David Haintz AM CFP®

David Haintz is a Certified Financial Planner and past director of the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA), where he played a leading role in advancing professionalism. He built a 28-year career in advice, including as a founding director of Shadforth Financial Group, which grew to more than 100 advisers and was acquired in 2014 for $670m, managing $13b in funds.

He was the sixth adviser in Australia to be named a Fellow of the FPA and contributed extensively to the profession, serving on the FPA Disciplinary and Professionalism Committees, judging the inaugural Value of Advice Awards, and co-founding the Future2 Foundation. He has also lectured with FINSIA and contributed internationally through the Financial Planning Standards Board.

David remains the only adviser in Australia to have received both the Australian Financial Planner of the Year (2005) and Australian Best Practice of the Year (2004). His influence extends globally, having presented at major conventions in the UK and South Africa and undertaken consulting engagements in 18 countries across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

In 2015, he founded Global Adviser Alpha, a consultancy dedicated to helping leading advice firms worldwide achieve world-class growth and client outcomes. His book, The Life-First Advisor, published in 2017, connects financial advice with deeper meaning for clients.

In 2023, David partnered with US-based Merchant, bringing their capital and growth accelerator model to Australia to support ambitious advice firms.

In recognition of his contribution to financial planning, business, and the community, David was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2022 Australia Day Honours.