Count is one of Australia’s leading networks of integrated accounting and wealth services firms, with over 550 advisers servicing approximately 130,000 clients across the country following its recent strategic acquisition of Diverger Limited. Count has been an Xplan client since 2011, and in reviewing its technology ecosystem wanted to ensure it was partnering with the right provider to support its growth ambitions in a scalable and reliable way, while driving the highest-possible levels of efficiency.

Xplan was re-selected based on its depth, efficiency and productivity. Additionally, Iress will also be working in partnership with Count with the provision of professional development programs and events to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Count advisers.

Iress’ Executive General Manager, Wealth APAC, Kelli Willmer, said: “We’re proud to extend and grow the relationship we’ve built with Count over more than a decade. Count has strong growth ambitions, and we’re delighted to provide the advice technology infrastructure to support this.

“We’re also pleased to work with Count on optimising their use of technology to drive efficiency and profitability for their advisers. We look forward to continuing to work closely with key customers like Count to evolve our software and service offerings, empowering them to deliver an exceptional experience for their advisers and clients.”

Count’s Group Head of Advice, Andrew Kennedy said, “Count is Australia’s leading provider of integrated accounting and wealth services, something we can only achieve and deliver with the right processes, infrastructure and technology partner.

Xplan has been our client servicing hub of choice for many years to ensure our network of financial advisers are supported with the most powerful, efficient and secure tools in the market. We know that with Xplan, we can continue to grow at scale and with efficiency while Iress as our partner will continue to listen and improve the product to match our needs.”

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Andrew Kennedy

Count Limited (Count) has announced the appointment of leading South Australian advisory business Murray Nankivell as the latest firm to join its national advice community.

Previously licensed through Insignia-owned AFSL Consultum, Murray Nankivell has a long history dating back more than 40 years. With offices across regional South Australia in Naracoorte, Bordertown and Murray Bridge, they predominantly service rural clients in and around the region and have a reputation for building relationships based on trust and a deep understanding of their clients’ needs.

Strong ties to the community driving success

Tony Bedworth, Director at Murray Nankivell, says the business has formed a connection with its clients based on strong community ties.

“While we have clients Australia-wide, the majority of people we work with are rural and in close proximity to one of our three offices in country South Australia. These are relatively small towns, so the communities are tight-knit and often have similar needs and circumstances. That means we are uniquely placed to offer the right support and build those connections. That leads to word-of-mouth referrals to bring in new clients and grow our business.”

The benefits of a new era with Count

Speaking about the decision to change licensees, Bedworth says the decision to partner with Count was driven by conversations with other businesses that had already joined Count and endorsed the full-service model offered by the business.

“Speaking to a number of our peers who were already with Count gave us confidence that this was the business we wanted to partner with. That third-party endorsement really adds weight to the decision-making process. One particular Count adviser told us they had nothing negative to say about Count and joining was the best move they ever made, making our decision a lot clearer to reach.”

Andrew Kennedy, Group Head of Advice at Count, said Murray Nankivell was a great addition to their adviser community.

“Tony and the team bring significant experience to our expanding adviser community. They are extremely professional to deal with and truly embrace Count’s culture of peer-sharing and collaboration. Our other Members, particularly those in South Australia, will benefit greatly from their appointment to our network.”

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Tyson Roberts

Leading Victorian advisory business Vista Financial Group (Vista) has joined Count’s AFSL network. Vista has provided quality financial advice to its clients in Melbourne for over 20 years, and in 2023 they won Practice of the Year in the annual Affinia Awards.

Vista offers a holistic suite of advice services that include risk insurance, aged care, and estate planning assistance to their long-standing clients.

Supporting clients, no matter their stage of life

Vista’s Managing Director and Senior Financial Adviser, Tyson Roberts, says the firm’s outstanding team of advisers were deliberately recruited to service clients at all stages of life.

“We have advisers that are millennial-focused, pre-retirement focused, high net worth advisers, an adviser who specialises in aged care, and recently we appointed a mortgage broker to the broader Vista team so that we have the ability to service our clients throughout their life. This was a priority for us from a servicing perspective.”

Vista’s operating philosophy centres around fostering strong relationships built on trust, integrity, and open communication. The blend of expertise, experience, and personalised service ensures they can help clients achieve financial independence and peace of mind.

Joining a like-minded community in Count

With a shared focus on growth and client-centric values, Roberts believes the Count community has a natural alignment with Vista, which was key in their decision to join.

“After a number of conversations, we found that Count had a really strong network of like-minded people. We were fortunate enough to meet a few members of the Count team as part of our discovery phase, and felt that both their head office and network of advisers were strongly aligned with the direction we’re going in.”

Roberts also recognises that Count has presented Vista with a number of valuable opportunities just by being part of the Count network.

“If we chose to go down the self-licenced path, we’d have to create all of our own opportunities, but by being a part of the Count community, they can put opportunities in front of us which will really help the growth objectives we have as a business.”

Andrew Kennedy, Chief Advice Officer at Count, said it was a massive boost for the licensee to have a quality business like Vista come on board.

“Tyson and his team have an outstanding record that speaks for itself. Their operating model and values align with everything we stand for, so they will be a terrific role model for other businesses in the Count community.”

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Jayson Walker

Count has announced that Tribel Advisory (Tribel) has joined its AFSL network. With 11 financial advisers, Tribel becomes the largest firm licensed with Count in terms of Authorised Representative numbers and one of the first to join from Affinia following Count’s acquisition in May 2023.

Tribel has been building financial wellness for its clients since 2015. Their client-centric offer is centred around demystifying the complexities of financial planning and empowering clients to achieve holistic financial well-being. Tribel CEO Jayson Walker strongly believes in developing a financial advice business that guides clients over the course of their financial journey.

“Our holistic view aims to plug the gap of what we do for clients outside the traditional services like insurance, investment and superannuation advice, and instead consider how we help clients consume solutions throughout their life and do our part to provide these solutions in a trusted way.”

Supporting those in need in the community Tribel’s prioritisation of well-being extends beyond their own clients and into the wider community. The firm currently does pro bono advisory work for the Cancer Council, supplying financial advice to individuals affected by cancer each month.

Tribel has also been a long-term supporter of OzHarvest, donating over $10,000 to support the organisation’s efforts to combat food insecurity in Australia.

“Struggling to put food on the table shouldn’t be a reality in Australia, but it is for so many people. We’re committed to doing our part in helping tackle this problem”, Walker added.

Joining Count a ‘natural course of action’ For Walker and the Tribel team, the decision to join Count was seen as a natural move, with their business model strongly aligned with Count’s commitment to being Australia’s leading provider of integrated wealth and accounting services.

“Count is a business that supports advisers and accountants who are ultimately aiming to become professional integrated wealth and accounting firms. If that’s the vision and direction in which Count is heading, why wouldn’t we want to align and partner with a group that is going to deliver support to groups like us?”

Walker also said that Count was responsive and took on feedback to help improve the onboarding experience.

“In response to the insights and suggestions we provided, Count modified their approach and created a better experience for Tribel. We are excited and optimistic about commencing this new chapter.”

Count Chief Advice Officer, Andrew Kennedy, said that Tribel’s appointment was terrific news that would create cultural benefits for the entire Count network.

“Tribel is a highly successful business that will act as a role model for others in our network. Their professionalism, community focus and unwavering commitment to clients encompasses everything we stand for as a business.”

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Grubb brings vast experience to the role, having provided compliance and advice services to multiple licensees and advisers in a career spanning more than 20 years.

Andrew Kennedy, Chief Advice Officer at Count Financial, said Grubb’s appointment would benefit their national adviser community.

“Our Professional Standards team is industry-leading under Phil Creswell’s management and Brendan will add tremendous capability to this team. He is a passionate advocate for quality financial advice with relevant experience and technical skills, but importantly he also has strong people skills to support our advisers.”

Grubb recently worked at IOOF where he provided services to a network of over 1,200 financial advisers. He has also worked for Garrisons, Synergy Capital Management, and the Retirement Benefits Fund.

He commences with Count Financial on Monday 22 August.

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Trent Mills

Count Financial Limited (Count Financial) has announced the appointment of Moore Wealth Advisers as the latest firm to join its national advice community.

So far in 2022, Count Financial has appointed 57 new advisers, as the CountPlus-owned licensee continues to focus on strategic growth.

Moore Wealth Advisers is an Adelaide-based, bespoke wealth advisory firm that works with a wide range of clients, including high net wealth individuals and business clients. They were established in 2018 and previously licensed through RI Advice. Along with changing licensees, they also negotiated with Nick Girdler, owner of Count Financial Member firm Next Generation Financial Strategies, to merge businesses under the Moore Wealth Advisers banner and become a substantial provider of financial services in the Adelaide market.

Speaking about their reasons for partnering with Count Financial, Trent Mills, Director and Financial Adviser at Moore Wealth Advisers, said the decision was largely based on choosing a licensee that offered practical support solutions.

“Count Financial is renowned for having a commercial approach to business and focusing on solutions that let Member firms spend more time with their clients. Our client needs are our highest priority, so we chose a licensee partner that simplifies the advice process and allows us to operate with greater efficiency.”

Andrew Kennedy, Chief Advice Officer at Count Financial, welcomed the appointment and said that Moore Wealth Advisers is a natural fit for their adviser community.

“Trent and the team are holistic advisers with a reputation for helping clients throughout all stages of their financial lifecycle. Their dedication has been recognised in the industry with a number of award wins, so their high-performance culture and client-first mentality aligns perfectly with our values.”

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Tania Tonkin

Count Financial Limited (Count Financial) has announced that two Adelaide-based firms have joined its national advice network. Adelaide Private Wealth and DMCA Advisory are the latest firms to join the CountPlus-owned network, which has now appointed 25 new firms since the start of 2021.

Describing their reasons to partner with Count Financial, Hamish Zerbe, Director and Financial Adviser at Adelaide Private Wealth, said the search for a new licensee was long and rigorous to ensure the right outcomes for their clients.

“We are very excited to be partnering with Count Financial after an extensive 12-month review of licensee options available within the Australian market. When we set about looking for a new licensee, the most important factor was to find the right cultural fit and a shared ‘client first’ philosophy. We are confident that the team at Count Financial will assist us to offer exceptional service and quality advice outcomes to our clients.”

Tania Tonkin, Director and Strategic Financial Adviser at DMCA Advisory, said their decision to join Count Financial was largely due to the licensee’s innovative approach to advice delivery.

“We chose Count Financial due to their strong focus on innovation and technology to achieve better client experiences as well as the fact that they operate a clean model which is not aligned to any financial institutions. They were able to show us how their tech solutions improve the advice delivery process, which will enable us to operate more efficiently as a result.” 

Andrew Kennedy, Chief Advice Officer at Count Financial, said that both the new Adelaide-based firms were welcome additions to their adviser network.

“Adelaide Private Wealth and DMCA Advisory are both high quality firms with reputations for being client focused. At our recent Annual Conference in Sydney, we saw the power of Count Financial’s renowned sense of community, and these firms will be a great cultural fit with our broader network as we conduct more events throughout the year.”

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Virginia Heyer

Count Financial Limited (Count Financial) has announced the appointment of StrategyOne Advice Network Pty Ltd (StrategyOne) as the latest firm to join its national advice network.

The appointment continues the CountPlus-owned licensee’s growth strategy, having already appointed 16 new firms since the start of 2021.

StrategyOne are based in northern Sydney and were previously part of the Fitzpatricks network before moving to Count Financial. They have a team of nine, which includes three financial advisers who specialise in strategic financial advice to help clients build and protect their wealth.

Speaking about their reasons for partnering with Count Financial, Virginia Heyer, Managing Director at StrategyOne, said the clean licensee model and commitment to the future of advice were key factors in their decision.

“The fact that Count Financial is not owned by a retail product manufacturer is important, because we wanted to work with a licensee partner that has client best interest at the forefront, rather than product distribution. Given that we also have a Professional Year (PY) candidate in our firm, Count Financial’s well-structured PY framework supports new entrants to the industry and will help us immensely.”

Andrew Kennedy, Chief Advice Officer at Count Financial, said that StrategyOne are a quality firm who are an excellent cultural fit for the network.

“Virginia and the team at StrategyOne are a fantastic addition to our community. We have a strong family feel within our adviser network, and I have no doubt that the StrategyOne team will fit in well and bring tremendous knowledge to the rest of our Membership, given our ‘best practice sharing’ ethos.”

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The Count Financial Risk Academy launched in November 2020 and was aimed at supporting Count Financial’s national network of advisers to upskill at delivering risk insurance advice to clients. It has focused on different topics such as underwriting, claims, taxation, business insurance and succession planning.

Andrew Kennedy, Chief Advice Officer at Count Financial, said the award was recognition for a program built around helping advisers to deliver positive client outcomes.

“We are delighted that our Risk Academy, run in partnership with MetLife Australia, has won this award. Throughout the program, we received sensational feedback from our advisers that the content was providing great value. With more Australians needing access to quality advice, this program has helped build the capabilities of our advisers to address the insurance needs of their clients. We look forward to continuing this successful partnership with MetLife Australia in the future.”

Michael Mulholland, MetLife’s Chief Distribution Officer, echoed Mr Kennedy’s comments and said the award was fantastic acknowledgement for an innovative approach to adviser training needs.

“We know how important it is that advisers get the support they need in order to serve their clients. With an increased demand for advice following the pandemic, the Risk Academy program is timely and relevant for improving the capability of advisers in the network. Along with Count Financial, we’re also pleased that the Risk Academy has been recognised with this award.”

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These appointments continue the CountPlus-owned licensee’s growth strategy, following the appointment of four former IOOF firms on 17 March 2021. Count Financial continues to work with other prospective firms in due diligence to join its growing community of financial advice professionals.

The three former MLC firms joining Count Financial are:

• Sapphire Coast Financial Services – formerly licensed through Godfrey Pembroke
• Next Generation Financial Planning – formerly licensed through Meritum
• Aspire Financial Planning Group – formerly licensed through Garvan

Sapphire Coast Financial Services is the fourth firm to join Count Financial from Godfrey Pembroke, following the prior appointments of Ascent Private Wealth, Venture Financial Advisers and Plan Protect.

They are a Canberra-based firm led by Darren Stevens, who has over 20 years’ experience as a financial adviser. Their business model is centred around a high-touch service for clients and close collaboration with other professionals to provide holistic advice for clients. Mr Stevens has built the business around being a ‘trusted adviser’, where clients value the strong relationship and high level of service he provides.

Speaking about their reasons for choosing to partner with Count Financial, Mr Stevens said there were similar styles and cultural values between the businesses.

“The biggest drawcard for joining Count Financial is that they are an AFSL that believes in advice first, with no conflicts of interest in manufactured product. They are not aligned with a product provider or platform and are purely advice-led, which aligns closely with our own business values. There is also great comfort in being involved with a financially stable licensee that is profitable.”

Andrew Kennedy, Chief Advice Officer at Count Financial, said the appointment of all three firms was a boost for the licensee which continues to target quality advice firms to join its network.

“Sapphire Coast, Next Generation and Aspire are three exceptional advice firms that we are delighted to have joining our national network. They bring experience and expertise which the rest of our Member network will be able to benefit from. With our Annual Conference just two months away, we’re excited that all of our new firms will have the chance to come together and experience Count Financial’s renowned sense of community in a dynamic and engaging environment.”

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