Chesne Stafford

Advice platform, AZ NGA, has continued expanding in regional New South Wales by partnering with integrated financial planning, accounting and mortgage broking firm, Back to Back Financial Planners (Back to Back) in Young.

Established in 1990, Back to Back is led by Justine Back and has 24 employees including four advisers.

The business has a loyal, geographically diverse clientbase and strong referral networks in Sydney and across the greater NSW region. It looks after retirees and pre-retirees, professionals, small business owners and farmers.

Chesne Stafford, AZ NGA Chief Growth Officer, said the partnership with Back to Back supported longer term plans to develop a financial advice hub in regional NSW to service key areas like Young, Wagga Wagga and Orange, where many individuals and families had complex advice and succession planning needs but were generally underserved.

“Back to Back is an exceptional business with a robust operating model, solid financial performance and consistently strong growth, and we are excited to partner with Justine and the team to continue delivering quality advice,” Stafford said.

“Over the past 35 years, the business has earned a reputation in their community, and beyond, for trusted advice. We see an opportunity to build on Back to Back’s reputation and infrastructure to establish a regional hub that connects with other key areas.”

Justine Back said the group’s motivation for partnering with AZ NGA was for growth and to support the development of the next generation of advisers in the practice.

“AZ NGA stood out because we like their people and philosophy, and share their views on where the financial advice profession is going,” she said.

“We’re setting the business up for its next phase of growth and creating an opportunity for future leaders to step up and assist us in continuing to expand the business.”

“I’m passionate about my work and taking care of my clients and this partnership allows our team to continue to grow well into the future.”

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The Award, which is offered annually, recognises female financial advisers who are making a significant contribution to their profession, their community and particularly to female clients.

AFA CEO, Brad Fox, said the Award is a positive change catalyst for financial advice, with more women being encouraged to join the advice profession; Australians having greater choice when selecting an adviser and more women experiencing positive outcomes from receiving quality financial advice.

“We are delighted to have received an amazing number of entries for the Award again this year,” he said. “Boosting the number of female advisers in the profession is essential. It is a well-established fact that Australian women face significant challenges when trying to grow and protect their wealth and many feel more comfortable seeking advice from another woman.”

Brett Clark, TAL Life CEO, spoke of the high calibre of entrants.

“At TAL we understand the benefits that diversity brings to our industry and the wider community, so we are delighted to be partnering with the Award for the third year,” he said. “The quality of the nominations this year was again very impressive and a great indication of the calibre of women seeking to make a difference in financial services.  Congratulations to the finalists and thank you to everyone else who entered or nominated an adviser.”

Now in its third year, the Female Excellence in Advice Award is a joint initiative of the AFA and TAL. The winner of the 2013 Award will be announced at the AFA National Conference on the Gold Coast, Tuesday 15 October 2013.

The Award finalists are:

• Adrienne Rush, Bendigo Financial Planning Ltd
• Dominique Bergel-Grant, Leapfrog Financial Pty Ltd
• Catherine Robson, Affinity Private Pty Ltd
• Eleanor Dartnall, Dartnall Advisers Pty Ltd
• Justine Back, Back to Back Financial Planners
• Dianne Charman, Jade Financial Group Pty Ltd

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Brad Fox

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) has named the finalists in the prestigious 2013 AFA Adviser of the Year Award (the Award), proudly supported by Zurich.

The Award, now in its 11^th year, recognises leadership, advocacy and innovation in the financial services industry and is proving there is no shortage of professional financial advisers striving for success at an individual and industry level.

AFA CEO, Brad Fox, said the six finalists had undergone a rigorous 360-degree assessment process. “The finalists are judged on education, experience and contribution to the industry,” he said.

This includes elements such as the use of technology and processes in their business, their client feedback process, complaints handling procedures, business cashflow management and business planning techniques.

“This is an opportunity to not only recognize the outstanding abilities of the final six, but also to acknowledge the significant number of nominations for the Award from right across Australia,” Mr Fox said. “The nominations are becoming more difficult to judge each year, with many more advisers demonstrating their skills and talents and providing an example for others to emulate.”

Colin Morgan, CEO of Zurich’s Life and Investments business, sponsors of the Award since its inception in 2003, said the industry has experienced significant change and this year’s finalists demonstrate the exceptional standard of advice that continues to be delivered to clients.

“The finalists have seemingly done the impossible, adapting to a changing environment while continuing to reach the pinnacle of professional self-development and client centricity,” he said. “Zurich is delighted to continue championing adviser excellence by sponsoring the Award for the 11^th year running.”

The 2013 AFA Adviser of the Year will be announced on Tuesday, 15 October 2013 at the AFA National Conference at the RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast.

The six finalists are:

• Justine Back, Back to Back Financial Planners, New South Wales
• Jenny Brown, JBS Financial Strategists, Victoria
• Kylie Wright, Ulton Financial Planning, Queensland
• Mark Rando, Rando & Associates, Western Australia
• Rory Mooney, Wealth By Design, South Australia
• William Bracey, Sydney Financial Planning, New South Wales

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