24/08/2026
Last week I attended the SIFA NZ Conference in Queenstown and came away with plenty to think about, and plenty of ideas about how we can continue improving what we do at BeaconPoint.
There wasn’t one session I would have wanted to miss. The programme covered economics, markets, trust, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, succession planning and the changing financial advice landscape.
A few things particularly stayed with me.
Rebecca Williams from the Reserve Bank and Cameron Bagrie provided valuable perspectives on the New Zealand and global economy. I always appreciate a good macroeconomic snapshot, not because anyone can predict what happens next, but because understanding where we are helps us make better decisions. Change is constant and forecasts are, ultimately, educated estimates.
Rabia Siddique’s presentation on trust also resonated strongly. Her message was simple: trust can be rebuilt, but it comes down to how you show up.
That struck a chord with me. Trust isn’t something a business can simply say it has. It is demonstrated through behaviour, communication, consistency and how we respond when things become difficult. I’m still working on improving in this area too.
Dr Marsha McCauley’s session on artificial intelligence was another highlight. Her Will Smith eating spaghetti example was a great illustration of just how quickly AI has evolved.
AI is here to stay.
At BeaconPoint, we want to use it to improve our analysis, make us more effective and ultimately enhance the client experience. But technology should support personal service, not replace it.
The SIFA community itself was another reminder of the value of sharing knowledge. Independent advisers are remarkably willing to share systems they have developed, offer practical advice and help others improve. Independence does not have to mean working alone.
Most importantly, the conference reinforced where I want BeaconPoint to keep heading.
I want us to be part of our clients’ financial journey, from their first meaningful KiwiSaver investment, through building wealth and financial planning, and eventually into retirement planning and retirement investment.
Because the investment itself is only part of the journey.
The bigger picture is understanding what our clients want their money to help them achieve in life.
We won’t build every capability overnight. But we will keep learning, keep improving, use technology intelligently and keep looking for better ways to show up for our clients.
