AMP has honoured Lifetime Achievers from among its Australia-wide network of financial advisers at the company’s annual Advice Summit in Sydney.

Advisers Geoff Cattach, Max Lewis and Ross Vanderwolf received the awards for their contribution to the Australian community, both in their roles as financial advisers and through their broader philanthropic work over many years.

This is the first time AMP has bestowed lifetime achievement awards, which in future will be awarded annually at the Summit.

Advice Summit draws advisers from across AMP’s adviser network, the largest in Australia.

Group Executive Advice and New Zealand, Jack Regan said it was important to recognise outstanding financial advisers and highlight the valuable role advisers play in their communities.

“Many of our advisers are very much pillars of their local communities,” Mr Regan said.

“By earning the respect of their peers and the thanks of their clients and communities these advisers help show the way forward for our profession,” Mr Regan said.

Mr Regan described how each of the financial advisers who had received an award had proved themselves by successfully guiding their clients and their practices over decades of change.

In his opening address to the Summit, Mr Regan explained how the industry is experiencing multiple changes, including rapid technology advancement, higher regulatory scrutiny and professionalisation. While these are creating disruption to traditional advice processes, AMP has been investing heavily into its advice practices, pioneering more efficient approaches that encourage more Australians to consider taking advice.

These include the AMP Goals 360 advice experience, which has been launched through its AMP Advice practices across the country. 

“The technology we have built offers an elegant solution for advisers who are seeking efficient, compliant and innovative tools that reinforce their professional roles. It is the most sophisticated and contemporary technology in the market, reflecting our belief that goals-based advice helps people plan, track and realise their future.”

AMP’s Advice Summit wraps up on Friday 19 January.

About the Lifetime Achievement Award winners

Geoff Cattach, AM (AMP Financial Planning)

Geoff has represented AMP in different roles for more than 50 years, and served his community in and around Harvey in regional Western Australia as head of Harvey Financial Services. He takes pride in the fact that his first client from 1965 is still with him.

In 2009, Geoff was honoured with membership in the General Division of the Order of Australia for service to the community, particularly through the Children's Leukemia and Cancer Research Foundation, and agricultural, health, sporting and historical organisations in the Shire of Harvey. He was also a finalist for the 2014 WA Senior Australian of the Year.

Ross Vanderwolf (Charter Financial Planning)

Ross’s career spans 36 years. He has twice been awarded the title of Charter’s Queensland State Adviser of the Year (2002 and 2007), was a finalist for the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) National Adviser of the Year award (2007) and is a Gerald Lippman Award winner (2007).

Ross has played a valuable mentoring role to many advisers over the years through the AFA and the Million Dollar Roundtable (MDRT), an international trade association formed in 1927 to promote best business practices and high ethical standards in financial advice and insurance broking. Ross was the first Australian to be appointed to the executive committee of the MDRT.

Max Lewis (Hillross)

Max gave up his career as a lawyer in the early 1980s to become a financial adviser, and was a pioneer of personalised financial plans when the practice was still in its infancy. He has served the community in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney for many years, both as an adviser and through his volunteer work with local schools and sports clubs.

Max has been active in advocating for better superannuation and pension legislation, and has been recognised for helping lobby for amendments to Retirement Income Stream Legislation through his representations to Federal Treasury over a number of years.

He has also been a contributor to the Cancer Council's Pro Bono Program for cancer patients and their families in need of financial advice.