Challenge the Standard in Financial Advice

Nathan Fradley and Jordan Vaka
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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. 21h ago

    S8E16 Reform, At Last!

    Like most of our listeners, we at Challenge the Standard believe that the regulatory landscape for financial advisers has been too stable, for too long. Just the same rules, nothing changing, for years and years and years.  Which is why we were so overjoyed at the prospect of there finally being some reform in the works, some evolution in the rules around financial advice for us and our clients.  No more complacency for us financial advisers, comfortable practicing in the same rules and methods since time immemorial. Nathan and Jordan enjoyed working through the fact sheet supporting the Hon Dr Daniel Mulino, Assistant Treasurer's speech to the National Press Club on the 19th August (that's right - TWO DAYS AGO!). There's lots of ground covered (it's a long ep) and just so much cursing. So be warned, responsible adults who listen to this with their kids in the car.  And one of your hosts decides to tee off on all sorts of people, for very little discernible reason.  Enjoy! (There's also more harmonica than you'd expect).   Protecting Consumers and the Promise of Superannuation in an Evolving Financial Ecosystem National Press Club address and Q&A, Canberra | Treasury Ministers Options paper – Compensation Scheme of Last Resort (CSLR): Reform options to support ongoing sustainability 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/  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.

  2. Aug 13

    Hiring

    This week's episode is centred on important question - when should you hire staff? Inspired by a post from Matthew Jarvis on LinkedIn, Nathan and Jordan are asking just when is the right time to bring on new people? And then, when the time IS right - just what do you have them actually do? Do you compensate for weaknesses? Push for efficiencies? Emphasise your strengths? And where do you get them from? Salary? Outsourced? Contract? Casual? Egads - family? These questions and more are asked - if not necessarily answered!   Plus, a new entry coming right out of the VaULT, a well Jordan's racing to the bottom of with an unseemly enthusiasm. If you want to get involved in our UNAFFILIATED Pre-Congress Session CLICK HERE 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-26081312-42290001 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.

  3. Aug 6

    S8E14 Walking the Talk with Kate Mitterer

    How well do you remember your higher education? Beyond that - how much did you give back during your uni days? Then, coming out of those halcyon / dreaded days, how did you find those first steps into the real world? Were you wobbly, stumbling around like Bambi, trying to make your way in the mean streets of financial advice?  Or were you, like our guest this week, more of a take charge, grab the bull by the horns type? Kate Mitterer, long-suffering employee of one of your hosts, joins us this week to discuss her path into financial advice, from: Going from tour guide to handwriting amortisation tables on a mine site Being motivated, like your other pod host, by a spiteful irritation at the poor effort of somebody undeserving of the title 'financial adviser' Finding her people at university, and revitalising the moribund 'Financial Planning Club' there And how being authentically herself on LinkedIn has presented a multitude of opportunities - culminating in her 2025 FAAA University Student of the Year Award. Let us know your thoughts over on LinkedIn!   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.      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-26080623-59030001 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.

  4. Jul 30

    S8E13 The Industry vs Retail Fund Dilemma

    It's the debate that doesn't go away, the frustration that infuriates, the conflict that challenges - the age-old argument adviser have every day, about which super fund their client should be using.  Our views are often infected by ideology, but then as we discuss in this week's episode, the counter can be true as well - the desire to avoid what we see as an ideological position can drive us into hard-to-defend positions.  We also discuss the role your employer's 'houseview' can have in either amplifying, or forcefully quietening, that dissenting voice at the back of your mind.  This one is based on some recent frustrations both Nathan and Jordan have found with different super funds, and attempts to propose some methods, approaches and ideas to help us all keep fighting this good fight.    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.    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-26081312-26050001  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.

  5. Jul 23

    S8E12 Everyone's Wrong About AI (Except Us)

    Leaving aside the deeply tongue-in-cheek title, this episode was a challenge to record.  After all, both Jordan and Nathan use AI every day - they're very conscious of how much efficiency, effectiveness and, um, enthusiasm it brings to their practices.  But, at the same time, they also have some reservations and notes about it all.  So this episode is all about examining those reservations, exploring their concerns, declaring their blatant hypocrisies and putting the realities of using AI under a microscope.  Now, that microscope being clouded with doubt, experience and a determination to avoid being all 'the yoof don't understand' about it is what made it so challenging (and fun!) to record.      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-26072311-21120001   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.

  6. Jul 16

    Vulnerable Clients

    How do you recognise, assess and accommodate the vulnerabilities your clients bring into your meetings?  In this week's episode, Nathan and Jordan explore the many different vulnerabilties clients carry in our work together. Bouncing from their work in the divorce, bereavement and aged care spaces, they discuss: How vulnerability is not, and shouldn't be seen as, an impairment or disability The different ways vulnerability can manifest in our meetings  How people can mask their mental disengagement in our process so well that we don't notice What you and your firm can do to work around these vulnerabilities How different approaches can influence our work  The distinction between the power of good vulnerable client policies and on-the-ground experience Heavy? Sure.  Vital for those of us working with actual humans confronting the second most sensitive part of their lives? Absolutely.  But don't worry regular listeners, there's also plenty of discussion about the latest stop on Nathan's Journey of the (Tea) Leaf.  And tune in for what Jordan confidently believes is the greatest two-word combination he's ever uttered.    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.

  7. Jul 9

    SMSFs in 2026

    Do you wind up more SMSFs that you open? So does everyone else apparently, so who is opening SMSFs then?  In this episode Jordan and Nathan open SMSF discussions with little regard for recourse, discussing The CSLR Treasury paper and it's comment on SMSF inclusion The recent changes to residential LRBAs  Accountant exemptions Working with vulnerable clients who have SMSF Served piping hot like a pot of herbal tea, this ep is also full of sidebars and distraction.    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-26070921-34210001   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.

  8. Jul 2

    S8E9 ASIC REP 833

    Hot new ASIC report dropped this week and just like the classic, finger-on-the-pulse tastemakers they are, Nathan and Jordan are here to unpack it.  Donning their best Meldrum-style hats, Nathan and Jordan dive into REP 833, which examines ASIC's concerns with the way platform trustees just don't seem ready to get their act together.  There's a fair bit of ground covered: What ASIC's concerns seem to be Why they're actually pretty justified in being annoyed at how little has changed since that little thing we know as the Royal Commission The horror stories contained within the report Why this report reinforces Jordan's thinking that it's only a matter of time before fees-from-super is a thing of the past Although, really, let's face it - none of you are here for the actual content of the podcast.  No, you're here to hear the latest on Nathan's obsessive journey into the land of tea leaves, and Jordan's bewilderment at Nathan's hard-earned online knowledge.  That, and having Nathan sing at Jordan.  Links ASIC REP 833   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-26070209-16520001 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.

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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.

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