AFA chief receives lifelong membership

Incoming CEO Brad Fox thanked Klipin for his hard work during seven years at the helm of the industry body, during which he steered the organisation through the challenging regulatory climate of the Ripoll Review and Future of Financial Advice (FOFA) and the collapse of Storm Financial.

Klipin said he was proud to have helped to build a community to which members felt a sense of belonging, pointing to the GenXT initiative as being instrumental in broadening the AFA’s appeal to younger advisers.

“What we have tried to create is a community where people wanted to come, where they wanted to learn and connect,” he said. “The best example was the conference last year – I still hear lots of positive stories of things that came out of the conference.”

Klipin added that the organisation had become more adept at political negotiations – thanks in part to the help of political strategist and former NSW Opposition leader Kerry Chikarovski – during his tenure and that the financial planning profession needs to make its voice heard.

“As an industry, we have to get on the front foot,” Mr Klipin said. “We have to engage with politicians, not only in FOFA and Storm times, but also when times are good.”

The farewell event was attended by industry figures who included Synchron director Don Trapnell; Premium Wealth Management CEO, Paul Harding-Davis; and director of Pinnacle Practice, Anne Fuchs.