Transitioning an advice business in the 21st century

I’ve always been a strong advocate for advice ever since my parents taught me the basics about money when I was growing up. What I came to realise over many years is that most people didn’t get that level of support like I did. That’s why I have always believed the value of good quality advice to this day.

My first introduction to financial planning was way back in 1993 when I joined UDC Finance as a business development manager for the South Island. I replaced Fiona Fourie who just left to go to a relatively new company called Armstrong Jones.

I remember landing at Christchurch airport with a laptop (black and white screen), being picked up by my wife in my new company car, which had a Bell South car phone. I thought I had made it and was excited to get into an industry that I thought was more suited to my skill set around relationship management and my passion of helping Kiwis reach retirement in a better place.