Bridgeport has picked up AM Corporation national adviser development manager Bronny Speed in an effort to bolster its financial planning division
Bridgeport has picked up AM Corporation national adviser development manager Bronny Speed in an effort to bolster its financial planning division.
Speed will take on the role of financial planning general manager from early October.
The group currently has six planners as part of its 40 staff and Speed will oversee the recommended list of products as well as compliance, research, training and issuing of proper authorities.
Bridgeport director Darryl Pike says Bridgeport holds two dealer licenses as it also licenses accountants who move into financial planning.
This second area of the business, titled Accountants Financial Services has seven accountants licensed with a similar number in the process of coming onboard.
Speed will also oversee the planning requirements of these license holders, according to Pike, as part of a joint business development role.
“Bridgeport licenses select accounting firms with a financial planning capability, in a dealer arrangement. As such Speed’s role will be to supply them with training, back office support such as compliance and issuing proper authorities were appropriate,” Pike says.
Pike says Bridgeport’s exposure to accountants comes from administering the Accountants Superannuation Fund which is owned by the major accountancy groups in Australia. The fund has $150 million under management and 1700 member firms which, Pike says, has been an avenue for accountants to approach them for advice on making the transition to planning.
Bridgeport was formed by the merger 18 months ago of the previous businesses of the three directors, Chancellor Investment Group, headed by Garry Avis, Robert M.C. Brown & Partners, and Pike’s consultancy business.
