New entrants boost adviser numbers

Financial adviser numbers have resumed some growth, rising by 24 over the past week on the back of 15 new advisers.

The latest analysis from Padua’s WealthData noted that 13 licensees lost advisers, but 12 of that number lost just one adviser each.

WealthData principal, Colin Williams pointed to the history of new advisers, noting that it took some time for advice firms to start hiring new advisers under the rules that began on January 1, 2019.

“Since 2022, 1,693 advisers have been appointed, with 1,515 still active on the ASIC Financial Adviser Register (FAR). This means about 10.5% of new advisers since 2022 have left the register,” Williams said..

Key Adviser Movements For This Period

• Net change of advisers +24
• Current number of advisers 15,442
• Net Change Calendar 2025 YTD (-31)
• Net Change Financial YTD (2025/26) +269
• 37 Licensee Owners had net gains of 40 advisers
• 13 Licensee Owners had net losses for (-15) advisers
• 1 new licensee, 1 recommenced and (-2) ceased
• 15 new entrants
• Number of advisers active in this period, appointed / resigned: 59.

Growth – Licensee Owners

• Three licensee owners had net gains of 2:
  • WT Financial Group appointing four advisers including three new entrants and losing two advisers. Financial year to date, WT Financial Group is now up by 25 advisers.
  • United Super with one adviser coming back into advice after a six month break and another switching from Australian Financial Planning Group
  • Entireti & Akumin Group with both advisers being new entrants under the Akumin AFSL
• A long tail of 34 licensee owners up by net one including Viridian, Rhombus, Phillip Alexander and Findex.

Losses – Licensee Owners

• Count Group down by three, all three leaving Paragem and two of those advisers switching to Rhombus
• A short tail of 12 Licensee owners down by one each including Capstone, Wealth Spectrum and both licensees that ceased.