Are You Prepared for Your Next EER? Navigating an NZQA External Evaluation and Review (EER) can be a complex process, with common pitfalls that can impact your outcome if left unaddressed. To help you stay ahead, we’ve compiled a list of key areas where PTEs often face challenges, along with pract

As we reflect on 2023, three key RegTech trends stood out to us... 1. The integration of AI, including Gen AI, in regulatory compliance signalled a significant, albeit cautious, shift among regulated institutions 2. The global political climate highlighted the urgent need to bolster efforts in pre

Simply put, Professional Development is a regulatory requirement to improve professional competence and therefore the outcomes of our clients. The FMA has made it clear that they expect the standards of professional advisers to continue to lift over the coming years. All of this is set out in Code

Compliance for financial advisors is not only becoming expensive, it is time consuming. But it cannot be avoided. The Financial Markets Association (FMA) requires Financial Advice Providers (FAPs) to have robust systems in place for managing their professional development and compliance.This includ

Investing in professional development and continuous learning is crucial for retaining employees in today's workforce. A reported 75% of businesses are experiencing talent shortages, making it more important than ever to invest in your staff to keep them engaged and satisfied. The gap between what

In a rapidly evolving financial landscape, compliance with the Conduct of Financial Institutions (CoFI) regulations has never been more crucial. Financial advisers in New Zealand are facing mounting pressure to ensure they're not just ticking the regulatory boxes but truly serving the best interests

CPD - if you are investing your time, use it to expand your skill sets - the value is not simply ticking the compliance box. As a Financial Advice Provider (FAP), it is essential to have good systems in place to easily record and keep up to date with your Continuous Professional Development (CPD).

Success, big and small, happens every day. It doesn’t take much to say a simple well done but feeling appreciated can make a team member's day. Employee recognition in the form of peer-to-peer kudos and feedback is essential for building a tight team that stays together. Recognition is one of the

The aim of CoFI is to ensure that financial institutions and their intermediaries treat consumers fairly. To comply with CoFI, banks and insurers in New Zealand must focus on good customer outcomes and have systems and controls in place to identify, manage, and remedy conduct issues. It is critica

[TeamsPlus](https://teamsplus.co.nz/) is a cutting-edge SAAS platform that helps companies automate their continuous professional development (CPD) process. This innovative solution eliminates the need for manual course management and allows companies to set up annual automation of their training pr

Good record keeping is crucial for any business, as it allows for efficient management and compliance with regulations. The use of digital platforms, such as TeamsPlus, for record keeping, provides a streamlined and secure method for keeping track of important information. One key aspect of record

Professional development is essential for financial advisors and financial advice providers (FAPs) to keep up with the ever-changing financial landscape and to provide their clients with the best possible advice. In New Zealand, it has now become a regulatory requirement for financial advisors and F

Financial institutions play a vital role in the economy by providing a range of services, including lending, investing, and facilitating financial transactions. It is important for these institutions to ensure that their intermediaries, such as financial advisors and brokers, have good personal deve

CPD - what counts as CPD and how to record it efficiently for your business Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is an important aspect of any financial professional's career. It helps them stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends, regulations, and best practices, which in turn helps th

[TeamsPlus](https://teamsplus.co.nz/) is a streamline software platform that is the complete solution for professional development, competencies and compliance in regulated industries. With its easy-to-use self-service sign-on, getting started with TeamsPlus is now easier than ever. Financial advice

As the 16th of March approaches, it's natural to feel stressed and overwhelmed about how much you need to do to complete your Level 5 Certificate in Financial Services. But don't let that stop you from achieving your goals. The team at PIQ College is here to support you every step of the way. If yo

A recent [NZ Herald article ](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sponsored-stories/the-costly-divide-in-nz-workplaces/GFOUJKDXPQNFCLZCOE2TJK5VKE/)talks about “the costly divide in NZ workplaces” and reveals that 75 percent of businesses are experiencing talent shortages (Skills Consulting Group's (SCG) Futu

Mental health, just like physical health, is a resource that exists in each one of us. Not giving it the care and attention it deserves means a greater likelihood of injury, illness and suffering. Looking after it enables us to work, live and interact with others to our full potential. Mental wellb

So you’ve always wanted to work from home (WFH), to shake up your schedule and get a break from routine and the daily commute? And now here’s your chance – your boss has told you to go for it. If you are one of the increasing number of employees who are being given the opportunity to work from home

Feature Release Changes to main navigation and other key areas makes workflow seamless on TeamsPlus. NEW* Main Navigation Dedicated areas for accessing company and member information and managing key functions of TeamsPlus. - Dedicated area titled MY: everything that relates to members and th

Modern performance reviews are anchored in continuous feedback and, given the emphasis on collaboration in today’s business environment, it makes sense that a big slice of the feedback should be provided by peers. Evaluation of employees solely by direct managers is a thing of the past. Today’s em

As the world of work continues to evolve, the need for ongoing education and professional development has never been greater. Private Training Establishments (PTEs) like [Professional IQ College](https://professionaliq.co.nz/) (PTE for financial services) and training organizations are at the foref

There’s been a lot of buzz about four-day working weeks. The five-day working week may not be broken but there are good reasons for giving the four-day option a go. Here’s the skinny. New Zealand financial services company Perpetual Guardian made a worldwide splash when it decided to test productiv

As the world progresses and technologies change rapidly, remaining valuable means learning complicated things quickly and applying that knowledge to produce work that’s exceptional. How do you do this? You go deep. In his book Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World*, Cal Newpor

You know that your most valuable asset is your team. You’ve read up about wellbeing and you’re proud of some of the initiatives you’ve introduced. But are your workplace practices protecting your employees’ most critical skill – their attention. Cal Newport, author of Deep Work: Rules for Focused S

We pride ourselves on being super productive. So if someone asks you whether you have 100 percent focus at work, you’d say yeah you’re killing it, right? Maybe. We all have good and not-so-good days. But if you’re routinely getting to the end of a big day only to find you’re disappointed with your o

Being without the internet would be like going back to the Dark Ages. But while many of the digital tools we use come with huge benefits, they also have negative impacts. Just because they’re out there doesn’t mean we have to let them into our lives. If you want to focus on what really moves the n

Learning and development (L&D) has traditionally been associated with acquiring new skills to support a promotion, a pay rise or a change in career direction. But today’s workforce sees it as much more. Learning is becoming an essential component of company culture that leads to both personal and pr

Traditional annual performance reviews are semi-obsolete. Changing employee demographics demand a fresh approach that has little in common with the old system. Outdated top-down critiques involve a scheduled formal evaluation of the employee’s performance. Looking back on the past year with a focus

Offboarding a departing employee isn’t as simple as waving goodbye and wishing them well. A streamlined and positive offboarding experience not only leaves employees with a lasting favourable impression but shows the rest of your team that the company cares about its people. Offboarding is process

Employee onboarding is a lot more than showing a new hire where to sit and leaving them to get on with it. Getting it wrong can mean losing new talent as well as costing you in financial and cultural terms. But what does onboarding actually mean in the changing work landscape and how does rapidly ev