The deepening COVID-19 health crisis is the catalyst for the wealth management industry to "lift its head" and rebuild public trust, says MLC chief executive and Financial Services Council chairman Geoff Lloyd as he runs a company of 3000 from his dining room table at home.

In self-isolation on the Balmoral slopes of Sydney's lower north shore, Mr Lloyd is tasked with equipping a network of a thousand financial planners to handle the escalating advice needs of more than one million customers and a broader community hurtling towards virus-induced recession.