It's not an industry well known for altruism, but the next generation of financial planners could prove the cynics wrong if University of the Sunshine Coast student Joe Hirst is an example of his peers.

The 20 year old third year student plans on making a difference to people’s lives by helping them with one of life’s biggest struggles: managing money.

“To be honest, throughout my high school years, I wanted to be able to help people in some way; maybe as a paramedic, but I was never very good at science,” said Joe.

“I achieved good grades in English and Mathematics, so when I left school, I eventually decided to study Financial Planning instead because it’s a profession where I am able to do my bit for society.

“I believe it is a way I can help people by ensuring that their finances are optimised in the most efficient manner whilst giving ethical and sound advice to help them with their future,” Joe said.

Joe is currently studying a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC), majoring in Financial Planning and Accounting part-time, and working full-time for family owned Caloundra firm, Garden Financial Services.

He was recently awarded with a prize for being the highest achiever in his Tax and Estate Planning course at the USC Faculty of Arts and Business awards and prizes ceremony.

Sunshine Coast lawyer and prize donor, Ken Waddington of Garland Waddington Solicitors, said he was delighted that students like Joe are the recipients of his firm’s sponsored awards.

“I’m inspired by people like Joe because he is intelligent, not afraid to go out on a limb to reach out to people, and truly passionate about making a difference to the lives of others,” Mr Waddington said.

“The future of the financial planning industry looks bright with students like Joe entering the workforce. He’s a credit to himself, his family, the University and his employer.”

Garland Waddington donated five awards this year for the highest-achieving students from USC’s courses in Property Law, Retirement and Superannuation and Tax and Estate Planning.

“For us, giving these awards is about encouraging students to achieve high standards for the ultimate benefit of their careers and future clients,” Mr Waddington said.

For more information about Garland Waddington, visit www.garlandwaddington.com.au

Update from Our Network President: Michalle Faulkner

As your President, I sit on the Board of the Sunshine Coast Chambers Alliance and in this capacity, share our network’s points of view and vote on key aspects of sustainable business here on the Sunshine Coast. Our membership to this group as well as our membership to the Sunshine Coast Business Council ensures that we are at the forefront of information and can table issues affecting us locally in business. I take this responsibility very seriously. It is very important to me that I can share this information back to you our members, and where we need to give our views, ask for and receive your contributions and valuable feedback.

I will provide members with regular updates of these meetings and the outcomes:

February 2013 Meeting:  ICN Gateway:

Industry Capability Network (ICN) is a business network that introduces Australian and New Zealand companies to projects large and small.

Companies are encouraged to register on the ICN Gateway for works packages that may become available in the coming months with respect to work on the Sunshine Coast Private Hospital. Companies, who aren’t registered, cannot be considered.

CCIQ

There was a unanimous decision at the last meeting of all collective chambers and networks represented to merge with Chamber Of Commerce And Industry | Queensland. The Sunshine Coast Chambers Alliance will now be known moving forward as CCIQ Sunshine Coast.

What does this mean for SCBWN members?

The chambers alliance is a group collective of representatives from each of the local business chambers of commerce as well as large networking organisations such as the Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network. Merging with CCIQ ensures that we as collective network of local businesses owners (members of our respective groups) can have our regional issues gain interest at a national level. As one voice, we will have more leverage.

Michalle Faulkner, Managing Director, EastCoast Human Resource Group

Simone Leslie has presented to millions on television and live audiences for almost two decades. She first began presenting on Good Morning Australia and other prime time programs at the age of 20, moving on to co-create and direct the company Success Partners Pty Ltd, a training and coaching business working with corporations such as Kellogg’s Australia, and public groups.

Currently the founder and director of Neuro Success, Simone is a master Neuro Strategist and has had the privilege of working with hundreds of people over the past 15 years from the unemployed to top corporate executives, elite athletes and everyday Australians. She specialises in creating lasting change by identifying and clearing neurological blockages at the brains core programming level.

A very natural and endearing presenter, she is transparent and truthful offering revelation and wisdom, both comical and crucial.  Simone’s authority in the area of change and results comes from years of research as well as her own personal experience in the area of overcoming and breakthrough.

Her life message as touched on in her book, “It’s OK to be Beautiful – Heavenly Whispers to a Broken Heart”, is to clean up the core programs we run off that are stored in our brain, setting us up for a life loved, lived and fulfilled!

"It is often said that “decisions shape our destiny,” but the real key is finding what shapes our decisions! We are each individually wired according to the programs in our brains.  These programs determine the decisions we make which affect the actions we take and the results we make.  I help individuals to step back from the picture and determine whether the programs are empowering or hindering their results.  If they are not helpful we simply rewrite them in order to run off more empowering tracks (just like a train). The key to the life we desire is the ability to renew our mind!" Simone explains.

The above blog was sourced from Simone Leslie.