Kaplan Professional is expanding its professional development offering for New Zealand’s financial advice sector with the launch of a new face-to-face masterclass for Financial Advice Provider (FAP) leaders. The Responsible Financial Advice Provider Leadership Masterclass, to be held at Massey University’s Albany Campus in Auckland on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, is designed to help FAP owners, directors, senior managers and compliance leaders translate complex regulatory responsibilities into practical and sustainable business practices. The interactive 3.5-hour workshop represents a further expansion of Kaplan Professional’s education and professional development activities in New Zealand. Kaplan Professional Chief Executive Officer Brian Knight said the masterclass complemented the education provider’s broader focus on supporting financial advice professionals throughout their careers – from formal qualifications through to continuing professional development (CPD) and targeted capability development. “Our focus in New Zealand has always been on building meaningful education and professional development pathways that support financial advisers and advice businesses as their needs evolve. “Together with Massey University, we have developed education pathways that enable financial advice professionals to progress from foundational study through to higher-level qualifications, while our Ontrack platform supports the ongoing CPD needs of advisers and FAPs. “This masterclass is another step in that direction. We see an opportunity to complement formal qualifications and digital CPD with targeted, face-to-face professional development that brings industry leaders together to examine some of the practical challenges they are managing within their businesses,” he said. Kaplan Professional and Massey University have worked together to develop financial advice education pathways for the New Zealand market, including the Certificate in Financial Advice and Diploma in Business Studies (Financial Advice), with further study pathways available through Massey University’s Bachelor of Business (Financial Planning and Advice). Kaplan Professional has also expanded its continuing education presence in New Zealand through its world-class Ontrack platform, which provides financial services professionals and organisations with access to ongoing CPD content across areas including technical knowledge, advice and client skills, ethics and best practice, and business and professional development. Knight said the new masterclass reflected an increasing emphasis on professional development that went beyond meeting regulatory requirements alone. “Professional development should not simply be about completing a requirement – it should help people become better practitioners and help businesses build stronger capability. “For FAP leaders in particular, understanding regulatory obligations is only part of the equation. The challenge is translating those obligations into everyday decisions, behaviours and processes that are understood and consistently applied across an organisation. “Strong compliance and strong commercial outcomes should not be viewed as competing priorities. When regulatory responsibilities are embedded effectively, they can strengthen trust, improve customer outcomes and provide a sound foundation for sustainable growth,” he said. The masterclass will be presented by experienced New Zealand financial services executive and Articulo HQ Consulting founder Trecia Brown. Brown brings more than 20 years of senior leadership experience across financial services, spanning national distribution, adviser support, capability development and regulatory alignment. She has contributed to industry forums focused on financial advice and, as a Senior Manager of a Class 2 FAP, successfully navigated an FMA monitoring review. She is also a qualified financial services educator and a member of Financial Advice New Zealand. Knight said Brown’s combination of financial services leadership, regulatory and adviser support experience would bring an important practical perspective to the workshop. “Trecia understands the realities facing FAP leaders because she has worked directly with advice businesses and their people through significant industry and regulatory change. “Participants will be able to work through real-world challenges, exchange perspectives with their peers and consider how regulatory responsibilities can be embedded more effectively across their businesses,” he said. The Responsible Financial Advice Provider Leadership Masterclass will be held from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, at IC1.07, Innovation Complex, Gate 1, Albany Campus, Massey University, Auckland. The cost is NZD$380 per person. Participants will receive workshop resources, a copy of the presentation and a Certificate of Attendance. For further information or to enrol, visit the Responsible Financial Advice Provider Leadership Masterclass webpage: https://www.kaplanprofessional.edu.au/courses/corporate-short-courses/responsible-financial-advice-provider-leadership-masterclass/ For course or enrolment enquiries, contact Colleen La Touche on 021 138 2496 or colleen.latouche@kaplan.com.