Annick Donat

BT Group Licensees (BTGL) – made up of Securitor, BT Select and Licensee Select – has launched a new, flexible and digital Learning Channel for advisers, representing the future direction of adviser education.

The development of the Learning Channel reflects BTGL’s desire to deliver advisers quality and inspiring education programs in a timely manner that helps drive a culture and community of learning.
According to Mr Phil Butterworth, General Manger of Group Licensees, BT Financial Group (BTFG), this is another great innovation by BTFG for the advice industry.

“We want to set and challenge what is possible in the advice industry and this means being innovative in areas such as education and learning which are key platforms in the professionalism of our advisers and of our industry.”

BT Group Licensee’s Head of Licensee Development, Ms Annick Donat is the key architect behind the BTGL Learning Channel.

“This new learning framework enables our advisers and broader support teams to access this tool in their own time versus the advice industry dictating a time,” she says. “It’s a real breakthrough for adviser education and professionalism.”

The BTGL Learning Channel will digitise Professional Development days, tailor adviser education programs to their experience levels and increase adviser education while ensuring productivity and managing cost. The aim is to make access to quality learning simple, accessible and relevant.

The learning framework includes practice management, compliance, technical, insurance and investments and celebrity lessons designed to inspire action. There are currently ten key learning topics and more than 35 educational and leadership videos on the site.

“Advisers must not only meet educational standards but maintain them as well,” says Butterworth. “The BTGL Learning Channel satisfies this need in a state of the art, digital, and learner-led way.”

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Approaching its 30-year anniversary, Securitor represents a sustainable and innovative partner for planning practices with strong business acumen and compliance, often with links to the accounting industry, that are looking to surround themselves with like-minded practices.

Mr Fisher says he is especially proud to lead a business with such a strong history. “Securitor is a strong brand in our industry, testament to the peer-to-peer sharing of ideas, innovation and leaning in that characterises all the advisers who partner with us.”

Mr Fisher, who has worked in BT in a range of roles for the past six years, joined Securitor in January 2014 as the State Manager for New South Wales and Queensland. Prior to this he was State Manager of Westpac Financial Planning in Queensland and Head of Bank Distribution for BT.

“I bring to Securitor a passion for financial planning and the profession, a strong focus on execution and doing the things we say we are going to do and a real focus on the client and outcomes that our advisers provide.”

According to the BT Financial Group’s General Manager of Group Licensees, Mr Phil Butterworth, Mark’s appointment is the next step in the group’s growth.

“Mark’s appointment reflects the great momentum we currently have across our aligned advice channels to ensure all of our advisers can work in an efficient and sustainable manner while delivering trusted and valued financial advice customers need.’

Securitor continues to lead the industry in terms of helping practices be the best they can be, supporting advisers so they can deliver great customer outcomes, and to build a reputation the industry can be proud.

“I am very optimistic about the future of the financial advice industry,” says Mr Fisher. “I am excited to be leading a group of professional financial planning businesses with high standards of governance and compliance, who are passionate about the client experience and are committed to innovation and execution.”

Mr Fisher holds a Bachelor of Business majoring in accounting and banking/finance, a Masters of Financial Management and Diploma in Financial Planning. Securitor currently has more than 400 financial advisers in its network split across more than 200 practices all around Australia.

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Phil Butterworth

BT Select is pleased to announce Melbourne-based wealth management business First Financial will join BT Select. This follows a competitive review of business service providers undertaken by First Financial.

First Financial was established last year following a 50:50 joint venture with Crowe Horwath, the listed accounting and financial services group. First Financial was formerly the financial services division of Crowe Horwath. It has 60 staff, including 17 financial planners, four lending and finance advisers, and an SMSF administration team. It has approximately $1.1 billion in funds under advice.

BT Select’s managing director Phil Butterworth said this announcement demonstrates BT Select’s continued growth strategy and its ability to attract high quality businesses.

“We are delighted to welcome another outstanding group such as First Financial to BT Select. First Financial shares many of the key attributes of the existing BT Select community – high quality professionals with an appreciation for innovation and a desire to grow its business and service its clients.”

“First Financial’s future growth aspirations are very exciting and we look forward to supporting both their organic growth objectives and potential acquisition opportunities.”

First Financial managing director, Chris White, said BT Select’s capacity to transition practices was a critical factor in its decision to partner with BT Select.

“Back office efficiency is critical for us and BT Select’s approach to embedding experienced staff within our team during this crucial phase is a big plus for us. The strength, insight and innovation of BT Financial Group is also a benefit, and I have confidence that BT Select has the knowledge, experience and ability to help us transition efficiently. Longer term, BT Select’s focus on growth aligns with our strategic plans.”

BT Select helps financial planning practices to grow using innovation, insights and tailored solutions.

BT Select was launched in 2012 and has attracted 67 practices with approximately $7.5 billion funds under advice. It provides a range of business services including licensing solutions, a wide range of market-leading practice solutions and access to a peer support network of like-minded advisers with a culture of innovation and growth. Practices pick and choose the services they need to meet their

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Butterworth formed and led DKN Financial Group for more than eight years before leaving last month and has a wealth of experience as a senior executive in the financial services industry. With an 18 year career spanning distribution, platform development, dealer services, business acquisition and integration, he has previously worked in senior roles at Macquarie Portfolio Services, Lonsdale Financial Group and Asgard. 

Modica has been chief executive of Lonsdale Financial Group since 2000 and has a long history in the banking and finance industry including senior roles with Westpac, J.B.Were and National Australia Private Bank. Costas, whose career has spanned banking, financial planning, wealth management, business coaching and financial services dealership network development and recruiting, was the executive director of Lonsdale Financial Group which he joined in 2005. Rutter has been executive director for distribution at DKN Financial Group for the past six years where he has been responsible for the strategic direction of the distribution business, building on his previous senior distribution roles with Wizard Home Loans, AXA Australia and National Mutual. 

The appointment of Butterworth, Modica, Costas and Rutter is part of a strategy by BT Financial Group to continue to lead a market that is transforming as a result of a changed regulatory framework and growing consumer demand for sound strategic advice. 

BT Financial Group’s General Manager of Advice, Mark Spiers, said a highly disrupted market is driving many financial advisers to reconsider their future. 

“Advisers who want highly successful and sustainable businesses are now looking at who they should partner with for the next decade and beyond. 

“While we continue to attract planners into our salaried work force to ensure our banking customers receive quality financial advice, we want to ensure we are best positioned to continue attracting those advisers into our aligned channels who want to partner with a high quality brand with sound strategies and an unquestionable focus on clients and leadership.” 

Spiers said the business’ mandate is to deliver business solutions to advice practices which help them utilise the scale advantages available from working with the broader BT Financial Group. 

“When combined with business expertise and a strategic perspective, this scale can help practices be more efficient, drive growth and, ultimately, improve their bottom line. 

“It’s a very exciting time and we look forward to welcoming Phil, Mario, Kon and Andrew next year to help build on our heritage of industry leadership, product and service innovation, deep client relationships and quality in everything we do,” Spiers said.

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