Provided by Mercer: 19/8/08
Mercer Wealth Solutions has expanded its financial advice network with the opening of its first external financial advice practice in Baulkham Hills in north western Sydney today.
The opening of the Mercer Wealth Solutions practice comes less than three months after the launch of the new external financial advice channel. Mercer’s Financial Advice Leader Scott Walters said the channel is a unique offering that will broaden access to financial advice across Australia by blending local people and knowledge with global know how.
“Personal relationships are critically important when providing financial advice and we believe our new financial advice channel offers synergistic benefits. By joining the Mercer Wealth Solutions network, financial advisers who have built their practice and relationships in their local area can now grow with the support and technical knowledge of our well respected brand,” Mr Walters said.
Practice director John Tsekas, a financial adviser with 15 years experience as a financial services professional, is delighted to be part of Mercer Wealth Solutions.
“In deciding to join the Mercer Wealth Solutions network, we were attracted by being able to retain the boutique nature of our business, which has been operating for more than 25 years, while also having access to Mercer’s referrals, international and technical research, global and local thought leadership, professional development, and high quality investment solutions,” Mr Tsekas said.
Mercer is now looking to further grow the new financial advice channel across regional Australia, Scott Walters said.
“We’re seeking skilled advisors to work with us in areas such as Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong in Victoria; Albury, Wodonga on the NSW/Victorian border; Karratha, Darwin; Gladstone in northern Australia; and in the major centres of Canberra, Wollongong, Hobart and Gold Coast.”
“Mercer has around 650,000 members in superannuation funds and many are based in these areas. In return for upholding Mercer’s strict global codes of conduct and stringent professional development requirements, our external financial advisors can access the breadth and depth of Mercer’s financial adviser support team, as well as referrals to members seeking financial advice,” Mr Walters said.
Mercer’s superannuation and wealth solutions business has $40 billion in funds under administration locally, provides services to 650,000 super members and 20,000 private clients and is part of a global consulting, outsourcing and investments firm which operates in 42 countries.
About the Mercer Wealth Solutions financial advice channel:
In May 2008, Mercer launched an additional channel as part of a strategy to broaden access to its financial advice across Australia. Self employed or external Mercer financial advisers will be independent business owners. Mercer Investment Nominees Limited is the licensee.
An aging population and Better Super reforms are driving market demand for financial advisers. Research has highlighted a demand for 1412 financial advisers in the Australian marketplace1
Mercer Wealth Solutions is:
- Currently the 11th largest retail financial platform in Australia by Funds Under Management2
- Rated 19th in the top 50 distributors based on FUM3
- All Mercer financial advisers are members of the Financial Planning Association and abide by the FPA Code of Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct
- Over 85% of Mercer financial advisers have attained the industry’s peak qualification of Certified Financial Planner®
- Mercer’s helpline receives 1,500 calls per day and is a major source of financial advice leads
Ninety per cent of Australians who have used a financial adviser have benefited from the experience with the following:
- Greater peace of mind
- Greater control of finances
- Prospect of a more comfortable retirement
- Avoiding bad investments
- Following a budget
- Being able to save more
For more information, contact:
Libby Woolnough
Mercer
Phone: (03) 9623 6923
E-mail: libby.woolnough@mercer.com
1 Source: FPA Consumer Attitudes to Financial Planning Study, May 2007
2 Collated from assorted material including Plan for Life Actuaries & Researchers, 30 September 2007
3 Money Management, Top 100 Trend Reports June 2007
This information has been prepared by Mercer (Australia) Pty Ltd ABN 32 005 315 917 for general information only. The information does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Therefore, you should not act on this information if you have not considered the appropriateness of this information to your personal objectives, financial situation and needs. You should consult a licensed or appropriately authorised financial adviser before making any investment decision.
