Tuesday, 17 September 2024: In collaboration with Striver, BT has today launched a new online-based learning and development program to encourage more people to enter the financial advice profession.
BT’s role in backing the Striver Career Pathways Program is part of its commitment to address the advice shortage in Australia and improve access to quality financial advice for more Australians.
BT Chief Executive Officer Matthew Rady said: “We’re looking to invest in the next generation of advisers and to advocate for a strong advice industry.
“We’ve worked with Striver to design the Career Pathways Program to support those aspiring to join the advice profession with the right skills and development opportunities.”
Three out of every four advisers surveyed for the BT Adviser Sentiment Index 2024 cited ‘finding and recruiting staff’ as one of their key challenges. More broadly, BT would like to encourage those already working in financial services to remain within the industry.
“We know anecdotally that each year, the financial services industry loses staff with great skills to other industries. This program is about providing those people with a career pathway to take the first step toward a career in financial advice,” Mr Rady said.
The Striver Career Pathways Program is primarily online and designed to be flexible, catering to career changers, advice support staff who want to upskill, and university graduates.
As a first step into financial advice, the course gives participants broad experience where they may find future employment opportunities as part of an advice practice’s support team, as a client services manager or as a paraplanner.
The first program intake will include a group of BT contact centre and operations staff members who will undertake approved1 online education before the Program is opened up to the industry more widely.
Alisdair Barr, CEO and Founder of Striver, said: “Our partnership with BT has provided a fantastic opportunity to positively impact and address the growing skills shortage within financial advice across Australia. Together, we have embraced this challenge by enhancing the Striver technology platform to create a more structured approach to supporting the advice industry.”
Mr Rady said: “BT has the most adviser relationships in Australia and based on our conversations with advisers, it’s clear that advice practices are calling for more support. There is a growing need for financial advice, and we want to help ensure it can thrive now and into the future.”
For more on BT’s collaboration with Striver, visit the BT website: www.bt.com.au/striver
Advice practices can find out more here: https://launch.striver.careers
About Striver
Striver is a technology-based careers platform dedicated to tackling the shortage of qualified wealth and advice professionals.
BT Media Relations
Kate Skokan
M: 0403 149 919
Downloads
1 Education partners of the Career Pathways Program are approved by the Australian Financial Services Minister to provide education that contributes towards a financial advice qualification.
