The Pro Bono Financial Advice Network (PFAN) is further broadening its charitable scope by partnering with Pancare and MND Victoria, amplifying its impact on Australians facing significant health challenges. As a proud partner of PFAN, Adviser Ratings supports this noble initiative, ensuring more individuals grappling with severe illnesses and disabilities receive the financial guidance they critically need.
Since its establishment in 2014, PFAN has connected individuals with locally based financial advisers who volunteer to provide pro bono services. Originally collaborating with the Multiple Sclerosis network across Australia, PFAN's new partnerships with Pancare and MND Victoria mark a significant expansion in their mission. These collaborations aim to support individuals affected by pancreatic, upper GI cancers, and motor neurone disease.
The model is simple yet impactful: each adviser within the PFAN network commits to taking on one pro bono client annually. This structured approach ensures that the advisers' generosity directly assists those in dire need of financial advice due to their health conditions.
Nicola Beswick, Chair of PFAN, articulates the core mission of the network: "Helping to improve the financial wellbeing of Australians living with a serious illness or disability is the reason behind PFAN’s inception. So being able to extend the network of charities we work with means we can help more people in need with access to financial advice."
The support from PFAN's corporate sponsors including HUB24, Innova, Milford, and supporters like TAL, Zurich Assure, and InterPrac, alongside associations such as FAAA and SMSF Association, is pivotal in enabling PFAN to reach more individuals in need.
David Menzies, Head of Pansupport programs, highlights the critical nature of this support: "Evidence suggests that over five percent of patients and carers in our recent survey reported out-of-pocket costs in excess of ten thousand dollars, which causes stress on household budgets in the current cost of living crisis."
Furthermore, Jo Whitehouse, MND General Manager Support Services, notes the crucial timing of such advice: "An MND diagnosis is life-changing, and as such, seeking financial advice early on can be crucial."
Advisers within the PFAN community, like Bruno Dimasi from My Wealth Strategy and Warren Strybosch from Find Wealth, are driven by a desire to contribute meaningfully to their communities. Dimasi shares, "Having seen first-hand the impact these conditions have on the lives they affect, and the remarkable work the associated charities do for them, I wanted to give back and help out as best I could."
Nicola Beswick also hopes to inspire future generations of advisers, emphasizing the profound societal impact of their profession: "Through PFAN, it is our hope to inspire the next generation of advisers and increase awareness of the value that we bring to others through our profession."
For any adviser keen on making a difference through their expertise, joining PFAN represents a substantial opportunity to contribute positively and meaningfully in the lives of individuals undergoing personal health crises.
For more information about joining or supporting PFAN, please visit Pro Bono Financial Advice Network or connect on LinkedIn.
Together, with Adviser Ratings’ partnership and the commitment of financial professionals across Australia, we can continue to enhance the financial well-being of those in need, making a lasting impact where it truly counts.
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