Advocis Launches Financial Industry Advisory Committee

Toronto, ON, Nov. 11, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada, has announced the establishment of a new Financial Industry Advisory Committee (FIAC) to strengthen industry collaboration and advocacy efforts. The committee, which will bring together experienced professionals from the insurance and wealth management sectors, aims to help Advocis anticipate emerging issues and develop practical responses to challenges facing financial advisors and the Canadians they serve.

Kelly Gorman, President and CEO of Advocis, emphasized the importance of leveraging the collective expertise of the industry.

The initiative comes at a time of considerable change for the financial advice profession. Advisors are navigating an increasingly complex regulatory environment while adapting to new technologies and changing client expectations. Many Canadians remain underserved or underinsured, reinforcing the importance of protecting access to professional financial advice.

The new committee will work alongside Marsha Gerhart, Advocis’ General Counsel, contributing technical expertise and industry insight. It will also provide an opportunity for closer collaboration among professionals who may approach the same issues from different perspectives. The committee's work will complement Advocis' existing governance and policy development processes, with the aim of strengthening the association's ability to respond to developments affecting the profession.

Barb Leighton, Vice-President, Chief Compliance and Privacy Officer at PPI Management Inc., will serve as the committee's inaugural Chair. Leighton brings more than 27 years of experience in the insurance industry, having held senior compliance and risk management roles across both the carrier and MGA sectors. She has worked extensively with financial advisors throughout her career and has contributed to industry discussions through her involvement as a board member and through committee work with organizations including Advocis (The Institute for Advanced Financial Education) and the Canadian Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies (CAILBA).

The panel will feature Gorman alongside Guy Legault, President and CEO of the Conference for Advanced Life Underwriting (CALU); Luke O'Connor, Vice-President, Distribution and Industry Relations at CLHIA; and Nina Kavalinas, Board Director at the Canadian Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies (CAILBA). The discussion will explore how industry organizations can work more closely together to respond to regulatory developments and protect Canadians' access to professional financial advice.