Seven young financial planners have graduated from a Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) excelerate program to arm them with risk writing skills to "thrive and not just survive".
Five industry stalwarts - Bob Riches, Peter David, Tom O'Connell, John Goldsbrough and Robert Burke - devised mentoring sessions to provide a structured pathway for new advisers.
Planners learnt the art of prospecting, generating referrals, selling skills, which include handling objections, selling loadings and exclusions, and the psychology behind sales, MDRT Oceania chairman Beverley Carlyon said.
Amelia Griffith, Anthony Long, Damien Luksic, Robyn Munn, Scott Wendell and Aaron Hodges and Jade Zaicew graduated in Sydney on Friday.
"The course has been very successful with advisers increasing the value of the sale/advice and also improving the calibre of client they are dealing with," Carlyon said.
"They have gone from having no referrals to having an average of five referrals and prospects per week. It's about building the confidence of young advisers and giving them a story to tell."
The program was sponsored by Tower, ANZ, MLC, AMP and Asteron and will teach 50 new advisers soft skills. It starts again on February 16.
