State winners in the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) excellence in education award have been announced. 

The finalists for the national prize are:

• Karen Walmsley of Powe Financial Advice (NSW)
• Jawad Ahmad of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management (SA)
• Charles Badenach of Main Street Financial Solutions (Tasmania)
• Lyn Heaysman of Harvest Wealth (Victoria)
• Joseph Hoe of Wealthwise (WA)
• Tim Hall of Tilea Wealth (Queensland).

The award, sponsored by Asteron, recognises advisers who invest in themselves, their staff and their businesses to raise professional standards through education.

GM Member Services and Campus AFA Nick Hakes says the calibre of the state winners shows higher education is one of the keys to delivering great advice.

“More and more advisers are embracing higher education and using it to demonstrate a point of difference,” he said. “Our state winners encapsulate everything that is great about financial advice – technical knowledge that is expertly applied to empowering the lives of others.

“This year’s finalists have demonstrated that the investment in education across a broad range of disciplines has made a positive difference to their clients and to their businesses.”

The national winner will be announced on October 26 at the AFA National Adviser Conference in Cairns.