Michael Gershkov

Lifespan Financial Planning, one of Australia’s largest privately-owned financial advice networks, has appointed experienced practice management professional, Michael Gershkov, as its National Practice Manager.

Mr Gershkov, who will be based in Melbourne, has 25 years’ experience in the financial services industry, most recently at InterPrac Financial Planning, where he was National Practice Manager for six years. Prior to that he was Network Development Manager at Capstone Financial Planning.

The move to Lifespan means his career has come full circle, as he worked with Lifespan founder and Executive Chairman, John Ardino, in his first financial planning job at Count Financial in 1994. Mr Gershkov said he was delighted to be joining the Lifespan executive team.

“John was both a role model and mentor to me. I’m very excited to be now working with his son, Eugene, and the leadership team at Lifespan.

“We have a shared desire to work closely with Lifespan’s network of more than 180 advisers in these challenging times to support them through mutual understanding and solutions to achieve growth.

“Lifespan has been built by a family who knows what advice delivery is all about. It has developed a network of advisers who operate with integrity and have client interests front of mind.

“This is why Lifespan is the perfect place for me to make a difference, with my passion for practice management, knowledge of the advice industry and experience in creating and maintaining long-lasting relationships,” he said.

Lifespan CEO, Eugene Ardino, said Mr Gershkov’s broad experience in practice management would be invaluable at this pivotal time for the advice industry.

“In this time of industry flux, having a practice manager of the calibre of Michael is critical for helping our adviser network to not only make the transition to a new age of financial planning, but to actually be in a position to prosper. The management team at Lifespan is very excited to have him on board.”

Mr Gershkov has a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University, a Bachelor of Business Marketing from RMIT, a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia and an Advanced Diploma of Financial Services from the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance. He was a finalist for the 2018 IFA Excellence Awards in the Practice Manager of the Year and Dealer Group Executive of the Year categories.

The post Lifespan Financial Planning hires respected practice manager appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Mary De Angelis

Melbourne based MD Financial Planning P/L principal Mary De Angelis and Sydney headquartered Capitaleyes Financial Planning P/L principal Charbel Fahd are not surprised InterPrac Financial Planning (InterPrac) will end 2016 with accolades for the highest level of adviser satisfaction and achievement of business and adviser growth milestones.

Recently, InterPrac took first place for the second consecutive year in the Investor Daily annual dealer group satisfaction survey and jumped from 38th position to 28th in this year’s Money Management’s Top 100 Dealer Group Survey.

“Winning the dealer group satisfaction survey for 2015 and 2016 has been especially pleasing as it is a reflection of InterPrac’s non-aligned and accountant centric model that regards the relationship with both our adviser network and the National Tax and Accountants’ Association (NTAA) as a professional collaborative partnership”, said InterPrac Managing Director Garry Crole.

“Most importantly, we manage growth very carefully and all new entrants must be a cultural fit within InterPrac”.

InterPrac National Practice Manager Michael Gershkov says advisers who make the switch to InterPrac regard flexibility and choice as the key prerequisites to delivering advice free of external influences.

“A flat operational structure that facilitates easy access to the executive team, together with an offering that can be personalised to the needs of each individual practice underpins our value proposition”, said Michael Gershkov.

MD Financial Planning has been growing steadily since Mary De Angelis started the business in 2012.  Mary then joined InterPrac and today the practice comprises of 4 advisers and 2 support staff specialising in aged care services.

“I am especially proud that MD Financial Planning’s growth has been organic and for the high level of service, care and attention we provide to clients”, said Mary De Angelis.  “InterPrac has certainly played a major role in supporting our endeavours as a business partner.

“Although very satisfied with MD Financial Planning’s success to date, there is still potential for further growth and I’m confident InterPrac will support these aspirations with services as the practice grows and evolves in response to the changing needs of clients”.

While a veteran in terms of his history as an accountant, financial planner and principal of Capitaleyes Financial Planning, Charbel Fahd is far from slowing down with work currently underway to enlarge the office to accommodate future growth and business expansion.

Primarily servicing the needs of SMEs and HNWIs, Charbel prides himself on client service that is personalised and professional as well as the longevity of relationships with clients.

“InterPrac is a very unique community of advice practitioners led by a team of industry professionals committed to sustainable long term growth”, said Charbel Fahd.  “Capitaleyes has benefitted immensely since joining InterPrac and the future can only realize further mutually beneficial outcomes”.

Although very satisfied with InterPrac’s numeric successes to date (200 advisers and top 20 dealer group nationally), Garry Crole acknowledges that the modern dealer group has to stay ahead of the curve by providing advisers with best practice options, high level of communication and service that supports their individual business needs – the days of one size fits all offerings are gone.

The post InterPrac accolades and success underpinned by internal culture of service & staying relevant to advisers appeared first on AdviserVoice.