The ifa Show

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Shy-ann Arkinstall is joined by independent financial adviser Andrew Saikal-Skea to dig into the complexities of being independent under the law and how this translates into his referral frameworks.  Spanning licensing decisions and risk advice, Andrew explains how being independent influences how he chooses the right professionals to partner with as referral arrangements become more challenging and more necessary by operating as independent.  Listen as they discuss:  What it actually means to be independent under the Corps Act. How you can still deliver risk advice without breeching independence.  The potential impact of proposed lead generation reforms.  Why independence is both a spectrum and a hard-line rule.  Click here to submit your nomination for the ifa Excellence Awards 2026. 

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Alex Burke is joined by Marin Wealth financial adviser Hannah Elliot to break down her time as a Professional Year (PY) adviser and her frustrations with the lack of guidance in the process.  Hannah explains why the lack of structure in the Professional Year made it a more stressful process and the impact this is having on smaller practices struggling to retain emerging talent.  Listen as they discuss:   How shadowing advisers is the best experience a PY can get on the job.  Why a lack of structure can lead to PYs being perceived as liabilities for firms.  The importance of financial literacy and how it can be raised through social media. 

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Alex Burke speaks with Kanish Chugh, the head of ETF sales at PIMCO, about how changes to tax regulations and the global market environment in recent years have triggered a move away from the traditional 60/40 portfolio and shifted how advisers are utilising fixed income assets and ETFs.  Kanish explores how advisers should be thinking about fixed income ETFs within their clients' portfolios, as well as diving into the case for active management in a space where investors are leaning more toward passive strategies.  Listen as they discuss:  How the phasing out of bank hybrids is impacting strategies.  The benefit of ETFs for self-managed super funds.  Opportunities for advisers in fixed income ETFs. 

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Alex Burke speaks with Blake Briggs, chief executive of the Financial Services Council, about proposals put forward in professional body's recent white paper of the future of advice licensing.  Blake explains the rationale behind the proposals aimed at making advice more sustainable, as well as addressing the industry's response to the $25,000 levy for each Australian Financial Services licensee as proposed by the FSC.  Listen as they discuss:  What measures could be put in place to enhance compliance and reduce the CSLR costs.  How the influx in capital is driving consolidation across advice.  Why it's important for professional associations to work together on advocacy initiatives.  

In this episode of the ifa Show, host Alex Burke talks to Challenger's general manager retirement distribution, Adrian Aardoom, about Australia's retirement income system and advisers' role in it.  Adrian discusses the diminishing levels of retirement confidence across the country, the typical flaws in how Australians think about retirement and the ways in which the traditional advice process makes retirement income conversations needlessly difficult.  Tune in to hear: The key factors driving the decline in retirement confidence What's missing or left out of traditional approaches to retirement modelling The ideal time for advisers to introduce the retirement income conversation