Fidelity Life has marked a milestone in its adviser development strategy, celebrating the graduation of 20 participants from its 2024 Career connect programme.
The Career connect programme is structured to introduce new entrants to the advice sector and improve diversity among financial advisers.
The initiative, launched in 2023, is part of the life insurer’s broader Adviser Edge framework, designed to build capacity within the financial advice profession.
The latest cohort represents the largest to date, with most participants identifying as women, and approximately one in four identifying as Māori or Pasifika.
Each graduate completed the New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services (Level 5), with a focus on life, health, and disability insurance.
Michelle Doyle, Fidelity Life’s head of solutions, said the company sees the programme as an investment in the long-term sustainability of the advice profession.
“Career connect is bringing passionate people to the industry and removing some of the barriers so we can help build the world’s best life risk advisers. Together, we’re growing for the good of New Zealand and helping more whānau understand and access the benefits of insurance protection,” she said.
Since inception, the programme has received over 200 expressions of interest, with nearly 70 candidates placed into the course. Close to 40 individuals have since completed their qualifications.
As part of the programme’s broader support structure, Fidelity Life connects students with potential employers. To date, over 40 advice businesses across the country have registered to consider hiring Career connect graduates. Fidelity Life reported that more than 60% of graduates seeking employment have successfully transitioned into roles.
Five of this year’s graduates will attend the Financial Advice New Zealand (FANZ) National Adviser Conference.
The opportunity comes through full scholarships jointly offered by FANZ and the PAA Legacy Trust.
Nick Hakes, CEO of FANZ, said initiatives like Career connect are important for building adviser capability and a more client-focused advice culture.
“Future-focused initiatives such as Career connect nurture an advice community that fosters professional client-centric behaviours, advice, and service. By attending the National Adviser Conference for the first time, these graduates will experience the very best of our profession’s culture of collaboration, passion, engagement, and curiosity,” he said.
The 2024 graduating class includes scholarship recipients under targeted categories such as Women in Finance, Rural, and Toe Toe for young entrants.
Among this year’s graduates is Sydnee Taylor, who joined Christchurch-based Amicus Financial under a mentorship with director Nick Wells.
Taylor said her background in health and fitness helped shape her interest in guiding people toward financial wellbeing.
“My first few weeks at Amicus has been full-on but fulfilling. It’s been so rewarding to put my knowledge from Career connect into practice. I’m gaining such great on-the-job experience and am thrilled to build on that by attending and taking part in the FANZ National Adviser Conference. This is an exciting time of growth in my new career,” she said.
Wells said the initiative is helping to align academic learning with the soft skills and real-world application required of advisers.
“As an employer, we’re thrilled that we have the opportunity to recruit from Career connect and have Sydnee join our team at Amicus Financial. It’s exciting to see someone so passionate about helping others, and we’re proud to be part of her journey,” he said.
Applications for the 2025 intake closed earlier this month, with 70 submissions. This cycle also introduces the highest number of scholarships available, with eight recipients to be announced in April.
