Keep upto date with Kane Piper's blogs on iplan2. http://www.iplan2.com.au Kane Piper My facebook page is looking noticeably bare. In fact that is an understatement, it seems I'm more unpopular than Anthony Callea's last album and that is saying alot! Facebook is a fickle world! So get over there, add me and leave a comment! Facebook is http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1246513976372227 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1246513976372227 Kane Piper When I attended the young planner's event in Sydney last Thursday, I took some reluctant candidates away from the canapes and lemonades and asked them the hard line question "Should financial planners be paid a "fee for service" or a commission based pay?" http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12490080081047719 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12490080081047719 Kane Piper Amy from Curtin University in Perth is the winner of the iPod touch! (Applause) Amy is in her third year of studying. She is studying a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a major in both finance and financial planning! She said the best part of her course at http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12421034062246919 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12421034062246919 Kane Piper It's been a great year! Not only was the launch of the iPlan2 site extremely successful in answering a great range of questions but it was also extremely fun! I was fortunate enough to go to plenty of Young Planner events and meet many students and financial http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1260412444498043 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1260412444498043 Kane Piper I was reading an article today on Money Management about the challenges facing financial planners as they continue to try and appease the concerns http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1253169982843467 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1253169982843467 Kane Piper At the FPA young planners event in held Sydney last Wednesday (22/04/09), I had a quick Q'A session with some students from St George Tafe and also UWS. We talked about the best and worst part of their degree and why they are having so much fun doing it! http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1240980981273978 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1240980981273978 Kane Piper Last chance for those of you living in Sydney to get to the young planners event tonight. The young planners event is a great chance for you to mingle with young professionals in the industry as well as hear great key note speakers! Check it out in the http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12483158681788644 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12483158681788644 Kane Piper It is becoming more evident to me that financial planners are not number crunching cyborgs. I recently had a great opportunity whilst in Perth, to drop into David Sharpe's office from Momentum Planning, and Rob Pyne from HPH solutions. This gave me the chance http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1238131884873250 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1238131884873250 Kane Piper Erin asked me a really good question the other day, what exactly is a paraplanner vs financial planner? I think that is a really important question. Paraplanning as a profession is rapidly growing into a well respected job in its own right, however it is http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1251423886252821 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1251423886252821 Kane Piper The 25th can only mean one thing, (well if it were December it would mean Christmas day) it is Financial Planning Week 2009! To celebrate this the FPA is holding an absolute bonanza of events and workshops that you (yes you!) can get involved in. The events http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1243234014245076 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1243234014245076 Kane Piper Hi guys! I have been bunkering down for a week and half as I use all my limited brainpower to finish some assignments and prepare for exams. But I return with good news! Erin from the town of Kyneton in Victoria is now the proud owner of an iPod Touch. Erin http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1257769826561290 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1257769826561290 Kane Piper Superannuation is well…just super. You don't have to be a financial planner to know how good it is and how rewarding it can be. But over the last year people's super have taken quite a hit, causing many worried clients to ring up their planners and get the http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12543603321777903 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12543603321777903 Kane Piper Hey there! How are you all going? I am moving into my first weekend that I will be able to enjoy without feeling guilty that I am not doing enough study! What to do? I have too many choices now! I guess things could be worse. Any suggestions on how to spend http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1245388606290674 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1245388606290674 Kane Piper Ok cool cats, we all have our heroes, mine was Daryl Braithwaite up until the age of 7 (Thanks to my then fave song: "The Horses", look it up you will know it! ) and then my hero Superman and finally now it is Bill Murray. Well I want you guys to let me know http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1246251592932911 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1246251592932911 Kane Piper The first hopeful has made his bid to become the next "official" unofficial FPA mascot! Comment below to decide whether Terrence has what it takes to become the mascot! Kane <3 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12378704811535835 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12378704811535835 Kane Piper Ok just to sort through some confusion, the new competition on the iplan2.com.au website to win an iPod touch to put all your music, videos, blogs, pod casts, vod casts, vod pod blog casts, video blog, clogs etc etc is simple! All you have to do is be http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1246942614797858 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1246942614797858 Kane Piper We are moving into week 9 now! I want to hear from any first year students this week! You should have a good grasp on Uni by now. You should know where all your classes are, you should know where the best sandwich shop is and who makes the best cup of http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1241417640234773 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1241417640234773 Kane Piper Today I return to school (I am not sure why I call it that). Back into the hard slog of textbooks, lectures and tutorials/seminars. Although I must admit, I am not off to the greatest of starts. It is often a good idea to go to the first lecture of each http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D124865895512118 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D124865895512118 Kane Piper In a number of hours I will be embarking on what no other Blogger has done before (at least no blogger I know) - a tour of Australian universities stopping in almost every state! I will be left to fend for myself in a tangle of Universities, armed only with http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1236048486152668 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1236048486152668 Kane Piper Hey! Remember that the competition to win an iPod touch is still running. All you have to do is make at least one post on any of the articles that are on this site! My friends count on Facebook is still embarrassing low, head over there by clicking on the http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12496222472441291 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12496222472441291 Kane Piper Hey all, It's almost crunch times for exams! I have only two more weeks of session, and then the big ones arrive, the giant ones, the monsters! In this time of stress and to relieve the furrows that may have formed on some brows, I am asking those with funny http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1242732347136236 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1242732347136236 Kane Piper Hey there! If you are planning on becoming a financial planner, it's important to know which universities across Australia have been accredited by the FPA for entry into the CFP Certification Program. CFP certification is the highest accreditation that can http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1252629874236582 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1252629874236582 Kane Piper My local uni of old! I, coming from the Blue Mountains originally have a little soft spot for the place they call the University of Western Sydney, and I was looking forward to attending the career fair. I will paint the picture, the sun was shining, the http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12385589043153802 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12385589043153802 Kane Piper I was always told that it “ain't what you got, it's what you do with it!” But when it comes to money, many people don't really believe this to be true. They think that you need a lot of money to make money, which is not necessarily correct. It is possible to http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12537747151057755 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12537747151057755 Kane Piper We would all like to be experts. In fact many of us pretend to be experts when in fact we aren't! And while it is not damaging to pretend you are a golf expert or a fashion expert (well occasionally that can be somewhat damaging :O ), posing as a financial http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1243581472951761 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1243581472951761 Kane Piper A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of speaking to none other then the Paraplanner of the Year (no mean feat) Justin Pratt. Justin worked as a paraplanner and now is a Financial Advisor. He went to the University of Wollongong studying commerce and now works http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1256517703353649 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1256517703353649 Kane Piper Uni is really warming up at the moment! I just handed in a couple tough assignments and have another three in the pipes over the next week. But I am staying resilient as Uni wraps its tight claw around me. I am trying to stay away from distracting evils such http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12553289982184680 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12553289982184680 Kane Piper Great news, the FPA's "big one" has been announced! The FPA's "The Professional Edge" national conference is to be held in Melbourne at the newly completed Melbourne Convention and Exhibition centre! The event is an absolute must for those serious in a http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D124513881949590 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D124513881949590 Kane Piper Financial Planners come from all walks of life. Gilda de Marcellis is a testament to this. Ten years ago she was working in the fashion industry, now she is currently studying to be a Financial Planner and loving the challenges that her new career is bringing http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12589396192202469 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12589396192202469 Kane Piper Hi all! Hope things are going swimmingly for you all! I on the other hand have been bombarded by Uni assignments! Two were due today and another big one on Tuesday! So anyone out there want my weekend? Because I certainly won't be needing it, I'll be writing http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1240554678718172 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1240554678718172 Kane Piper The FPA is growing in strength and numbers with its ranks swelling by more than 750 new members this financial year. Student members are particluarly growing in numbers. FPA CEO Jo-Anne Bloch said “Younger members share our dedication to making a difference http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12694118235090942 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12694118235090942 Kane Piper After consuming approximately seven thousand cups of tea I have finally finished the first bombardment of Uni assignments! And aren't I glad :) This year seems to be moving along so quickly! Very soon I will be announcing the winner of the iPod touch which http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D124090166876456 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D124090166876456 Kane Piper Lord Trundlewick approached me the other day expressing his wish to one day be the FPA mascot in the first "official" unofficial search for an FPA Mascot, a competition to find someone to be the glowing beacon representing financial planning as a profession! http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12463429351163201 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12463429351163201 Kane Piper Choosing a career is a big choice. I have trouble deciding what cereal to buy at the supermarket (This one has sultanas but this one has nuts. Yet this one comes with a toy but this one is whole grain, argh the decisions!), so when it comes to choosing a http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D123595775084525 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D123595775084525 Kane Piper The "official" unofficial search for an FPA mascot has kicked off nicely! Very soon there will be a vote on which mascots you believe have what it takes to be the unofficial ambassador of financial planners. Here is where you come in right now, if you have http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1246602332644615 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1246602332644615 Kane Piper There's some big news in the financial planning world today. The Financial Planning Association has made a suggestion that the profession should move to 'fee for service' as the normal way for planners to get paid, from the year 2012. So maybe it'll be no http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1241156872293622 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1241156872293622 Kane Piper You may have noticed that I have been talking about financial planning and interviewing financial planners for quite some time now. I've picked up quite a bit of information about what planners do, who they deal with, what qualifications they need, what their http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12481421981293015 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12481421981293015 Kane Piper Leg two of my journey took me down to Melbourne! Tragedy struck early on when I was going through Sydney airport, I had to take off my belt at the security gate, only to forget to pick it up! I also forgot to pack any woolies (Hey I thought it was summer!). I http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12378753221553377 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12378753221553377 Kane Piper Last night was an awesome event. There was a great turn out of planners who were keen to do a little unwinding as well as listen to key note speaker Michael Kava speak entertainingly about marketing their business and themselves to the world. Everyone seemed http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1248410493210903 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1248410493210903 Kane Piper Very soon the third mascot hopeful will be unveiled in the “official” unofficial search for an FPA mascot! What or who will s/he be? Well you are just going to come back here to find that out! So far we have had a http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1248751127476040 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1248751127476040 Kane Piper I was fortunate enough to be invited to a Young Planners Christmas event that was hosted by the Financial Planning Association in Sydney. It was a fairly casual affair but had the big draw card of Paul Clitheroe (of the TV show "Money" fame) as key note http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12313026591945032 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12313026591945032 Kane Piper How has the semester kicked off for you so far? Are you enjoying the subjects you have picked? Are you lecturers/ tutors good to work with? I have had three lecturers in the last week that I have never had before so it takes some getting used to. For 45 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12493583131738192 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12493583131738192 Kane Piper Philippa Baker is a practicing financial planner on Queensland's sunny Gold Coast. She's 24 years old, currently employed at Headon Financial Planning and has been working in the financial planning sector for 6 years. I followed up our first interview (which http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1242265838239014 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1242265838239014 Kane Piper Hey ya guys! If you are taking a study break now, eating a tim-tam or some freshly baked lamingtons, having a cup of Bushell's finest, I may have just the thing for you. Earlier in the year I spoke to the Godfather of financial planning, a man who has done http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1250644136255760 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1250644136255760 Kane Piper Next in line was visiting Adelaide uni for their career fair. I love Adelaide uni! It definitely has some old world charm that is missing from some other universities! Big ole halls with big ole ceilings! This was my first time in Adelaide and I was pumped up http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12383865062314409 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12383865062314409 Kane Piper I have four words for you: “Australian Financial Planning Handbook”. You may have even heard your lecturer or tutor talk about it. It is published by the good people at Thomson Reuters and is classified as the definitive text for financial planning students. http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1251937607774904 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1251937607774904 Kane Piper I was looking back at what Phillipa said in the second part of her interview (which can be found here). When asked what was the most important thing http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D124278833447177 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D124278833447177 Kane Piper Thank goodness there is some good news for all those who have either just graduated or are looking to graduate in the next couple of years. There is evidence that employment growth is looking to increase in the financial services industry. This is great news http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1252889805898054 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1252889805898054 Kane Piper I landed on the West Coast on Wednesday morning, in a little country town they like to call Perth (My taxi driver assured me that Perth is actually a city :P). The weather was warm and fine. Most people only get jet lag when they cross half the globe, but I http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1236552400191878 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1236552400191878 Kane Piper The commission vs. fee debate continues, yet it is starting to seem more than likely that Australia's financial planning industry will be set to transfer over to a “fee for service” system completely within a few years. An important point raised in Money http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1253575352420057 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1253575352420057 Kane Piper Last night I woke up in a sweat (a mild sweat mind you), for yesterday I compared Financial Planning week to Christmas Day. This was wrong, very wrong and I apologise. Financial Planning week is clearly much better! For one there will be no Christmas carols http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D124331265613323 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D124331265613323 Kane Piper A few weeks I was asked a great question about what the difference is between a financial planner and a paraplanner. So I wrote a blog outlining the major differences between the two professions and how they are related. I also promised to get in touch with http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12541903011265886 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12541903011265886 Kane Piper The second FPA mascot hopeful, Derrick Doddle, has his two minutes in the sun to try and convince you that he has what it takes in the "official" unofficial search for an FPA mascot! Derrick made it big trading on Wall St in the United States, he lived an http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1239167042741477 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1239167042741477 Kane Piper Hannah Bush currently works at National Australia Bank as a financial adviser. She provides personal financial planning advice to retail clients of the bank. Hannah studied Bachelor Commerce in Economics and Marketing at University of Wollongong and graduated http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1254871394579521 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1254871394579521 Kane Piper After further searching I have located the next FPA mascot hopeful in the "official" unofficial search for an FPA Mascot, where candidates from around the Australia have two minutes to prove to you why they have qualities needed to make a great Mascot. It http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12439005302062756 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12439005302062756 Kane Piper A few days ago I had the pleasure of attending the Wollongong FPA chapter breakfast. Not only did I enjoy some fine scrambled eggs but I also had the pleasure of chatting to plenty of planners from the South Coast. Simon Stevenson, the head of strategy for http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12560912954875808 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12560912954875808 Kane Piper There was an interesting article in Money Management ("Regional Planners still make Hay" 08/10/09). The article focussed on the challenges that financial planners in regional areas face. Many of these areas were hard hit by the economic downturn and regional http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12555625373011698 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12555625373011698 Kane Piper I was taken to a dark and eery place in the last few days. I saw little sunlight, I only ate chocolate, I may not have showered as regularly as usual and I certainly did not think I would ever see the end... But I am back! I have been hard at work writing my http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1244598385785860 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1244598385785860 Kane Piper Once more I had the honor (and pleasure) of attending the FPA Sydney Chapters Young Planner Networking Event. There was a great turn out to see Chrin Unwin, Risk Specialist ' Adviser talk about holistic protection for clients. It was really great to see a http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1256775135807560 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1256775135807560 Kane Piper Last night I had the great opportunity to head up to Sydney to the Young Planners event organised by the Financial Planning Association. The event had Peter Capp speaking entertainingly about engaging with clients. It was even bigger and better than the http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1240444958431525 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1240444958431525 Kane Piper Hey there! How has everyone gone with exams? Most people must surely be finished by this time? For those that aren't, unlucky! Very very unlucky. For those who have finished Uni forever: Goodluck! =) I still have another year to go, so I am just going to http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12585944301244891 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12585944301244891 Kane Piper You may have heard of the CFP or you may not have (Obviously it has to be one or the other :) )! CFP = Certified Financial Planner for those who didn't know. It is the bees knees for financial planners. I don't go spraying around terms like bees knees http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1245219950491388 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1245219950491388 Kane Piper Richard Purchase currently works at State Future Financial Services in the Not For Profit sector. Much like Gilda, Richard decided on a change in careers from being in the http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12591162976348 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12591162976348 Kane Piper The “official” - unofficial search for a Financial Planning Association (FPA) mascot is about to kick off in the upcoming days and I need your help to decide who will be the Blog Star mascot. Basically I am looking for an FPA mascot who will help represent http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1236834507230535 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1236834507230535 Kane Piper Hey! Surely holidays have started?! Fill me in! What is happening in the holidays? Are you going up to Noosa to visit nan and pop? Are you going down to Nowra to stay at the family holiday house? Or are you going on a spiritual journey where will your http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1245741197433483 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1245741197433483 Kane Piper My first assignment was a tough one :P, to be flown to Gold Coast to the Financial Planning Association's national conference, where thousands of practicing financial planners flock to enjoy networking, education and sunshine. I had no idea what to http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12310552581288667 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12310552581288667 Kane Piper If you haven't already registered, head over. In the time it takes you to make a cup of tea (or coffee, or milo) you'll be registered. Not only do you get to post comments, ask questions and give your http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12324151451746311 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12324151451746311 Kane Piper The uni semester has once again started! It means that on some days I will be forced to get out of bed before 10am. Ouch! I've also been thinking lately that we as uni students aren't being looked after enough. I am just not quite sure if four and a half http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1236740232474772 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1236740232474772 Kane Piper I was excited when I woke up to leave to the Gold Coast, it was cold and wet in Wollongong, cold and wet in Sydney and in the Gold Coast? Still wet, but slightly warmer :) Students, and not just commerce students, have all been asking what exactly do you http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12397698184048739 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12397698184048739 Kane Piper I started this blog so that anyone can post a question they have about a career in financial planning. Now I'm not going to pretend that I'm THE guru on a career in financial planning but what I can promise you is that I'll use my magical list of financial http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1244099060542574 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D1244099060542574 Kane Piper The next potential mascot has arrived in the “official” unofficial search for an FPA mascot. The competition has searched the globe, high and low, for a mascot that would best represent financial planners and help promote the industry. They need to have the http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12559114694308001 http://www.blogstar.com.au/blog.html?detail%3DT%26_SKU%3D12559114694308001