Strategi offers ‘Covid assistance pack’ to advisers

A support package has been made available – by industry compliance centre Strategi Group – to advisers whose preparation for regulation change has been impacted by Covid.

Tuesday, March 2nd 2021, 6:04AM

David Greenslade

As New Zealand deals with another alert level shift, financial advisers are likely feeling additional stress. Approaching regulatory changes and providing additional support to clients during the pandemic adds to the pressure.

Trying to mitigate stress levels for the industry, compliance group Strategi has released a “Covid assistance pack”. Its aim being to help those in financial services make their way towards March 15, even while some are locked down.

Executive director David Greenslade, told Good Returns he appreciates how stressful this experience is for advisers.

“Clients are engaging with advisers more than ever before due to low interest rates, as well as the pressure of March 15, and then suddenly the Auckland based advisers are locked down. What we are trying to signal to advisers feeling the pressure is to say ‘Hey, we are here, we have got your back’.”

The package sees previously paid-for content made available without charge from 1-14 March 2021.

“We decided that because of all this stuff going on, we will just make this content available for free. It’s got practical things that advisers can do right now to get ready for March 15,” Greenslade said.

“It’s all the public-facing things that are most crucial for advisers at this point. We have our disclosure guide, our checklist which usually runs to around $300.

“What we are trying to do is make it simple and easy for everyone to pick up their documentation through these easy to use manuals.”

To those advisers that are feeling the stress of lockdown combined with getting prepared for major regulation change, Greenslade has this message.

“You are not alone. There are a lot of advisers out there who are stressed. We can’t do all the work for [you], but at least we can provide templates and guidance that will [remove] some of the time [needed] doing this sort of stuff.”

Access the Strategi Covid assistance pack HERE:

Tags: compliance Covid-19 FSLAA regulation Strategi