The Financial Services Council’s Shaping Advice Summit 2026 attracted a record 320 attendees from 128 organisations, bringing together policymakers, regulators, advice businesses, superannuation funds, platforms, asset managers and service providers to examine the future of financial advice.
Held against a backdrop of ongoing regulatory reform, the impact of DBFO and CSLR settings, rising compliance costs, rapid technology adoption and changing consumer expectations, the summit focused on the practical reforms and innovations needed to ensure more Australians can access quality financial advice.
Addressing the audience, Shadow Treasurer The Hon Tim Wilson MP reinforced the importance of a strong and accessible advice profession, “There is a growing gap between those who can afford advice, and those that can’t.”
Across 11 sessions featuring 29 speakers, several clear themes emerged.
Financial advice demand is accelerating
Australia is entering a new phase where an ageing population, growing retirement balances and increasingly complex retirement decisions are driving greater demand for advice while adviser numbers remain constrained. Keynote speaker Andrew Inwood, Founder and CEO of CoreData, described this as a structural shift in the advice market, with the industry moving into a decades-long decumulation phase that will place unprecedented demand on advisers.
New models of advice needed to ‘close the gap’
There was broad agreement on the day that the traditional comprehensive advice model alone cannot meet future demand. Speakers advocated for advice to be delivered across a continuum, spanning education and guidance, targeted advice and comprehensive personal advice, supported by technology and more proportionate regulation.
Technology and AI as enablers, not replacements
Artificial intelligence featured prominently throughout the day, with discussions centred on how technology can improve adviser productivity and expand access to advice. Our panellists highlighted AI’s potential to deliver more personalised advice at scale, while emphasising that trust, professional judgement and human relationships will remain the foundation of quality advice.
Getting regulatory reform right
Regulatory reform remained a recurring theme throughout the summit. While speakers supported strong consumer protections, many argued that regulation must also enable more affordable and scalable advice, with speakers, calling for regulatory settings that support innovation without imposing unnecessary compliance costs.
Tax reform in the spotlight
The Summit featured a robust discussion on whether the tax overhaul will choke investment or reshape incentives and capital formation, highlighting real world consequences for investors, advisers and the broader economy.
Advice is big business
Attendees heard how advice is transforming from a fragmented profession to a more technology-enabled, capital-intensive industry, with larger businesses, consolidation and private capital expected to continue to play a meaningful role in shaping the advice landscape in the future.
Retirement advice will be the defining challenge
Multiple sessions highlighted that retirement planning extends well beyond investment selection. Lachlan Reardon, Partner at NMG Consulting highlighted that advisers are playing an increasingly important role in helping Australians navigate the complexities of retirement, including longevity, sustainable retirement income, insurance and household financial decision-making.
Collaboration across the ecosystem is essential
A consistent message throughout the summit was that addressing Australia’s advice gap will require collaboration across industry and government. Whether discussing regulation, technology or advice delivery, speakers agreed that coordinated action across policy, business and the profession will be essential to improving access to quality financial advice and delivering better outcomes for Australians.
The FSC would like to extend thanks to all speakers for their insights, expertise and contribution to the program. We also thank attendees for their engagement and support in making this Shaping Advice 2026 a success.
The FSC also thanks its Major Partners, Entireti and Vanguard, its Supporting Partners, Iress and MUFG Pension and Market Services. Coffee Partner, Challenger. Lanyard Partner, Novigi and Networking Partner InvestStream.
The partnership and commitment of our sponsors plays a vital role in bringing FSC events to life.
To download a copy of the program, click here.
Join us for our next event in Sydney on 22 October for our Retirement Summit 2026, where we will examine the next phase of Australia’s retirement system.
