Firm valuations tipped to take a hit under new education rules
With the incoming education standards pushing many senior advisers to consider retirement and the banks increasingly hesitant to lend to advice firms, one financial services firm predicts this could significantly impact business valuations.
Profile Financial Services managing director Phillip Win said that under the new standards set by the Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority, financial planners who do not hold a related degree will need to undergo considerable additional study to meet the proposed FASEA standard by 1 January 2024.
“Even if a financial planner holds a related degree, they will still need to undertake a bridging course of three subjects, covering Chapter 7 of the Corporations Act, the FASEA Code of Ethics and a course of behavioural finance,” Mr Win said.
For many of the advisers at a mature stage of their working lives who are already considering retirement, the FASEA requirements will accelerate that, Mr Win added.
The industry may well be the poorer due to the drain of corporate memory, the MD said, and these clients will also need to be transitioned to a new financial adviser who is suitably qualified under the FASEA standards.
“The businesses of those retiring will need to be sold. This will require finance from a banking sector that has made it clear will be harder to borrow money from,” Mr Win said.
“The appetite for banks to lend to the financial planning sector is low, especially when you consider they are now looking to divest their wealth management businesses.”
Mr Win said this could lead to a change in the demand and supply dynamics of advice businesses and could impact practice valuations.
“If the sorts of numbers reported elsewhere in the media are true — some suggesting over 50 per cent of planners may exit — this demand and supply imbalance could threaten the very thing financial planners have worked with their clients over the years to achieve: their own financial independence,” the MD warned.
Mr Win said financial advisers will need to assess whether they wish to undergo the additional studies to stay in the industry.
“They will need to balance their existing work and family commitments with study requirements. Some may choose to exit, while others will take on the challenge,” Mr Win said.
“The dynamics noted for planners close to retirement will play out for those choosing to not take up the study challenge, accelerating turnover in our industry.”
Broadly, there has been significant backlash to the FASEA guidance from associations, consultants and advisers alike.
Miranda Brownlee
Miranda Brownlee is the deputy editor of SMSF Adviser, which is the leading source of news, strategy and educational content for professionals working in the SMSF sector.
Since joining the team in 2014, Miranda has been responsible for breaking some of the biggest superannuation stories in Australia, and has reported extensively on technical strategy and legislative updates.
Miranda also has broad business and financial services reporting experience, having written for titles including Investor Daily, ifa and Accountants Daily.
