Independent Practice Fellowship
What is it?
Overview
- Format: 1-day intensive, held annually in Melbourne
- Cost: None - this is part of our contribution to the profession
- Places: Strictly limited, via application
The Independent Practice Fellowship is a one-day, pro bono, application-only workshop for aspiring financial planners who want to learn what it really takes to build and run an independent advice business.
This is not a recruitment day. It’s a hands-on opportunity to:
- “see behind the curtain” – how an advice practice operates when independence, evidence-based investing, and client-first values are at its core
- develop your advice skills – learn the soft skills and effective processes essential being a wiser adviser and running an elevated advice firm.
Why We Created the Fellowship
The financial advice profession needs more advisers who are technically strong, ethically grounded, and genuinely independent.
At Stephan Independent Advisory, independence has always been more than a licence condition – it’s a mindset. This fellowship is our way of passing on what we’ve learned, sharing the systems, mistakes, and lessons that have shaped how we operate today.
By supporting the next generation, we help strengthen the profession for everyone.
Who It’s For?
- Final-year students or recent graduates
- Those undertaking Professional Year (PY)
- New entrants (less than five years in advice)
- Career-changers looking to transition into advice
What Will You Learn?
A day inside a real independent practice, guided by the Stephan Independent Advisory team. You’ll gain practical insights into:
- Independence in action: What Section 923A really means, and how it changes client conversations.
- Balancing business and advice: Finding the right mix between compliance, profitability, and purpose.
- Client-first service: How to build trust without product bias.
- How to deliver great advice, elevating you from technical adviser to an emotionally intelligent adviser.
- Practice operations: The people, processes, and technology that make independence sustainable.
- Lived experience: What we wish we’d known starting out - and how we’ve evolved since.
How to Apply
Applications are reviewed based on alignment with our values, not grades or CV polish.
We ask each applicant to answer three short questions:
Why does independence matter to you?
What do you hope to learn from the Fellowship?
Where do you see yourself in 5–10 years?
Recognition
All participants receive a Certificate of Completion, acknowledging their commitment to professional growth and the future of independent advice. Many past fellows share their certificates on LinkedIn – a great way to highlight your values and connect with others in the field.