One of the founders of the Deakin Financial Services dealer group, Murray Hills, has confirmed plans to launch a rival planning business, revealing the new venture would be up and running this month.
The new venture, Platinum Group Financial Services, will base its national office in Perth, however Hills said his goal was “to have a team of professional advisers operating nationally within two months”.
Money Management reported exclusively last month that Hills was actively attempting to poach some of Deakin’s 36 Western Australian advisers, most of whom he introduced to the 100-strong dealer group.
Hills had speculated at the time that some of Deakin’s WA-based advisers may miss having decisions made close to home after the dealer group relocated from Perth to Melbourne.
Hills has confirmed Deakin’s former state manager for Victoria and Tasmania, Colin Scott, will join Platinum as Victorian state manager.
Hills’ son, Ryan, has also recently left a role as business development manager in Deakin’s Perth office. There has been no announcement as to whether Ryan Hills will be working with his father.
Platinum Group Financial Services is currently setting up its distribution and administrative support systems and processes in preparation for business.
