Fidelity Life, in partnership with Kaplan Professional, has launched the 2024 iteration of its Career connect program.
The program is designed to equip aspiring financial advisers with necessary skills and qualifications. The 2023 intake of Career connect saw a balanced gender representation, a trend the company aims to continue and build upon with its latest scholarship offering.
As part of the partnership, Kaplan Professional will step in as the new educational facilitator, in collaboration with Massey University.
A key highlight of this year's program is the introduction of a new scholarship aimed at promoting female participation in the financial advice sector. This initiative, funded by Kaplan Professional, adds to an array of six other scholarships.
Bronwyn Kirwan, chief sales and service officer at Fidelity Life, emphasised the initiative's role in encouraging more women to enter the financial advice field.
“Developing a younger, more diverse generation of financial advisers is key to the future of the sector. We're pleased to say that 50% of our 2023 Career connect participants were female; however, there's still a lot of work ahead to get more women in the financial advice industry,” she said. “We're thrilled to have found a values-aligned partner in Kaplan Professional, as they are also passionate about helping women break into male-dominated industries. We hope this new scholarship opportunity encourages even more women to apply for the programme.”
Kaplan Professional CEO Brian Knight said the collaboration is pivotal in not only attracting more women to the sector but also fostering a diverse and skilled workforce that can contribute to the industry's growth and resilience.
“Programs like Career connect provide the ideal launchpad for a bright future in financial advice, so we are delighted to collaborate with Fidelity Life on what we believe is a terrific initiative to strengthen New Zealand's talent pipeline,” he said. “We also remain steadfast in our commitment to encouraging and promoting diversity within the industry, so we are thrilled to be able to provide a scholarship for women in every intake of the program.”
The program features an open online career evening on 19 March, inviting potential candidates to explore what Career connect has to offer.
This session is part of Fidelity Life and Kaplan Professional's efforts to reach out to individuals interested in a financial advisory career, providing them with an overview of the program and the opportunities it presents.
The 2024 Career connect program, running from May to December, is now accepting applications. The program has 30 spots up for grabs, including seven dedicated to scholarship awardees.
Part of Fidelity Life's Adviser Edge suite, Career connect aims to provide comprehensive support and training for financial advisers, with a focus on life risk. Interested parties are encouraged to visit Fidelity Life's website for more details on the program and to register for the upcoming career evening.
The scholarship lineup includes a variety of awards targeting Māori and Pasifika candidates, young professionals aged 21-25, individuals from rural backgrounds, and women.
