NAB launches university scholarship

The scholarship offers 10 $5,000 scholarships for financial assistance towards studies in financial planning, an invitation to the NAB FP Professional Development day and a mentorship with a senior NAB financial planner.

Speaking to The Adviser, Finance Made Easy director Tony Bice emphasised the benefit of being both a mortgage broker and a financial planner.

“With me you're getting the whole gamut and suite of product offerings and advice, so in other words I can take whatever a typical mortgage broker can do and I can take it to the next level,” he explained.

“It also adds to the value of your book... if I'm buying a mortgage book and I'm buying a mortgage book that's also got a financial planning book attached to it, I know which one has got the more value.

“As a mortgage broker that's also a financial planner, I also specialise in reviewing clients’ superannuation which is another benefit I bring to the table, and generally speaking I can save them money through minimising or reducing the fees they're being charged through their current super.”

In addition to the scholarships, NAB FP will also contribute $10,000 towards academic research in the industry, which will focus on the customer experience and understanding more about barriers to seeking advice.

NAB FP general manager Tim Steele commented: “Financial advice contributes to the financial security and wellbeing of millions of Australians, and there are many more in the community who could benefit from the help of a planner.

“By championing research in collaboration with our academic partners, we also hope the insights will be used to improve the work the industry does as a whole, and to help more Australians to access advice.”

The scholarship recipients will be announced in May.

[Related: Financial advisers join forces with brokers]