Matt Fogarty

Specialist financial services legal firm, Hamilton Blackstone Lawyers, has appointed experienced industry leader, Matt Fogarty, to the group’s newly-created advisory board, in response to rising demand from Australian Financial Services Licensees (AFSLs) and advice businesses.

Fogarty, who was most recently Head of Private Wealth at Kelly+Partners Chartered Accountants and, prior to that, held a number of senior executive roles including Chief Executive of Fitzpatricks Private Wealth and General Manager, Garvan and MLC Financial Planning, has also joined Hamilton Blackstone as a consultant.

Cristean Yazbeck, Managing Director, Hamilton Blackstone Lawyers, said an increase in regulatory surveillance, monitoring and activity, since the 2018 Financial Services Royal Commission, had led a growing number of advice firms to proactively improve their regulatory risk posture to stay ahead of regulatory changes.

“Over the past decade, we’ve established a reputation for delivering quality, hands-on regulatory advice and proactive support to AFSLs and advice businesses, and Matt is the ideal person to help us continue enhancing our services and build relationships in that space,” he said.

“Matt is a highly-respected and experienced industry advocate who understands the practical implication of regulatory change on licensees and advice businesses, which makes him an invaluable consultant and member of our advisory board.”

Fogarty said: “I’ve known Cristean for many years. He has been helping licensees and advisory firms to maintain compliance, protect their business and achieve their goals for over 20 years”.

“Whether it’s establishing an AFSL, preparing a regulatory response or strategic guidance and planning, Cristean and his team have the unique ability to simplify complex legal and regulatory matters, and also make them less scary. I’m very proud to be involved with Hamilton Blackstone Lawyers.”

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With senior client-centric advice expertise, Matthew Nicholson and Oswaldo Duque join the Fitzpatricks Private Wealth team. In addition to the two new Advisers, Fitzpatricks Private Wealth have also hired Kaarina Robson to support their Brisbane based office.

Fitzpatricks CEO, Matt Fogarty acknowledged the practice’s business focus was twofold. Firstly, the new advisers will support the practice to target the private wealth market in south-east Queensland. Secondly, the renewed team will be better positioned to embrace Fitzpatricks’ Lead Adviser approach focusing on a client-centric approach, servicing the needs of high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, who have more complex financial needs.

“We welcome Matthew and Oswaldo to their Fitzpatricks home. Each brings complementary skills to the firm and are matched well with the essence of the Fitzpatricks approach: to enrich the lives of our clients via custom-tailored advice. Fitzpatricks has pioneered client centric advice systems and philosophies that eschew the ‘one-size-fits-all’ industrial approach,” said Matt Fogarty.

“For example, the Lead Adviser program led by a founder of our firm Scott Fitzpatrick has been helping to support individual advisers and the growth of sustainable practices. It is a testament to our strongly differentiated advice and adviser support model that the Group is attracting such high-calibre advisers.”

Mr Nicholson joins Fitzpatricks with over 20 years’ experience within the Australian financial services industry, most recently working at VISIS Private Wealth as a Private Client Adviser.

Prior to this, Mr Nicholson was a Senior Financial Planner at Westpac for over four years and has held paraplanning, state management and financial advisory roles at financial planning and advice firms including Whittaker MacNaught, Commonwealth Bank and Planwealth.

“Fitzpatricks is attractive as the model allows advisers to leverage the size and resources of a national organisation to provide high-net-worth clients with both market leading services and personal attention to truly support clients through their life journey,” said Mr Nicholson.

Hayden Griffiths, Practice Principal at Fitzpatricks Private Wealth said: “We were impressed with Matthew’s passion for remaining at the forefront of developments in financial strategy, product innovation, tax law, legislative change and innovative strategies in the financial services industry. We do not doubt that his extensive experience in the industry will be an asset to the Brisbane team.”

Mr Duque has worked within the financial services industry since 2013 and joins Fitzpatricks from ipac, a subsidiary of AMP group, where he was a Private Client Adviser for nearly five years, following his role at Corporation U as a Financial Planner.

Mr Duque’s expertise centres around providing personalised strategic advice on wealth creation and retirement planning strategies.

“It resonates with my core values to be working within a model that put’s the clients’ goals and needs first and foremost. I am looking forward to working with Fitzpatricks’ private wealth clients and helping them to navigate future opportunity and challenges,” said Mr Duque.

Hayden Griffiths said: “Having worked for boutique planning firms and one of Australia’s largest Financial Institutions, Oswaldo has a wealth of experience that we feel will be invaluable to the team.”

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Lisa brings a wealth of financial advice expertise with her to Fitzpatricks, with more than 20 years’ experience in client wealth advisory.

Lisa said Fitzpatricks appealed to her as the Group is well-positioned to best deliver value-driven advice to clients, and its focus on strategic growth through alignment on client-centric, goals-based advice is reflected in its culture, leadership group and its ‘client enrichment’ initiatives.

“Fitzpatricks’ well-established model and resources enable our practice to demonstrate and deliver value as we continually strive to evolve our business to provide highly beneficial outcomes for clients,” Lisa said.

“We are in this business because we care about the families of our clients and want to empower them to not only take control of their financial future, but live a more enriched and impactful life,” she said.

Fitzpatricks’ commitment to female advisers making a difference in the lives of Higher Net Wealth clients was also particularly attractive to Lisa.

One of 27 female advice professionals at Fitzpatricks, Lisa’s joining raises Fitzpatricks’ total number of female principals to over 20%.

“Fitzpatricks cultural values are also strongly aligned with my own. The Group provides a high-level of support and mentoring to women by actively encouraging the growth of female professionals within the Group and beyond.

“I feel this is necessary to remove the existing misconception that financial planning is only about numbers. I believe it’s also very much about people and relationships. Women are great in all these areas and together can meet a broader section of the needs of families through increasing our own diversity,” Lisa added.

To support and encourage the impact of women in financial services, Fitzpatricks has introduced a number of initiatives, including peer groups of female professionals who meet regularly to share ideas on advice and mentor other women within the Group.

Fitzpatricks Private Wealth CEO, Matt Fogarty, said: “Lisa strongly embodies the Fitzpatricks core values and vision. Her commitment to enrich the lives of clients through the achievement of their financial goals and her determination in developing a long-term partnership with clients reflects this well.

“Lisa also shares our focus on ensuring advice fulfils its proper and needed role within the Australian community. We are delighted Lisa has joined Fitzpatricks as a valued adviser in the community and we look forward to her playing an active role in encouraging more women into great roles within our profession,“ he said.

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Matt Fogarty

Fitzpatricks Private Wealth announces the addition of premium financial advice firm, Perth-based Stewart Symonds & Partners as its latest financial advice practice partnership.

One of 7 new practices with a total of 38 advisers licensed by the Fitzpatrick Group since July 2018, the Stewart Symonds addition adds to a proud Fitzpatricks heritage of strategic growth through cultural and philosophical alignment around client-centric, goals-based financial planning.

Stewart Symonds Partner and General Manager, Garry Symonds brings more than 30 years’ experience in the financial services industry, the past 13 years at the Perth-based firm.

“Fitzpatricks has been a true partner. Its underpinning values, ongoing support, direct availability and access to the leadership team has been essential to ensure a smooth transition – something you don’t get anywhere else,” Mr Symonds said. “Fitzpatricks’ values and vision immediately resonated with us in how we wanted to move forward,” he said.

“Fitzpatricks view the world the way we do – the client always comes first. We are not trying to sell clients a product, rather looking at getting them well organised financially over the long-term.”

Mr Symonds said the firm was attracted to the Fitzpatricks private ownership model and family office feel, as well as the firm being well-capitalised to support genuine advice practices with appropriate resources to grow successfully.

Fitzpatricks Private Wealth CEO, Matt Fogarty welcomed the new partnership, noting that Garry and his Perth practice embody the firm’s core values.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Stewart Symonds & Partners to join our national team – a professional, client-centric practice established over some 26 years,” he said.

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