee Owner Growth Highlights

Certain licensee owners experienced appreciable gains this week. Insignia Group stands out with a net increase of seven advisers; five being new entrants while the remaining two transitioned from Alliance Wealth and internal positions within Insignia.

AvalonFS showed a net increment of six advisers. However, it's noteworthy that all six had ceased operations toward the end of June but were reinstated in the beginning week of July.

Other notable movers include:

• New licensee onboarding advisers from Advice Evolution
• Pitcher Partners Brisbane: gained two new entrants
• Philborne Pty Ltd (Dirigere Advisory): added one adviser each from Zebra Financial Services and Fortnum
• Bell Financial: inducted two new advisers

Additionally, a broad spectrum of 33 other licensee owners saw a net growth of one adviser each, including firms like Fortnum, Centrepoint, and Capstone.

Licensee Owner Losses This Week

On the flip side, there have been notable declines within certain major licensee owners:

• AMP Group saw a dip by two advisers; one new adviser joined from Godfrey Pembroke, but this gain could not offset three other advisers ceasing their affiliation (backdated to June).
• A group of 11 licensee owners, including prominent names like Findex Group, Infocus, and Morgan Stanley, observed a net loss of one adviser each, including the one licensee that completely wound down.

The ever-evolving adviser landscape reflects the broader shifts and disruptions within the financial advisory sector in Australia. It will be crucial to monitor if trends reverse sustainably or if the industry continues to navigate these turbulent waters. (Source: WealthData)

Published:Saturday, 13th Jul 2024
Source: Paige Estritori

Share this news item:

Finance News

Clear

OECD Warns of Sluggish Australian Economic Growth Amid Global Trade Concerns 18 Mar 2025: Paige Estritori The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has issued a warning about a potential slowdown in Australia's economic growth over the next two years. This prediction comes against the backdrop of heightened global uncertainty, spurred by trade policies introduced by US President Donald Trump. The OECD projects Australia’s GDP to rise to 1.9% in 2025 but slip slightly to 1.8% in 2026, falling short of earlier expectations laid out in their December report. - read more

Sydney Leads Australia's Housing Market Resurgence 17 Mar 2025: Paige Estritori CoreLogic's latest preliminary auction results have revealed Sydney's dominant role in Australia's housing rebound, with an impressive clearance rate of 71.4%. This marks the sixth consecutive week that the auction clearance rate in Sydney has surpassed 70%. - read more

US Stock Decline Intensifies Amid Tariff Fears 12 Mar 2025: Paige Estritori US stock markets faced a significant downturn on Tuesday, deepening a selloff not seen in months, fueled by investors' concerns over the latest round of tariff threats and their potential repercussions on the global economy. The S&P 500 reached a critical low, nearing a 10 per cent drop from its record high, reflecting growing market volatility amidst mixed updates on international trade tensions and geopolitical events. - read more

RBA Rate Cut Sparks Surge in Australian Consumer Confidence 12 Mar 2025: Paige Estritori The Reserve Bank of Australia’s recent decision to reduce the official interest rate by 25 basis points to 4.1 per cent in February has invigorated consumer confidence, reaching a three-year high. The upswing in sentiment began in late 2024 but waned slightly over the holiday season. However, March data from the Westpac-Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment index indicates a recovery, driven by the RBA's interest rate cut and easing cost pressures. - read more

Star Entertainment Secures $940M Refinancing Amid Financial Struggles 11 Mar 2025: Paige Estritori Star Entertainment Group has announced a crucial refinancing plan to address its significant debt obligations. The casino operator has forged an exclusivity and process deed with Salter Brothers Capital, signalling a potential $940 million refinancing initiative. This move, if successful, would allow Star to manage its existing debt portfolio effectively and ease the liquidity pressures it currently faces. - read more