FASEA’s new professional standards mean many experienced financial advisers will be looking to fit study back into their busy lifestyles. While this can seem like a tough burden to bear, returning to study isn’t as hard as you think. Here are our top tips to assist you in navigating study while working.
 

 
Apply your knowledge 
Undertaking further study related to your field of work means you’re building on your existing knowledge; use this to your advantage. The practical skills you gain through further formal education are often best retained when applied to your day-to-day role. This not only assists you in the workplace but supports you in understanding the course content. Making an active effort to apply practical course material to your professional practice can create a more engaging and positive student experience.
 
Study in your own […read more]

Online education is the future for working professionals who wish to upskill, strengthen their knowledge and technical ability, and ultimately, further their career. It’s growing in popularity too, particularly over the past five years. According to an IBISWorld report1, “technological advancements and faster internet have made the online education model an increasingly viable option for learning. With more individuals and businesses recognising the benefits of online education, student demand for online learning has soared.”
 
As one of Australia’s leading providers of online education, we’re able to offer you a flexible and immersive experience that allows you to study what you want, when you want, anywhere in the world.
 

 
Supportive and flexible
The flexible nature of online education enables you to fit your study schedule around your life. With no classroom attendance necessary, you can study in […read more]

Are you looking to climb the corporate ladder? Many people have the ambition to excel within their company but need a master plan to move forward. We have seven great tips to turn your career wishes into goals, and those goals into accomplishments.
 

 
1. Stay ahead of industry change
“Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.” – Stephen Hawking
Staying ahead of an industry that’s constantly changing can be challenging yet rewarding. Dynamic fields like financial services or finance can provide you with opportunity to prove yourself to your employer and colleagues. One of the best ways to stay ahead of the curb is to keep up to date with industry trends through further education. Undertaking a higher qualification will not only refresh what you already know, but will help you learn new skills and […read more]

Have you ever glanced at your clock and questioned where the day has gone? Time is our most valuable resource and we have some tips to ensure you make the most of it!
To help you peruse this list, we’ve broken it down into four key categories:

Managing your workload
Getting started
Removing distractions
Finding balance

 

 
1. Managing your workload
 
Know your goals
People who succeed in life know where they’re going. It’s important to set yourself regular short-term and long-term goals; list and pin them up or have them prominently displayed. You should keep track of what you’ve achieved and what you’re yet to achieve, so you’re constantly inspired to accomplish more.
 
Use an organisation system
Struggling to keep on top of your schedule? Get an app to do it for you! In a day and age of technology, apps like Asana and Evernote are designed […read more]

Have you ever found there’s not enough time in the day to complete everything on your to-do-list, and ultimately it makes you feel stressed and panicked?
Stress can often be described as feeling overloaded or anxious often resulting from demanding circumstances. It can result from situations of pressure we place on ourselves. But it’s part of our everyday life. We all feel stressed at some point, whether it’s stress in a positive or negative way.
How can being stressed be a positive? Well, in tiny doses, stress has its advantages. According to Daniela Kaufer, PhD at UC Berkeley and John Whyte, the former chief medical expert at Discovery Channel, it can help motivate you to reach your goals in a more efficient way, increase your self-awareness and it may even boost memory!
 

 
However, most of us […read more]

The modern-day student has many double lives. They can be a working professional, a parent, an avid traveller, carers, and much more! You may then ask yourself ‘how do they have time to fit studying into their daily routine?’ Whether you’re returning to study after a long break or continuing on to postgraduate study, it can be tricky finding the time to balance your study with your other commitments. However, the reward will be worth the challenge.
Many postgraduate students constantly challenge the belief there’s little time to fit postgraduate study into an already jam-packed schedule. In this article, we’ve put together some tips for balancing study and work to help guide you.
 

 
1. Plan ahead
Plan months ahead. Check what social events and work obligations you have coming up and how they’d fit in with […read more]

Change is often perceived as a very ominous experience. As creatures of habit, anything that pushes us out of our comfort zone will tend to put as on edge and react as if danger is approaching.
Many forms of change occur that create organisational turbulence. Examples include: new management and restructures, redundancies, new team responsibilities, and new ways of working. As mentioned by Michael Kerr, these changes may trigger “fear of failure, fear of success, fear of looking stupid, and fear of the unknown”.
These should not be the underlying tones of change, as without change there would be no progress. Improvement and success results from hard work and pushing our boundaries outside of our comfort zones.  In ever changing times like this you have to ask yourself, are you up for the challenge?

 
Ready to embrace […read more]

Everyone faces setbacks at certain times, some bigger and unexpected than others. The question is: How do you bounce back from these and get yourself back on track?

 
Sometimes setbacks can be out of your control and aren’t a personal reflection on you. If this is the case, try to stay positive. They’re only temporary and you can get through them. When experiencing a setback, keep in mind the following tips to help you through.
 

Let it out and let it go

Allow yourself to feel the downside of making the mistake but be sure to move on from the situation. We all have bad days; be rational … you’re not a failure. Be gentle to yourself.
 

Swallow your pride and listen to your body

We all have a competitive streak in us and we tend to take […read more]

Many of us have invested significant energy, money and time into our career. It’s normal to feel anxious and apprehensive at the thought of switching career paths. It’s crucial to keep in mind most people will work well into their late 60s and even up to 70 years of age.  In remembering this, it’s wise to reflect on your options and on an occupation you will:

Gain satisfaction
Find rewarding
See meaning in

 

 
Every once in a while you might find it difficult thinking about, and going into work. If this becomes a long-term situation, you may need to re-evaluate why you’re in your current role and what you’re looking for in your career path.
It’s crucial to take a holistic approach in why you want to change career paths, and how this may affect your work-life balance, […read more]

It’s very easy to get lost in our own worlds and become complacent of our relationships with those in our team. Behind every great organisation there are amazing teams that drive the success of the business.
 

 
I can’t hear you
Communication is one of the key factors of how well a team will function.
To play your role, be sure to:

Listen actively
Ask questions when you need clarification
Confirm with team members that tasks have been completed and then move forward

Rapport is constantly developed as each individual contributes to the conversation. This creates an enabling environment where everyone can freely share ideas and work towards innovative solutions.
It’s crucial to establish effective and clear communication. If you believe there are any confusions, be honest and let your teammates know that you don’t understand the situation or task. This will […read more]