Revealed - Fidelity Life announces 2023 adviser award winners.

Media release  

22 September 2023  

Fidelity Life has revealed the winners of this year’s adviser awards, honouring those who prioritise customer outcomes and consistently provide expert care and guidance to meet the life insurance needs of New Zealanders.  

The awards were presented at Fidelity Life’s flagship adviser event Engage, which this year took place in two locations: on 12-13 September in Christchurch and on 20-21 September in Auckland.   

The 2023 editions of Engage and the adviser awards hold special significance as Fidelity Life celebrates its 50^th year in business and 50 years of shared success with advisers since 1973.   

The 2023 Fidelity Life adviser award winners are:   

• Breakthrough Adviser of the Year: Kylie Connor, Mainland – Timaru.  

Awarded to the adviser who is modernising their financial advice business and continuing to upskill and be involved in the wider industry.   

Kylie gives holistic and tailored advice solutions that are fit-for purpose, simple to follow and breaks down the advice and insurance process so customers can easily digest it at every stage.  Becoming a recent shareholder of Mainland, she’s putting her customer-centric approach and business know-how to great use, playing an integral part in shaping the advice business’ future.  

• Cary Veenhof Award: Anthony Gobbie, Insurance Design - Auckland.  

In honour of a former Fidelity Life Business Manager and awarded to the adviser who has strong values, shows respect to insurance partners, and consistently delivers outstanding customer service.   

Anthony provides exceptional long-term service to his customers, reflected in his customer relationship NPS of +80, he is consistently towards the top of Fidelity Life’s scoreboard. His personable and empathetic approach is well respected by his customers, peers and insurance partners.   

• Team of the Year: Total Life, led by Craig Kura - Invercargill.  

Awarded to the team with a great strategy and brand, underpinned by a strong leadership team to deliver outstanding advice solutions.  

Total Life, under Craig’s stewardship, has become a business with a national presence, providing staff with a clear vision and exceptional support to set them up for success.   

Total Life also has a strong presence in their community, partnering with local businesses and associations to create a positive social impact, sponsoring events such as the Kids Day Out Variety Show for Heart Kids Southland, Surfing for Farmers and Total Life Kids TRYathlon.  

• Lifetime Award: Maurice Trapp, Maurice Trapp Group – Auckland.  

Awarded to an adviser with over 20 years’ experience and who has shown a strong commitment to the industry, Maurice is a true industry stalwart. Starting out as an adviser in the 80s, he has actively recruited and mentored many new entrants, with his namesake business now employing over 80 staff.   

Alongside building a successful advice business, he has given back to his other passion of rugby, as Chair of the NZ Rugby Foundation, board member and President of Auckland Rugby and President of New Zealand Rugby. He was also on the board of Diabetes NZ until August 2022.   

• Gordon Watson Trophy: Brett Pearce, Pearce Financial Services – Auckland.  

In honour of Fidelity Life’s founder and awarded to an adviser who champions the company’s customer led values, Brett uses his extensive experience to expertly guide and inform customers on appropriate insurance protection.   

Following in his grandfather’s, father’s and uncles’ footsteps, his pedigree and passion for the industry sees him keep up to date with new developments and be a reliable source of information to his customers.   

Fidelity Life Chief Sales and Service Officer Bronwyn Kirwan says the awards recognise the valuable partnership Fidelity Life enjoys with advisers and are particularly meaningful in the company’s 50^th year.   

“Advisers have been a central part of Fidelity Life’s story since our inception in 1973. Coming together at Engage to celebrate our respective successes and share our exciting plans to build on that success moving forwards is something we very much treasure.   

“A huge congratulations to all our award winners. We’re so grateful to have an amazing network of advisers who are just as committed as us to ensuring New Zealanders have appropriate insurance protection in place, giving them certainty to enjoy a more rewarding life.   

“The bar is set higher each year and it’s fantastic to see the outstanding contributions advisers are making towards the betterment of the industry we’re all proud to be a part of.”  

Based on this year’s theme of ‘next era, next level’ Engage 2023 included a diverse line up of Trans-Tasman guest speakers to challenge and inspire advisers to think about the next horizon of the insurance and advice industries. Speakers included Steven Joyce, ex-Senior Cabinet Minister; Kaila Colbin, leadership expert and Founder & CEO of Boma; David Beaton, gin virtuoso and Head of Risk at Via Financial Group; and Jessica Brady, entrepreneur and founder of financial advice businesses The Greenhouse and Evergreen.