Over the past few years, I’ve been fortunate to speak at conferences around the world about financial advice, business growth, AI, automation, and the future of our profession.
But last week was another very special experience.
I had the privilege of travelling to the beautiful Mediterranean island of Malta as a guest speaker at the Ageas Apex Conference 2026, presenting to around 150 of the group’s top financial planning professionals from across Europe and Asia.
To stand on stage representing Australia, EK Financial Group, and our journey as a family business was something I’m incredibly proud of.
🎤 Sharing the EK Financial Group Story
My keynote presentation focused on two major themes:
- The 15-year succession journey of EK Financial Group
- And how we’ve embraced technology without losing the human connection
I shared the story of how my father, Edward Kane, founded EK Financial Group back in 1987, and how over many years we carefully navigated the transition from first-generation to second-generation ownership.
Succession in family businesses is never just about paperwork or money.
It’s emotional. Personal. Complex.
For me, it wasn’t simply taking over a business — it was about protecting my parents’ legacy while also evolving the business into something modern, scalable, and future-focused.
One of the key messages I shared was:
“Technology should enhance human connection — not replace it.”
At EK Financial Group, we’ve worked hard to combine:
- Genuine relationships and personal advice
with - Automation, AI, digital systems, video content, and online engagement.
🤖 Human Connection + Technology
A large part of my session focused on how we use:
- AI tools
- Automated workflows
- Video marketing
- Social media content
- Client onboarding systems
…to grow the business while still delivering a highly personal client experience.
I walked through how we:
- Educate people online using free video content
- Simplify complex financial concepts
- Build trust before someone even reaches out
- Use automation behind the scenes to streamline onboarding and communication
The feedback from attendees was fantastic, with many advisers saying the session gave them practical ideas they could immediately take back into their own businesses.
I was incredibly humbled to hear from a number of people afterwards that my presentation was considered one of the standout sessions of the event.
💬 A Second Session: Family Business & Succession Challenges
I also had the opportunity to participate in a second breakout panel session alongside another adviser from California.
What made the discussion particularly interesting was that we both shared a very similar background:
- We’re both second-generation advisers
- And we both purchased a family business from our parents
Together, we openly discussed:
- The pressures of taking over a family firm
- The mindset shifts required
- Fear of failure
- Protecting family relationships
- Leading change while respecting legacy
- And learning to step confidently into leadership
The room was completely full, and there were so many thoughtful questions from advisers navigating similar challenges in their own businesses.
It was honest, vulnerable, and incredibly rewarding.
🏃♂️ Running Along the Mediterranean Coast
Outside of the conference, I also got to enjoy one of my favourite personal passions — running in new cities around the world.
During my time in Malta, I headed out for a couple of runs along the coastline overlooking the stunning Mediterranean Sea.
There’s something special about seeing a city on foot early in the morning:
- the quiet streets,
- the ocean views,
- the old architecture,
- and the chance to slow down and reflect.
The heat definitely made the runs challenging, but the scenery made it worth every step.
🙏 Grateful for the Opportunity
Experiences like this are incredibly rewarding, but they also remind me how fortunate I am to do what I do.
To represent EK Financial Group internationally and share our story with advisers from around the world is something I never take for granted.
Most importantly, none of it happens without the support and trust of our clients, our team, and my family.
Thank you for being part of the journey.
🌍 Continuing to Learn, Grow & Share
One of the things I love most about our profession is that there is always more to learn.
Whether it’s:
- improving how we communicate,
- embracing technology,
- strengthening relationships,
- or building better businesses,
…the opportunity to continue evolving never stops.
I’m excited to bring many of the ideas, conversations, and inspiration from Malta back home to continue improving the experience we provide our clients at EK Financial Group.
Thank you again for your ongoing support.
Aaron Kane
Financial Adviser | Managing Director
EK Financial Group
