Guardian Financial Planning has become the latest dealer group to join the Association of Financial Advisers’ (AFA) Licensee Partnership Program.

The program has about 15 dealer groups as members, with benefits that include lower membership fees for Guardian’s 150 advisers.

Membership also includes representation on policy issues with both the government and regulator.

Guardian Financial Planning EM Simon Harris says representing its advisers on important issues such as the Future of Financial Advice (FOFA) reforms compelled the group to join the program. 

He says the partnership “gives our advisers a stronger voice in the current dynamic and changing regulatory environment”.

“The partnership will also ensure that Guardian works collaboratively with the AFA’s Licensee Working Group to allow advisers’ interests to be represented fairly and adequately before the Government and regulators.”

Mr Harris says the AFA has “reinvigorated itself as an association” to actively campaign for advisers in the face of significant regulatory change.  

AFA CEO Richard Klipin says the association wants to lift membership to strengthen its footprint on the financial services industry. 

“Our strategy is to welcome more advisers to the association so that their voice is heard more distinctly and strongly within our industry and in Canberra,” he said. 

“The association is, and always will be, an association which represents the concerns of advisers, adviser businesses and the clients they serve.” 

The AFA now has a membership of about 7000, consisting of dealer group advisers and individual practitioners.