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Upcoming webinar
Tax deductibility of risk advice and opportunities in the life insurance sector
Thursday 4 December 2025
12:00pm-1:00pm AEDT
Up to 1 CPD hour available
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Session Overview
Hear from Risk Insurance specialist Sam Perera on the major developments in the life insurance market in 2025. For those who are thinking about the opportunities in life insurance advice, Mike Nowak will discuss why he has increased his focus on life insurance advice in recent years and the opportunities that this has presented. David Barrett will also talk to the opportunities for clients in claiming a tax deduction for life insurance advice.
Meet your speakers
Sam Perera
Co-Founder, Perera Crowther Financial Services
Sam brings extensive experience in designing tailored insurance solutions for professionals. He has also been a key figure in regulatory reform, authoring submissions and lobbying during the Life Insurance Framework and the Quality of Advice Review.
Sam’s expertise is recognized by parliamentary committees, where he has testified before various bodies. As former National President of the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA), he spearheaded the merger of the AFA with the Financial Planning Association (Australia) to create the Financial Advice Association of Australia (FAAA), the largest professional association of financial advisers in Australia. His commitment to improving the accessibility and affordability of financial advice was recognized with a Fellowship of the FAAA in 2024.
Perera Crowther Financial Services aims to be Australia’s most trusted insurance advice firm for professionals and their businesses.
Michael Nowak CFP®
Director and Principal Financial Adviser, Nowak Financial Services
Michael is passionate about advising clients on wealth protection and life insurance, developing long-term wealth strategies, and working with clients to achieve a self funded retirement.
Michael has been advising clients since 2005, having benefited from the mentorship of his father Joe Nowak, the founder of the business, whom Michael succeeded in 2015.
Michael is a champion for financial advice having served as two-time National President of the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) now the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA).
In 2022 Michael was honoured by the AFA and received a Life Membership.
In 2024, upon joining FAAA, Michael completed CFP Certification.
Phil Anderson
General Manager of Policy, Advocacy & Standards, FAAA
Phil spent over 10 years at the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA), including most recently as CEO before the successful vote to merge with the Financial Planning Association (FPA).
He has previously worked for Netwealth as General Manager Governance and Advice, and Colonial First State, where he was the Head of Risk Management & Compliance for the CFS Advice business. Phil has been in the financial services industry for over 25 years, having also worked with AMP, MLC and Perpetual.
Phil has been responsible for policy, including the Quality of Advice Review, and the implementation of the requirements of the Professional Standards legislation and the Royal Commission Recommendations. Phil has previously been integrally involved in the FoFA, TASA, Education/Professional Standards and the Life Insurance Framework debates including driving the development of submissions to FASEA, Treasury, ASIC, the Tax Practitioners Board and Parliamentary Committees. Phil is a CPA and has a Bachelor and Masters of Commerce along with the DFP and ADFP.
David Barrett
Senior Manager Policy & Advocacy, FAAA
David has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. Currently he is Senior Manager, Policy & Advocacy with the Financial Advice Association Australia, and previously worked at Macquarie Bank for more than 25 years in various roles including Division Director/ Head of Macquarie Technical Advice Services.
David has a broad educational background, including qualifications in law, mathematics/computer science, accounting, financial planning, and finance and investment.
