Considering a career in financial planning? Do you already work in the industry and want to upskill and specialise in specific areas? Kaplan Professional’s FASEA-approved Master of Financial Planning may be the ideal qualification for you.
In this post, we discuss what a Master of Financial Planning is, whether it’s worth completing the qualification, and what potential career opportunities there are.
 

 
What is a Master of Financial Planning?
Kaplan Professional’s FASEA-approved Master of Financial Planning is a higher education qualification set at the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level 9. This 100% online qualification has been developed in consultation with industry experts with a wealth of experience, ensuring practical and relevant learning rather than solely focusing on academic theory. The Master of Financial Planning consists of 12 subjects – 10 core subjects and two electives. It can be […read more]

In an ever-changing and fast-paced world, we’re now able to connect from almost anywhere. This has had an enormous influence on how we communicate and operate, both personally and professionally. Improved technology means we now have the flexibility to work from anywhere. Working from home has now become the norm for many of us, so it’s essential to make your health and wellbeing a priority, particularly if you’re still trying to come to terms with your new situation.
Here are ten healthy habits you can implement while working from home.
 

 

Maintain a routine

It’s important to maintain a routine when working from home, especially if it’s for an extended time. It’s beneficial to keep consistency to your day, such as waking up at your usual time, having breakfast, taking your scheduled lunch break, and finishing on time. […read more]

For some of us, choosing a career isn’t an easy decision. Whether you’re just starting out or making a change, mortgage broking is a career with opportunity and may be the right move for you. Firstly, what do mortgage brokers do?
Mortgage brokers are finance professionals that work in the middle between their clients and lenders to source the best loans suitable to their client’s financial situation. Mortgage brokers require great customer service, numerical, communication and organisation skills to balance multiple clients and lenders.
Now you know the basics of what a mortgage broker does, here’s why should you consider a career in mortgage broking.
 

 
Career progression:
Starting a career in mortgage broking won’t cost you thousands in tuition fees and you can generally establish a career within a couple of years. To become a mortgage broker in […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 mistakes […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, standard […read more]

You know what confidence is when you see it, but the question is how do you become confident? More importantly, not only confident in yourself, but in all aspects of your life.
To put it simply, confidence is a combination of self-efficacy and optimism.
 

 
Self-efficacy can be defined as a person’s belief in their ability to succeed in specific ‘situations or accomplishing a task’. This can ultimately shape how you carry out your responsibilities, goals and challenges.
Self-efficacy can be broken down to the following factors of knowledge and skills:

Mastery – sustained effort and deliberate practice to achieve goals
Peer role models – looking for someone who is ahead of you, but not someone who doesn’t remember what it’s like to be in your position
Encouragement and support – look for those who can assist you to move forward
Body […read more]

What do Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs have in common? Besides being two of the greatest tech innovators of our time, they both shared a special relationship. The two developed a close relationship in the early days of Facebook and often met to discuss the best business and management practices for the company. Jobs was Zuckerberg’s mentor.
Whether you’re just starting out in your career, or even nearing the top, having someone in your corner that you can trust and ask for advice is invaluable. The best mentors have a wealth of experience, are great listeners, and are able to give you practical and well-thought advice tailored to your professional and personal development.
 

 
Here a few things to consider when choosing the right mentor for you.

Personality and values
It’s important to ensure your personality and values align […read more]

The average life expectancy for a healthy Australian is a tick over 82 years. That’s 29,930 days. Seems a lot, right? Well, depending how you look at it, it’s really not that much. Considering a fair few of us wish away the days until the weekend (which as a matter of fact is less than 30% of your life … excluding the odd holiday here and there), it’s a fairly sobering thought.
Unless you’re a squillionaire or incredibly lucky, chances are you probably spend the majority of your days going to work. Your time on earth is limited, so it’s time to make the most of every day. Not only will you have more time to do the things you’ll love, you’ll benefit from:

Increased happiness
Healthier lifestyle
Fulfilment in your career and personal life

Don’t know where to start? Read on, you might pick up a thing or two.
 
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When it comes to making a meaningful connection with Gen Y, McCrindle said there are four key elements that advisers should bear in mind.
They must keep things:

real
relevant
responsive
relational

 

 
Keep it real 
Gen Y is a cohort that has seen a lot of hype during their life to date; they’ve been advertised and marketed to more than any other generation and they know when something is inauthentic.
“That’s the quickest way to actually drive them away, is to be inauthentic,” Henry warned.
McCrindle agreed, noting the power of social media means Gen Y will open the door to their friends, whereas, they’ll block the door to an advertiser.
“So, if we can keep it real, if we can build that connection in a real way, almost as an adviser of trust rather than someone pushing something on them, then I think we’ll […read more]

Just because you don’t hold a certain title or have a team reporting to you, it doesn’t mean you can’t act like a leader in the workplace. Not only will you improve your own performance, you’ll start to garner the respect of those around you … who knows, you might even put yourself in line for a leadership role sooner than you think.
 

 
Accountability
Actions speak louder than words, and this tends to be a factor that separates the average from the high flyers. When you commit to something, follow through. You’ll begin to gain exposure and earn yourself a reputation as somebody who can be depended on, because others rely on leaders, right?
It is imperative to also take responsibility for your actions. In today’s dynamic business environment, things are bound to go wrong one way […read more]