Three-day event to explore the future of financial advice
New Zealand’s financial advice community is set to converge in Auckland next March for one of the sector’s largest professional gatherings, as Financial Advice New Zealand brings back its National Adviser Conference from 24 to 26 March 2026 at the Aotea Centre.
The event is expected to attract hundreds of advisers, academics, and industry partners from across Aotearoa and overseas. It follows a strong turnout in 2025, which saw more than 500 delegates from New Zealand, Australia, the United States, and Jamaica take part in workshops, panels, and networking sessions.
Chief executive Nick Hakes (pictured) said the conference will continue to serve as a key forum for collaboration and development within the industry.
“The National Adviser Conference 2026 is where the future of advice takes shape. It’s where advisers can challenge ideas and explore new ones, deepen their expertise, and strengthen the profession together. If you’re serious about your professional and personal growth, your legacy, and the future of our profession, then put the dates in your 2026 professional development plan and join us in Auckland,” Hakes said.
The upcoming programme will focus on emerging challenges and innovations shaping the profession. Sessions will draw from Financial Advice New Zealand’s Modern Financial Adviser Curriculum, which explores areas such as ethics, client psychology, behavioural finance, communication, and digital transformation.
Workshops, masterclasses, and peer-led discussions will round out the learning opportunities, alongside sessions that showcase adviser-led innovation and practical business insights.
Two international speakers have already been confirmed. Kirsty Scully CFP, chairwoman of the Financial Planning Standards Board Council and senior adviser at Core Wealth in Cape Town, will bring insights from South Africa’s evolving advice landscape.
From Australia, Brad Fox, managing director of Smartbrave Consulting and chair of Tribeca Financial, will share perspectives on leadership, cultural change, and strategic planning within advice practices.
Financial Advice New Zealand also plans to involve the wider profession in shaping the agenda, with submissions soon to open for proposed sessions, research, and case studies. Selected contributors will have the opportunity to present their work during the conference.
The three-day event will close with a Gala Awards Dinner recognising advisers and firms that have made notable contributions to the field.
Registration is now open, with Super Early Bird rates available until 28 November at $995 including GST – a 17.5% discount from the standard fee. Advisers with less than three years’ experience can register for $623.
“We’re also proud to continue our commitment to new advisers and our future leaders,” Hakes said.
