Leading investment research and advice business van Eyk Research has marked the beginning of an important new stage in its development as an integrated financial services group with the appointment of Anthony Vaiente to the newly created role of Manager of Practice Acquisitions and Recruitment.
Mr Vaiente comes to van Eyk with over 15 years’ experience in business development, mergers and acquisitions of financial planning practices and planner recruitment at IPAC Securities, ANZ’s OnePath and Zurich.
van Eyk chief executive Mark Thomas said the appointment signalled van Eyk was moving ahead and growing its footprint in financial advice. It follows the recent appointment of veteran BT portfolio manager Robert da Silva as Head of Manager Research and Deputy Chief Investment Officer.
“We believe van Eyk has a unique and compelling offering in financial advice that offers a real alternative to the institutionally-owned model,” Mr Thomas said. “We offer planners an integrated solution, including fundamental investment research, funds management, asset consulting and practice development through our subsidiary Encore.”
Besides Encore, van Eyk’s major brands include van Eyk Research (investment research, ratings and asset consulting), the Blueprint Series of multi-manager investment funds and iRate (the online portal for manager research, asset allocation and portfolio construction tools).
Mr Vaiente will focus on building van Eyk’s advice capabilities in both Australia and across the Tasman, following business acquisitions in New Zealand earlier this year and the subsequent launch of van Eyk Advice New Zealand and Blueprint Investment Management Limited.
“I am excited about the opportunity to work for a company that has something genuinely different to offer advisers and investors,” Mr Vaiente said. “We can give advisers the tools, professional support and investment solutions that allow them to concentrate more on what they do best: providing quality financial advice.”
