Lobby group pressure gets AIOFP support

AIOFP executive director Peter Johnston says the LICG’s recent actions have provided momentum for change and his association is glad advisers are standing up for themselves amid LIF reforms.

“Their continual pressure on the AFA board to finally admit they were wrong with supporting the FPA/FSC institutionally-biased position is welcomed and should be intensified,” he said in an email to members.

“The pressure must be maintained to achieve change. Retreating to our suppressed and manipulated past position should not be an option.

“For too long the advice community has been divided and ruled by the institutional lobby. Now is not the time to back down.

The recent events should be a lesson for advisers when choosing to join an association, Mr Johnston cautioned.

“What the advice community should learn from this experience is that being a member of any entity/association that is infiltrated and dominated by any particular faction is a politically dangerous and life-threatening [path] to tread,” he said.

“It simply just does not make commercial or political sense for any adviser to fund and politically support any entity that can and will act against you at the critical times.

“The next time you consider paying for an association membership or access to a designation, ask yourself who is going to benefit from your money and political support. Surely it should only be you, your practice and your clients, and not third parties working against you.”