How to be an FS Power50 adviser

The 2019 Entries How to be an FS Power50 adviser

The FS Power50 pays tribute to a select group of financial advisers who have been nominated by their peers and our own editorial team as being instrumental in shaping the future of financial advice in Australia.

This year’s group features many rising stars of the industry and recognises those who have come before them and continue to make their mark. Becoming an influencer isn’t something that happens overnight.

Of the 50 advisers on our list, nearly half (36%) have between 10 to 19 years of experience. There are 17 advisers on this list with more than 20 years’ experience.

The move away from institutionally aligned licensees as well as the increase in self-licensing are trends that have been accelerating in the industry over the last two years.

This year’s list also demonstrates perhaps the most diverse range of dealer groups to date. The majority of these advisers, a total of 29, are licensed by an AFSL with less than 100 advisers.

Here’s a glimpse of what a Power50 influencer would look like, based on our analysis.

Measuring influence

The 2022 Power50 boasts an average of 4705 LinkedIn followers, up from last year’s average of 3723.

While LinkedIn is the preferred social media platform for many advisers, Twitter and Instagram are also used by many of the advisers on this list. The average Twitter following for the Power50 is 8312.

On Instagram, Zella Wealth’s Victoria Devine has the strongest following, a community of

FS Power50

46,400. Her podcast, She’s on the Money, has also gained momentum year on year; the number of Instagram followers is 154,000.

On the map

The geographic spread of the top 50 is far and wide, with 34% hailing from Victoria while 14 (28%) advisers fly the flag for New South Wales. Two (4%) advisers represent Western Australia, 13 (26%) come from Queensland, one (2%) hails from the ACT, while Tasmania (6%) has three representatives on the list.

There is a good mix of advisers who range from providing all-round advice to specialising in areas such as aged care, expat advice, retirement planning, and responsible investment advice.

Many of the advisers on our list are there because of their commitment to helping minorities or marginalised communities overcome financial challenges. Glen Hare, who advocates for LGBTQI+ inclusion, is an example.

Another example is William Johns, who established his practice with a focus on helping people with mental or physical disabilities secure their financial futures. He also runs a low-cost service to assist people with the often time-consuming and overwhelming process of making insurance and Centrelink claims.

Meanwhile, Perspective Financial Services Esther Althaus is passionate about empowering women to achieve financial independence and breaking gender stereotypes surrounding money. And, in line with changing social expectations, advisers with their fingers on the pulse when it comes to ethical investing are once again making their mark this year.

While they were doing it long before it was cool, Louise Edkins and Nathan Fradley are just some of those helping their clients put their money where their heart is.

Experience matters

The face of influence is also changing. This year marks the first appearance in the Power50 for a whopping 20 advisers. But the Power50 still boasts a wealth of experience.

For nine entrants, this is their second time on the least, while 18 have featured three times.

And then we have those whose trophy cabinets are running out of room.

This year marks Brett Evans’ ninth inclusion in the Power50. Liam Shorte has now been on the list eight times, while Marshall Brentnall and David Rae have both featured seven times.

All in all, and now in its ninth year, the Power50 has recognised 242 financial advisers who have made their mark in the industry, community, and their clients’ lives.

242

Advisers are FS Power50 alumni