What the Royal Commission means for you

The ongoing saga of the Hayne Royal Commission has left many dismayed by the behaviour that seems to be all too common in the financial sector. In recent years, nowhere has this been more evident than in the provision of financial advice. It is unfortunate that the advice profession has failed so many Australians. However, at Elston we are doing all we can to raise the standard.

Recently celebrating its 10th birthday, our firm was founded on the principle that we only exist because of our clients and the trust they place in us. At the centre of everything we do is our desire to be ‘Australia’s most trusted and respected financial services firm’. We aim to achieve this by focusing on our vision of being ‘an organisation recognised for its outstanding people, professionalism and integrity’.

Qualifications in question

ASIC reported to the Royal Commission that only 35% of financial advisers in Australia have a university degree. However at Elston, all advisers have completed at least a Bachelor’s degree or a Masters of Financial Planning. Although some may need to complete a little extra study to satisfy new regulations, we have remained well ahead of the pack when it comes to educational standards. So, while many financial advisers are grappling with new laws that require them to upgrade their education, Elston is well-placed to continue providing clients with the highest level of advice.

Recently, our commitment to education and excellence has been recognised numerous times. Four of our Strategy Advisers were named in the Baron’s Top 50 Financial Planners in Australia list – an outstanding result for our firm.

Ethics and integrity count

As of November 2019, it will be mandatory for all financial advisers to be members of an association that subscribes to a new Code of Ethics. At Elston, we have long held the belief that being part of an association with a Code of Ethics is essential to maintain the level of professionalism we expect. To this end, the majority of Elston advisers are members of one or more of these organisations, such as the Financial Planning Association and the Self Managed Super Fund Association. In many cases, these advisers have achieved the top certification. In fact, most of Elston’s advisers are Certified Financial Planners (CFPs) or currently studying to become one.

When it comes to integrity, as an Elston client, you can rest assured that we always act in your best interests. We are transparent and honest in all that we do. Our business processes are based on ensuring that you are kept informed and understand exactly what is happening with your money. However, there is always room for improvement, which is why we are constantly striving to find better ways of doing things. With this in mind, we welcome input on how we can improve your experience with us, and encourage you to share feedback with your adviser. It is only through continual improvement that we can reach our goal of being ‘Australia’s most trusted and respected financial services firm’. By doing this, we hope to elevate the standing of the entire financial advice profession

If you would like to share your feedback with us please complete this survey, alternatively you can call us on 1300 ELSTON or email info@elston.com.au