Former PM to open AFA conference

Conference co-chair and adviser Jenny Brown said in an email she was delighted to announce that Mr Howard would be a plenary speaker.

"The AFA National Adviser Conference has always been a place of inspiration and motivation – the highlight of the year when AFA Members come together with their peers, professional financial advisers, practice owners and support staff, thought leaders and other industry participants to progress our vision of Great Advice for more Australians," Ms Brown said.

"To share the very best of learning that takes the value of advice to the Australian people."

Mr Howard will address the role of world leaders in a new century, how to handle the growing concerns of globalisation, the environment, and threats to international security.

AFA chief executive Brad Fox said: "Providing economic leadership in today's world means taking an adaptive approach and re-envisioning old economic models to discover new ones, and that’s what we look forward to hearing from him on opening night.”

Joining Mr Howard as a plenary speaker and leading this year’s AFA Inspire Masterclass will be best-selling author Margie Warrell.

"Drawing from her background in business, psychology, and executive coaching, Margie Warrell is passionate about helping people challenge what's possible, engage in bigger conversations and lead more courageously," Ms Brown said.

Mr Fox also said: “Financial advice is going through adaptive change, the marketplace continues to evolve at a rapid pace and the paradigms for financial advice continue to shift. The purpose of the AFA National Adviser Conference is to bring together professional financial advisers, practice owners and their support teams, thought leaders and other industry participants to empower them to deliver great advice for more Australians and to enable them to create the adaptive change that will take financial advice beyond the horizon."

Registrations for the 2016 AFA National Adviser Conference, to be held in Canberra from 5-7 October, are now open.