Initially available in the UAE, and aimed at Insurance Authority regulated advisers working with expatriate customers, the academy offers access to a team of specialists who will share their expertise in tax, trust and estate planning, funds and investments, and sales training. This will help advisers develop financial planning solutions that will lead to the best possible outcomes for their customers.
Adviser support
Philip Cernik, head of global expatriate propositions, said: “At FPI we understand the many issues faced by our business partners today. Whether it is recruiting, training and retaining people with the appropriate skills and qualifications, or coming to terms with the complex dimensions of financial planning for internationally mobile customers, they have a tough job. The aim of the academy is to support our advisers’ professional development by sharing the knowledge of the excellent people we have on the ground in the UAE.”
Specialists recruited
FPI has recruited several top class specialists in the international financial services market.
Scott Hood is FPI’s regional technical manager for the Middle East and Africa. He is a chartered financial planner and fellow of the Personal Financial Society. He holds a law degree and post graduate diploma in legal practice and is experienced in both dispensing and auditing UK regulated financial advice.
Lina Taher has been appointed as regional funds and investment manager. Taher holds a double major in finance and accounting information systems from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York. Her role is to provide funds and investment training for our business partners and to keep them updated on fund strategy and performance.
Neil Hay is the regional sales training manager. He has 18 years’ industry experience, including nine years as a sales consultant in the UK and Dubai. Hay’s role principally looks at the impact of regulatory changes on the industry, in the UAE. He also provides training and co-ordination to help keep our key business partners ahead of the curve.
Customer insights
In some cases, the academy can offer another unique service to certain business partners, by giving them access to the customer insight team. This team can help with quantitative and qualitative insight, analytical models, predictive modelling and data on existing customer bases.
Over time the academy will evolve to include additional support and insight on other areas, such as management consultancy – to help advisers to move to more profitable models – and a section for our underwriters to share their expertise.
David Thompson, regional sales director for FPI’s Middle East and Africa operation said: “I believe that FPI is unique as the only international life insurance company in the UAE to offer this holistic support service. I am very proud of the brilliant team that we have built, and in time I think the FPI Financial Adviser Academy will become a one stop shop for all the information and support our distribution partners will need.”
