Challenge the Standard in Financial Advice

Nathan Fradley and Jordan Vaka
  • 0.0 (0)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to the Challenge the Standard podcast - a podcast for financial advisers, by financial advisers. Your hosts, Nathan Fradley and Jordan Vaka, will examine the biases, fixed thinking and status quo in advice. In every episode, we'll dive deep into the world of financial advice, questioning the norms, sparking new ideas and exploring how we could do things better. Our goal is to elevate our professional practices and 'uphold and promote the standards of our profession. So, whether you're a seasoned adviser or a bright new entrant to the Australian market (and beyond), this is where we challenge the standard, together.

  1. 4D AGO

    S7E9 Implementation

    This week, Nathan and Jordan try to answer the question - how involved should you, as an adviser, be involved in implementing your advice? Well, they don't try all that hard, but they have a shot at it.  Starting at fairly opposite ends of the spectrum, they try to discuss: Working out who's job it is to get the forms signed If it's not your job, who's is it? How involved should you still be, even if you're not the one doing the forms? Now that how we get paid has been (should be?) severed from whether somebody implements our recommendations, does implementation have the same weight? Why are printers so rubbish still? This isn't a topic people discuss very much, but Nathan and Jordan are confident that it's an area ripe for challenging...and discussing...and questioning.  So, have at it and let us know how involved YOU are with implementing your financial advice!   You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time.  CPD For this Episode: https://quiz.ensombl.com/NATH-26021111-24240001  Thanks again to the team at CPD Check for letting us publish our episodes using their AI-CPD certifying engine. Check out Clayton's episode on the pod for more info.    Nathan: advice@nathanfradley.com.au www.nathanfradley.com.au Jordan: jordan@planningsolo.com.au www.planningsolo.com.au LinkedIn:  Challenge the Standard in Financial Advice (Podcast): Overview | LinkedIn The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.

    1h 7m

  2. FEB 5

    S7E8 Gettin' Paid

    Managing to keep the meandering at the start of the ep to a - wide ranging and flower-heavy - minimum, Nathan and Jordan quickly get on task today to discuss getting paid.  From choosing how to structure the timing of when you get paid for your work as a financial adviser, to the methods you offer clients, to handling that blessedly rare occasion of a client stiffing you on a bill, they try to explore all the considerations of the topic.  Because, as a professional financial adviser, you add immense amounts of value to your clients lives. But do you believe in that value enough to expect to be paid your full worth?  And what decisions, steps and systems have you put in place to make sure that happens without the biggest impediment (i.e., you. Us. Advisers.) getting in the way?     You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time.  CPD For this Episode: https://quiz.ensombl.com/NATH-26020906-00480001   Nathan: advice@nathanfradley.com.au www.nathanfradley.com.au Jordan: jordan@planningsolo.com.au www.planningsolo.com.au LinkedIn:  Challenge the Standard in Financial Advice (Podcast): Overview | LinkedIn The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.

    1h 5m

  3. JAN 29

    S7E7 Ethics of Age Pension Advice

    As a financial adviser, you no doubt know some stuff about the Age Pension. The Income Test. The Assets Test. Thresholds, limits, reduction factors - a fair bit of stuff.  But how do you tackle some of the ethical considerations? How do you balance client best interests with client intentions - especially when some of those intentions can be a bit dicey? In this week's episode, we explore this fundamental part of retirement advice and try to add some new details and nuance to your approach.  And, for keen listeners, let us know your answer to the $10,000 question - where has this 'rule' come from?   Some links for you: History of the Age Pension in Australia Administration of the Age Pension | Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) Using the Social Security Guide | Social Security Guide   You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time.  CPD For this Episode: https://quiz.ensombl.com/NATH-26012910-42380001 Client Care and Practice - 0.75 Professionalism & Ethics - 0.25   Nathan: advice@nathanfradley.com.au www.nathanfradley.com.au Jordan: jordan@planningsolo.com.au www.planningsolo.com.au LinkedIn:  Challenge the Standard in Financial Advice (Podcast): Overview | LinkedIn The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.

    1h 6m

  4. JAN 22

    Episode 100: POWER!

    100 episodes! 100 episodes of these two goons meandering around topics that affect, interest and bewilder financial advisers in Australia.  To celebrate this milestone, Nathan and Jordan have decided to meander around the topic of 'power' in financial advice.  Who has it, who doesn't, why they do (and don't), how they can exercise it and how we can increase it.  It is, like most of our oddly popular ones, very philosophical, very meandering and filled with outdated pop culture references (they fly together, just so you know).  Enjoy the pod and here's to an undetermined number of more episodes into the future! Thanks for listening.    You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time.    CPD For this Episode: https://quiz.ensombl.com/NATH-26012910-31480001 Client Care & Practice – 0.25 Professionalism & Ethics – 0.75    Chuffed - Aunty Donna: https://youtu.be/o4fHlldbRHo?si=YehRABoc6fmhqQl6 Nathan: advice@nathanfradley.com.au www.nathanfradley.com.au Jordan: jordan@planningsolo.com.au www.planningsolo.com.au LinkedIn:  Challenge the Standard in Financial Advice (Podcast): Overview | LinkedIn The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.

    1h 4m

  5. 12/18/2025

    S7E5 We (Kinda) Read RG181

    We genuinely had a plan for this episode...and then it just ran right off the rails. Which is a shame*. Because ASIC have updated their regulatory guidance around Conflicts of Interest, in Regulatory Guide 181.  And it's good.  Useful. Broader than before, touching on a wider range of potential conflicts amongst a much larger ecosystem than was the case when it was last refreshed (2004, ahem).  It's one of our longest episodes, but even with our weird tangents and Simpsons quotes and more Willy Wonka recitations than you'd expect, we think it's still actually pretty helpful.  Hopefully, anyway.    *A hilarious, rollercoaster, digression-filled jaunt through our year-end tired minds, shame.   Link to the RG: RG 181 AFS licensing: Managing conflicts of interest | ASIC   You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time.  CPD For this Episode: https://quiz.ensombl.com/NATH-25121808-54570001    Nathan: advice@nathanfradley.com.au www.nathanfradley.com.au Jordan: jordan@planningsolo.com.au www.planningsolo.com.au LinkedIn:  Challenge the Standard in Financial Advice (Podcast): Overview | LinkedIn The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.

    1h 18m

  6. 12/11/2025

    S7E4 The Business of Advice with Patrick Flynn

    Get in touchContinuing our streak of bringing people on, then putting them in commercially awkward positions by asking silly questions, we're joined in this episode by Patrick Flynn of Simply Kaizen. Who, despite our shenanigans, is happy to discuss: Why the leap from 1-2 advisers to 7+ is across such a large canyon Where Kaizen comes from and how it feeds into his philosophy about the business of advice Why the skills that make you a great financial adviser may not make you a great business owner - and why that's ok The red lines we get to - have to? - draw as business owners when it comes to managing around the people we work with. The two big things all practice should ensure are ship shape before doing anything else.   You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time.  CPD For this Episode: https://quiz.ensombl.com/NATH-25121110-19530001 Patrick: Get in touch The Trust Canyon (As discussed at Congress)  Another interesting blog on leadership   Nathan: advice@nathanfradley.com.au www.nathanfradley.com.au Jordan: jordan@planningsolo.com.au www.planningsolo.com.au LinkedIn:  Challenge the Standard in Financial Advice (Podcast): Overview | LinkedIn The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.

    1h 14m

  7. 12/04/2025

    S7E3 Weaknesses

    Weaknesses - we've all got 'em.  But, what do we do about them? This week's episode sees Jordan and Nathan exploring the idea of weaknesses: What they are (and what they aren't) How to recognise them What to do about them  How the weaknesses we all have can manifest in our work, our personal lives and our practices There's a smidge of vulnerability from the two of them, but hopefully you leave with a framework to tackle your own weaknesses - all with the goal of working towards your very best selves! After all, it's not a second, seven seconds away...   You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time.  To choose the episode you'd most like to see CPD for, visit the link below, and donate to Good Shepherd charity to lock in your choice.  Request past Episodes for CPD: S7E3 Weaknesses Quiz - Ensombl CPD For this Episode:  Technical Competence - 1.0 Professionalism & Ethics - 0.50   Nathan: advice@nathanfradley.com.au www.nathanfradley.com.au Jordan: jordan@planningsolo.com.au www.planningsolo.com.au LinkedIn:  Challenge the Standard in Financial Advice (Podcast): Overview | LinkedIn The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.

    1h 8m

  8. 11/27/2025

    S7E2 Can You Act? Divorce Dilemmas

    Time for more dilemmas - this time, what do you do when a client (strongly) hints they want to end their marriage? How do you handle the disclosure? How do you advise them? What do you do about the partner? Throw in TPD, infidelity, a brief detour in ASIC's SMSF report and a healthy dose of uncertainty, and you've got this week's episode.  In it, Jordan and Nathan: Propose frameworks to help you navigate this very thorny issue Thank the wonderful advisers who have posed these questions recently Congratulate all of you out there expanding the remit of financial advice, by examining your own thoughts and approaches Disagree on some bits and bobs Three case studies. Lots of overlap, but also lots of interesting nuance and variation.  PS: Like the new character image? Thank Mr Fradley's creativity for the evolution of our logo!   𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐳: https://quiz.ensombl.com/NATH-25112611-35210001 - Professionalism and Ethics: 0.75 - Client Care and Practice: 0.25   𝐂𝐏𝐃 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 If you want to be able to accredit the informal learning you complete as part of your professional development check out CPD check at https://www.cpdcheck.com/ Nathan: advice@nathanfradley.com.au www.nathanfradley.com.au Jordan: jordan@planningsolo.com.au www.planningsolo.com.au LinkedIn:  Challenge the Standard in Financial Advice (Podcast): Overview | LinkedIn The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.

    58 min
See All (103)

About

Welcome to the Challenge the Standard podcast - a podcast for financial advisers, by financial advisers. Your hosts, Nathan Fradley and Jordan Vaka, will examine the biases, fixed thinking and status quo in advice. In every episode, we'll dive deep into the world of financial advice, questioning the norms, sparking new ideas and exploring how we could do things better. Our goal is to elevate our professional practices and 'uphold and promote the standards of our profession. So, whether you're a seasoned adviser or a bright new entrant to the Australian market (and beyond), this is where we challenge the standard, together.

Information

You Might Also Like