Who proactively asks their software stack providers about security?
The results are in from ASIC's Cyber Pulse Survey, and the report has been released (12th November 2023). So much to unpack! One of the points they make is around supply chain risk. Without looking at the survey, I'm interested to know your thoughts on the percentage of advice firms that have already asked their software stack providers about the levels of security they have in place and can provide the evidence to show they did their DD. What percentage do you think have this on file?Does everyone understand the “why”?
When working with clients, we are often asked to focus on processes and governance so the business can minimise their risks while driving efficiencies and reducing costs. We often find what happens “on the ground” could be their biggest risk. How often are you engaging with staff who are making sure the “doing” is getting done and they understand how critical they are in bringing to life advice provided to clients? How often do you think about what will happen if some/all of your key people involved in admin/support roles suddenly left the business? Who can step in and fill in the gaps to implement advice that has been provided to clients? Does everyone understand the role they play in the advice process and their “why”? Investing in staff is a crucial component in risk management and the success of a business. What are some of the things you are doing to invest in your people? We would love to hear some fun and different ways in how staff are brought along the journey and involved in the vision of the business, as well as ensuring everyone is across the “why”.Succession Plan - Be honest ! How prepared are you?
This is something that is so close to my heart at the moment as I am in the home stretch of realising the dream that I mapped out 8 years ago! A real mixture of emotions and this has been 8 years in the making to get to that realisation. With a number of advisers still looking to transition out of the industry over the next 3 years I am very interested to understand and get comments on how prepared they are, is it documented in an actionable plan and what areas are they focused on to maximise their attractiveness and value. Also, how are they protecting their clients that they have nutured over many years to minimise the impact on them as this will ultimately have an reputational impact on the whole industry and the success of that transition.Efficient vs Effective
I'd love to hear the experts' views on Efficient vs Effective, please. I think we fall into the trap as business owners and advisers of focussing on efficiency at the expense of being effective. For instance, we can be super efficient at producing a review document (as measured by time taken, quality, content etc.) but, if the client doesn't understand the advice or is not responsive to it then it probably isn't very effective. Another example could be onboarding new staff - contracts are ready, PD is agreed, introductions to the team are made and the checklist is complete however, the new team member might not understand what's expected of them and how they fit in. So, what tips do you have on achieving the holy grail of having an efficient process or system that is also super effective at achieving your goals? Peter.Worn jessica.lambWhat steps have you and your team taken to address cybersecurity risk?
Recent CoreData research suggests advice practices could lose at least 13% of business in the aftermath of a cybersecurity incident. In light of this alarming figure, I want to know what steps have you and your team taken to address cybersecurity risk? I also encourage you to register for the upcoming webinar on February 29th at 9:00 am AEDT where Fraser.Jack and I will be looking at real-life stories of cyber breaches and what you can learn from them! Click here to register.Want to know exactly what your client has updated in their digital fact find? Now you can!
Fact find comparison report is now available to all users Background Client Portal allows users to provide their clients with a digital fact find to complete for new and existing clients. The data is updated immediately in Xplan and allows advisers to capture data more efficiently. However, even though all changes are logged in the audit trail, getting a clear picture of what is updated wasn't always easy. What's new? Upon completion of a fact find in Client Portal, a comparison report is generated and saved as a file note against the client. All data from the fact find is displayed and any changes are clearly highlighted. How do I activate it? No extra steps are required to configure or activate the comparison report, it is already live in Client Portal and available now. Simply follow the existing fact find process by setting the fact find status to 'Unlocked' and when the client submits their fact find, a file note is created with the comparison report attached. Got questions or feedback? We always welcome feedback on our products and if you wish to let us know your thoughts, or if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to post them below.The struggle for adviser capacity
These days, we see advisers doing more administration work than we saw 5 or 10 years ago. Research, plan requests and even application forms are unnecessarily taking up their time and stifling capacity. And this is not simply due to more compliance. So what's driving the hesitation to hand-over to a support role? Is it finding the right support? A lack of trust? Or something else?How do you stay focused on the right client?
I think the best of us get sidetracked into helping people with their challenges, especially when that's what we've had training and experience in. I'm curious about how other advisers, or even business owners "stick to their knitting"? It's so easy to say "yes" to someone especially if things are a bit quiet but what tips and tricks do you use to say "no" to stay focussed? mat.tenison3 jenny.brown deborah.kent What to do if a referral isn’t right for you | AdviselyThe Meeting System Myth: Why Structure Beats Style Every Time
A well-run financial planning business doesn’t just deliver advice – it delivers it predictably. Inconsistency across key meetings – the Initial Appointment, the Statement of Advice Presentation, or the Annual Review – is the hidden weakness in many firms. While owners focus on revenue, it’s often the quiet chaos in how meetings are run and documented that chips away at trust, compliance, and efficiency. If you want to scale with confidence, every high-impact client meeting must become a system. And that system starts with standardisation – not of the advice, but of the structure. Systemise the Conversation – Not Just the Paperwork The core of a great meeting system is a pre-designed checklist or script that aligns with your service model. This doesn’t mean a robotic pitch. It means your practice has decided the key messages, disclosures, and touchpoints every client should hear, and every planner should cover. This script links directly to a tailored presentation deck. Together, they guide the conversation in a way that feels natural but ensures compliance, consistency, and quality across your entire team. Whether it’s super contributions, estate planning, or explaining fees, the same message is heard – regardless of which adviser is in the room. Now the magic happens downstream. Because the file note template has been written with the script and deck in mind, documentation becomes fast, thorough, and audit-proof. No more gaps. No more ambiguity. Instead, you have a meeting system that not only educates clients but protects your business. From Chaos to Coordination – One Meeting at a Time When you treat meetings as repeatable experiences rather than one-off conversations, you unlock operational clarity. Let’s take the Annual Review. If every adviser starts with a discovery script, shares a visual roadmap tailored to the client’s stage, and wraps up with a checklist-driven file note, you’ve created an advice experience that is consistent, scalable, and delegation-friendly. A paraplanner reading the note doesn’t have to guess – they know what happened. An offshore team can pre-fill the review deck or prep documents with confidence. And compliance knows where to look to verify outcomes. Best of all, clients feel the professionalism. They feel seen, heard, and remembered – because the system was built to deliver that. The Real Payoff – Margin, Morale, and Market Value When your meetings are systemised: Capacity scales. Planners spend less time documenting and more time advising. Morale lifts. Admin and support teams stop chasing details and start managing workflow. Compliance risk drops. Your audit trail becomes robust by default. Business value grows. You’re no longer a collection of individual styles. You’re a business with a playbook. Ultimately, your client meetings become an asset – not a risk. Conclusion High-value client interactions are too important to leave to chance or memory. Building a meeting system – anchored in a script, deck, and templated file note - ensures that every adviser delivers a consistent, high-quality experience, every time. This isn’t about removing personality. It’s about removing doubt. And the practicality? Don’t pretend you’ll build this in two weeks. Start small. Test. Tinker. Then each year, when your office shuts down for three days to improve procedures, you’ll make real progress. Within three years, you’ll have busted the myth that this is too hard to start. It’s not. You just did it – one process at a time. Mark LewinWhat is limiting your efficiency?
It seems between compliance requirements, size of advice documents and the general administration practices need to keep up with, no one is feeling at the top of their game. I would love to hear what areas you are struggling with, or if you have found some solutions that may be helpful to us all!
