Leanne Taylor

Mason Stevens has strengthened its strategic expansion into the high-net-worth (HNW) and ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) segments with the appointment of Leanne Taylor as Chief Investment Officer, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to delivering institutional-grade portfolio management and sophisticated investment solutions to Australia’s most sophisticated advisers and investors.

Leanne is a highly respected senior investment leader with finance industry experience spanning more than 25 years.  She brings deep expertise in macroeconomics, investment strategy and portfolio solutions, with a strong track record of turning complex market insights into clear, actionable decisions for clients.

Most recently, Leanne held senior leadership roles at Victorian Funds Management Corporation (VFMC) and Cbus Super, building and leading capabilities in portfolio strategy, asset allocation and portfolio construction. Earlier in her career, she held senior positions at Allard Partners, IAG, Merrill Lynch (now Bank of America), and Westpac, following her start at the Reserve Bank of Australia.

As Mason Stevens accelerates its strategic shift into the HNW and UHNW segment – offering scalable access to global markets, alternative assets, multi‑currency portfolios, and an outsourced CIO (OCIO) service – Leanne’s appointment marks a significant step in deepening the firm’s investment leadership, governance oversight, and capability to support Australia’s most sophisticated private wealth advisers and family offices.

Leanne is deeply committed to delivering strong outcomes for clients through rigorous analysis, disciplined risk and portfolio management and a collaborative, curious approach to investment leadership and decision-making.  She holds a Master of Economics from the Australian National University, a Bachelor of Economics with Honours from the University of Tasmania, and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investments.

Tim Yule, Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to welcome Leanne to Mason Stevens. Her deep expertise combined with her institutional leadership experience will strengthen our ability to serve HNW and UHNW advisers and investors. Leanne brings the clarity, discipline and investment acumen needed to support advisers who serve the most sophisticated clients in the country.”

Leanne Taylor said: “I’m excited to join Mason Stevens at a pivotal stage of its growth, and I am strongly aligned with the firm’s commitment to high-quality, adviser-focused investment solutions. I look forward to partnering with advisers, family offices and investors to deliver disciplined, institutional-grade investment outcomes supported by robust investment discipline. Turning complex market information into practical, actionable decisions will be central to how we support advisers and clients.”

The post Mason Stevens bolsters UHNW push with CIO appointment appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Tim Yule

Mason Stevens is pleased to announce that it will complete its acquisition by Australian private equity firm Adamantem Capital.

The partnership marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the wealth management platform as it looks to accelerate its growth strategy and capitalise on Australia’s rapidly growing High Net Worth sector.

With the backing of Adamantem Capital, Mason Stevens will increase and accelerate investment in its integrated wealth platform and services for wealth practices, focusing on innovations that enhance the client experience, improve efficiency, and support scalable growth.

“Our partnership with Adamantem is a pivotal moment in Mason Stevens’ history and will enable us to fast-track our vision of delivering more advanced investment solutions and growing our client base,” said Tim Yule, CEO of Mason Stevens.

“Against a backdrop of rapid growth in the wealth management sector, we provide unique solutions that offer Financial Advisers the ability to think differently about how they grow wealth for their clients.”

“We look forward to working with the Adamantem team to build on the strong foundations we’ve established and continue to deliver superior results for existing and new clients.”

Mason Stevens has experienced a strong growth trajectory since it was founded in 2010.

Since the beginning of FY22, the business has had 57% growth in Funds Under Administration (FUA) and now manages circa $8 billion in FUA.

Georgina Varley, Managing Director at Adamantem Capital, said Mason Stevens is well-positioned to support clients in the growing wealth management industry.

“Mason Stevens has built an impressive platform and investment offering to help financial advisers deliver on their clients’ investment goals,” she said.

“The breadth and sophistication of what Mason Stevens offers is what attracted us as investors and we’re excited to support them in the next stage of the company’s journey.”

Adamantem Capital is a leading Australian private equity firm established in 2016, with more than A$2bn in funds under management.

The firm has a record of successfully scaling organisations across various sectors, including specialisation in B2B and professional services.

The post Mason Stevens embarks on new chapter with Adamantem Capital appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Tim Yule

Mason Stevens, a leader in the wealth platform space, has announced it has entered into a binding agreement under which Adamantem Capital will acquire Mason Stevens.

Adamantem Capital is a leading Sydney based private equity firm established in 2016, with more than A$2bn in funds under management. Adamantem is attracted to the opportunity to invest in Mason Stevens, underpinned by the business’ scalable digital platform and unique value proposition, providing differentiated investment solutions for its core adviser and wealth practice customers.

The transaction is an exciting development for the business which Mason Stevens believes will deliver significant value and benefits for clients, employees and shareholders. Underpinned by a strong strategic and cultural alignment, Adamantem’s investment will allow Mason Stevens to further develop innovative solutions for advisers and wealth practices to deliver sophisticated investment offerings to their end-clients. 

“We are excited to partner with Adamantem Capital, who will enable us to take our business to the next level and further our growth,” said Mason Stevens CEO Tim Yule. “This investment will allow us to accelerate our strategy, enhance our product offerings, and deliver even greater value to our clients.”

Georgina Varley, Managing Director at Adamantem Capital, said the firm is delighted to be Mason Stevens’ new growth partner: “We have admired the business for some time and are attracted to its unique and valuable digital platform and investment service offering. We are excited to partner with the Mason Stevens team and to invest behind a strong strategic growth agenda.”

The post Mason Stevens enters into strategic growth partnership with Adamantem Capital appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Andrew Tunny

Specialist wealth platform provider Mason Stevens is pleased to announce an expansion of its Distribution team, underscoring the company’s focus on long-term growth and client engagement. Leading this expansion is the appointment of Andrew Tunny as Head of Strategic Accounts, a role aimed at driving new business and strengthening platform partnerships across Australia.

Andrew brings a wealth of experience, joining Mason Stevens from global research firm Investment Trends, where he was Head of Growth for four years. His deep expertise, gained from over 12 years at NAB/MLC across various investment, insurance, and practice development roles, positions him as an important figure in Mason Stevens’ strategic growth plans. In his new role, Andrew will drive initiatives to grow relationships and oversee projects aimed at enhancing the firm’s market presence.

In addition to Andrew’s appointment, Mason Stevens welcomes two other key hires: Raymond Tang and Sakaja Kiendi as Relationship Managers, both bringing considerable platform and relationship management experience from their previous roles at Macquarie and Insignia, respectively. Their addition further strengthens Mason Stevens’ ability to deliver superior service to clients and align with its growth strategy.

Tim Yule, CEO of Mason Stevens, commented: “Andrew’s appointment is an important step in our business expansion. His growth-oriented leadership and extensive industry experience will bolster our capacity to manage key accounts and build new relationships, driving the long-term success of our platform. The addition of Raymond and Sakaja further enriches our team’s ability to serve clients as we continue to evolve and expand.”

The appointment of these professionals aligns with Mason Stevens’ commitment to delivering innovative solutions and supporting the growth of its clients. As the business continues to invest in its platform and investment services, these hires reflect the company’s dedication to providing advisers with the tools and support they need to thrive in an evolving market.

The post Mason Stevens expands distribution team with hire of Andrew Tunny to drive business growth appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Brad Creighton

Specialist wealth platform provider, Mason Stevens, has announced the appointment of Brad Creighton as Head of Asset Allocation. Brad brings with him 17 years of extensive investment experience, having held senior roles in financial markets, most recently at AMP.

With a robust background in portfolio management, trading, macroeconomic and quantitative research, and risk management, Brad’s experience spans across global hedge funds and leading financial institutions. His deep understanding of portfolio construction, dynamic asset allocation, product development, and multi-asset class risk management will be a significant asset to Mason Stevens.

Brad is passionate about helping clients maximise their wealth and working with advisers to deliver the best possible investment solutions for clients throughout their investment journey. In his new role, he will lead the strategic and dynamic asset allocation solutions for Mason Stevens’ platform clients and collaborate closely with the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) Jacqueline Fernley.

Mason Stevens thanks David Macri, the outgoing Head of Asset Allocation, and wishes him well in his future endeavours.

Chief Executive Officer, Tim Yule, commented, “We are excited to welcome Brad to the team. His wealth of experience and passion for delivering exceptional client outcomes align perfectly with our commitment to providing high-quality investment solutions. We are confident Brad will continue to drive innovation and performance in this important role.”

The post Mason Stevens appoints Brad Creighton as Head of Asset Allocation appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Jacqui Fernley

The ECP Growth Companies Fund and ECP Global Growth Fund have been added to the Mason Stevens outsourced CIO (OCIO) High Conviction List (HCL). The HCL, with its focus on the very best managers, provides access to circa five per cent of the investable market, with 90 strategies across asset classes, sub asset classes and investment style.

ECP Growth Companies Fund was one of 23 strategies selected for the Australian equities category, and ECP Global Growth Fund was one of 22 strategies selected for the global equities category as part of Mason Stevens’ latest review.

Jacqui Fernley, CIO of Mason Stevens, says that to be added to the High Conviction List, managers must go through a rigorous due diligence process, which is designed to identify managers that have a greater likelihood of meeting their stated investment objectives.

“We seek to provide our clients with access to a list of the best-in-class funds available, and for ECP to have both its funds listed in Mason Steven’s OCIO High Conviction List reflects their strong track record and commitment to delivering high returns to its investors,” she said.

Partner at ECP Asset Management, Jared Pohl, says the addition of its two funds in the Mason Steven’s list re-affirms ECP’s reputation as one of the leading equity boutiques in Australia. “We are particularly excited for our newly launched global equities fund to be included on the HCL. It is a privilege to partner with Mason Stevens OCIO and be given the opportunity to build wealth together for their clients.

“Both funds have a proven track record of delivering strong performance for our investors. Our investment strategy focuses on the selection of companies considered to have high quality business models that can generate predictable, above-average economic returns over the long term,” said Mr Pohl.

The ECP Growth Companies Fund returned 18.9 per cent (gross) over the 12 months ending 31 July 2024 outperforming the S&P/ASX 330 Accumulation index by 4.9 per cent. The ECP Global Growth Fund returned 22.0 per cent (gross) over the 12 months ending 31 July 2024, broadly in line with the benchmark over this period.

“In the past year, holdings in GQG Partners, Hub24 and Nuix have been key contributors to our strong performance in Australian equities. For example, with GQG Partners, where the market saw an overvalued stock, we saw an undervalued one that we capitalised on its mispricing. This is fundamentally how our investment style plays into selecting stocks and how we can bring added value to our investors in looking beyond the market noise,” he said.

Principal at ECP Asset Management Justin Warton added: “Within the ECP Global Growth Fund, we saw strong performance across a number of our holdings, most notably in Interactive Brokers. The market is starting to recognise Interactive Brokers’ cost and execution leadership, and is seeing it basically become a utility for the entire industry. It remains a core long-term holding for the fund.”

ECP Asset Management’s All Cap Strategy was ranked the second highest performing fund in Mercer’s Investment Performance survey of fund managers in the Australian market for the past quarter, returning 29.1 per cent over a one-year period.

The post ECP Asset Management funds added to Mason Stevens OCIO High Conviction List appeared first on AdviserVoice.

David Macri

Specialist wealth platform provider, Mason Stevens, has announced it has appointed David Macri, as Head of Asset Allocation.

Mr Macri joins the firm after 14 years, at ASX-listed ethical investment management company, Australian Ethical Investment. He has over 25 years’ experience in investment management & superannuation, with proven capability in strategic planning, multi-asset portfolio management and executive leadership.

Mr Macri will report to Chief Investment Officer (CIO), Jacqueline Fernley, to continue to evolve the Mason Stevens Outsourced CIO offering. As Head of Asset Allocation, David will be primarily responsible for the strategic and dynamic asset allocation solutions for Mason Stevens’ platform clients running managed portfolios.

Ms Fernley said: “David has an enviable track record of investment performance and a broad experience across multi-asset portfolio management and investment strategy. David is highly credentialed in Responsible Investment, which combined with his investment experience and reputation, make him a valuable addition to the team.

“He will play an important role in helping advisers evaluate and implement strategic portfolios that aim to enhance investor outcomes. We look forward to welcoming David to the team.”

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Macri said: “I am excited to be joining Mason Stevens during such a key period of growth. There is strong personal alignment given Mason Stevens’ focus on meeting the needs of each client, I am confident that together with the very talented team, we will achieve great client outcomes.”

Mr Macri is a CFA Charterholder, holds a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance & Investment from FINSIA and a BSc (Advanced Mathematics) from Macquarie University. He is currently the Chair of MarketMeter’s Advisory Board and is an Advisory Board member of Australian Estate Management. He has held previous executive roles at Macquarie Securities, Credit Suisse Asset Management, Mellon and Mercer.

The appointment follows the recent hire of Chief Financial Officer Laurent Toussaint as Mason Stevens bolsters its executive and leadership teams.

The post David Macri joins Mason Stevens as Head of Asset Allocation appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Laurent Toussaint

Specialist wealth platform provider, Mason Stevens, has announced it has appointed Laurent Toussaint, as Chief Financial Officer.

Mr Toussaint joins the firm from ASX-listed wealth management and accounting network, Count Limited, where he served as Chief Financial and Operating Officer.

A highly experienced leader with 25 years of experience in finance, mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, and executive leadership, Mr Toussaint’s previous roles include Chief Financial Officer at Ambition, Dimension Data and Associate Director – Mergers and Acquisitions at Deloitte Australia.

Mr Toussaint will join the Mason Stevens Executive Committee and play a critical role in steering Mason Stevens through the next phase of its growth journey.

Mason Stevens CEO Tim Yule said: “Laurent’s strategic guidance and financial acumen, coupled with his track record of providing effective leadership, and experience in the IT and Wealth sectors, made him a perfect fit for Mason Stevens.

“We’ve set our sights on ambitious growth targets and the CFO is an important part of that journey. We look forward to welcoming Laurent to Mason Stevens and benefitting from the valuable contribution he’ll make to delivering our growth strategy.”

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Toussaint said: “I am excited to be joining Mason Stevens at such a pivotal time of growth and momentum for the business.

“Given its impressive track record and solid potential, I am confident that together with the talented team, we will achieve great things.”

Mr Toussaint will join the business in October 2023 and succeeds Wayne Twomey, who will work to ensure a smooth transition before his retirement.

The post Laurent Toussaint to join Mason Stevens as Chief Financial Officer appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Jaime Johns

Mason Stevens Group Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of Jaime Johns as a Non-Executive Director to its Board of Directors. With extensive experience in financial planning and wealth management, Jaime brings over two decades of knowledge and expertise to the role.

Ms Johns’ career began in fee-for-service financial advice practices, providing her with invaluable insights into the significance of trust and the holistic nature of financial advice. She understands the pivotal role that advisers play in their clients’ lives and the importance of taking a comprehensive view to support them in delivering exceptional advice experiences. Having led Licensee and Private Wealth businesses through transformative periods, her experience extends across advice, governance, product development, and distribution.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jaime to the Mason Stevens Board,” said Andrew Walsh, Chair of Mason Stevens. “Jaime’s appointment brings deep wealth management experience to the Board, and we believe her appointment will strengthen and continue to support the growth of Mason Stevens.”

Expressing enthusiasm about joining Mason Stevens, Jaime Johns stated, “I am delighted to be appointed as a Non-Executive Director for Mason Stevens. The business’ commitment to strong partnerships with advice firms leveraging their wealth platform and practice efficiencies makes their offer truly exceptional. I am looking forward to collaborating with the Board and contributing to the continued success and growth of the business.”

Jaime’s appointment further strengthens Mason Stevens’ Board following the appointment of Andrew Walsh as Chair in February 2023, as the business enters an exciting new phase of accelerated growth. The business remains committed to providing leading platform functionality, building genuine partnerships with its clients, and unlocking new growth possibilities for advice practices.

The post Jaime Johns appointed as executive director for mason Stevens appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Jacqueline Fernley

Financial advisers are placing a strong emphasis on proving their value beyond asset allocation as their primary development focus in the near future. This key finding stems from the recent launch of a research whitepaper by Mason Stevens, a prominent wealth platform.

Titled The Outsourced CIO: The Client Experience Dividend, the paper introduces fresh research that highlights a growing trend among financial advisers—outsourcing their investment management capabilities. In Australia, the Outsourced CIO (OCIO) model has gained significant traction, empowering advisers to achieve enhanced investment outcomes while simultaneously freeing up time to engage more deeply with their clients.

The paper, in collaboration with the Ensombl advice community, features valuable insights from Australian advisers who have successfully implemented this approach in their practices.

“As the investment landscape becomes more complex and uncertain, advisers are finding it increasingly difficult to optimise investment outcomes while also staying abreast of mounting compliance, sustainability, and professional development challenges”, said Jacqueline Fernley, Chief Investment Officer, Mason Stevens

“This paper therefore comes at a critical juncture, drawing on the experiences of Australian wealth advisers who have successfully leveraged external investment capabilities, enabling them to optimise investment outcomes while streamlining processes, and ultimately deliver a superior client experience”, said Fernley

“This research will help advisers navigate the changing landscape and unlock new avenues for growth. Ultimately it will help them deliver a superior client experience, and drive increased client appreciation of the value of their advice.

Read the paper.

The post New research reveals financial advisers’ shift towards demonstrating value beyond asset allocation appeared first on AdviserVoice.