TLDR: Financial Advice New Zealand has launched the ‘AI in Advice Certificate,’ a 12-week executive short course designed to equip financial advisers with the practical skills to integrate artificial intelligence tools into their professional practices. The program, commencing October 24, 2025, aims to enhance efficiency, client engagement, and compliance in the rapidly evolving financial advice landscape.
Financial Advice New Zealand (FANZ) has introduced a groundbreaking ‘AI in Advice Certificate’ program, a 12-week executive short course tailored to empower financial advisers with the knowledge and practical skills to confidently embed artificial intelligence (AI) tools into their daily operations. This initiative responds to a growing demand for adviser-specific AI education that fosters both innovation and regulatory compliance.
The certificate program, a strategic enhancement to the Modern Financial Adviser professional development curriculum, is set to commence with online webinars on October 24, 2025. Optional in-person Immersive Masterclasses on prompt engineering will precede the online course, running in Christchurch on October 14, Auckland on October 15, and Wellington on October 16, 2025.
Comprising 12 modules and offering 25 accredited Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours, the course covers a wide array of AI applications relevant to financial advice. Participants will gain hands-on expertise in critical areas such as prompt engineering for large language models (LLMs), leveraging AI-powered productivity tools, automating client engagement and marketing, and developing robust systems and strategies to integrate AI across the entire advice process. Specific practical applications include building custom chatbots, automating email campaigns, creating lead generation funnels, recording and analyzing client meetings with AI tools, and generating content efficiently.
Nick Hakes, CEO of Financial Advice New Zealand, emphasized the urgency of AI adoption, stating, “AI is no longer a competitive advantage – it’s a necessity.” He further elaborated on the program’s objective: “This certificate recognizes that embedding AI into advice can feel complex. Our goal is to give advisers a clear, practical learning experience which builds confidence and technical fluency in AI, while maintaining compliance and client trust.”
The program will be led by Panos Leledakis, a distinguished US-based AdviceTech innovator and founder of IFAAcademy. Leledakis brings over 25 years of experience in financial planning and has received 11 global innovation awards, including recognition from MIT, making him a highly qualified instructor for this cutting-edge curriculum.
Global research from the Financial Planning Standards Board underscores the relevance of this training, revealing that 78% of advisers anticipate AI will significantly improve their ability to serve clients. Furthermore, 41% of advisers are already utilizing AI for client communications, including onboarding and follow-up processes. The ‘AI in Advice Certificate’ aims to bridge the gap for advisers seeking to harness these transformative technologies.
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The tuition fee for the certificate is $1,725 incl. GST for members and $1,955 incl. GST for non-members, with an additional $90 incl. GST for a digital badge credential. The program is designed to provide a structured pathway for advisers to embed AI into every facet of their practice, promising measurable advantages in client outcomes, operational efficiency, and professional positioning.
