Meet the Team – Danielle Waugh – Advice Education Manager

Q. What is your role at TAL?

As the Advice Education Manager at TAL, I am responsible for managing the TAL Risk Academy’s content to ensure it is aligned with advisers’ education goals and requirements. The legislation and requirements in the advice industry move quickly, which is why it’s important we ensure we are ahead of the curve in being able to support advisers through the changes as swiftly as possible.

I have a personal passion around supporting the advice sector to meet the new professional standards, and enabling advisers with the right education and tools to provide more Australians with access to high quality financial advice.

Q. What is your professional background?

Having worked in financial services for close to 20 years, my previous roles have focused predominantly on licensees where I had the opportunity to work closely with advisers in their practices on business development and planning. I have learnt so much from my professional experience, which I am now able to bring into my job at TAL and have a real impact on advisers’ businesses.

Q. What role do you play in helping to support advisers to deliver value for their clients?

The TAL Risk Academy program offers on-demand options including courses and CPD-accredited reading articles for use whenever and wherever advisers prefer, in addition to a range of virtual and face-to-face courses from entry-level options for those new to advice, through to advanced, technical topics for more experienced advisers.

While a large portion of our content is technical, it is just as important that advisers are developing and maintaining their soft skills, as positive communication skills in particular are invaluable. I am really excited to continue to expand the courses and support on offer, to help advisers keep up with best practice in this space.

Q. What are you most excited about in your role for the coming 12 months?

The TAL Risk Academy – through our Professional Year program and PY Manager, launched in 2022 – is helping advice practices invest in new entrants and supporting the development of skills needed to become an adviser. The program really is gaining momentum, and it is so rewarding to see it take off.

The Professional Year program has been a focus of mine for almost five years, and I love seeing how we are now able to actively support the next generation of financial advisers.

Q. What is something that has made you smile recently?

I am fortunate enough to still have two living grandparents, who have been married for 65 years with a great love story. I am getting married soon and my Poppa has written a beautiful note to be read out at the wedding. They unfortunately won’t be able to make the wedding, but I know I’ll be crying happy tears when I hear the words he has written for the first time.