Macquarie Financial Services Group has flagged plans for further growth as it emerged as one of the key drivers in Macquarie Bank’s announcement that it had recorded a 60 per cent increase in net profit to $1.46 billion.
In announcing what represented the bank’s 15th consecutive year of record profit, the chairman, David Clarke, said all groups had made record contributions, with the Financial Services Group providing a 32 per cent increase in profitability while the Funds Management Group recorded a 45 per cent increase in profitability.
Commenting on the result, the head of Macquarie Financial Services Group, Peter Maher, attributed the group’s contribution to the overall bottom line to its commitment to providing high level services and products — something that was reflected in the re-branding of the group’s major direct retail advice division from Macquarie Financial Services to Macquarie Private Wealth.
He said the increased market share in the Financial Services Group’s cash, wrap and full service broking markets were key drivers of the increase in profitability.
Maher said the Financial Services Group was investigating international opportunities in the United Kingdom and Asia at the same time as pursuing domestic opportunities to expand its adviser numbers and grow its core service business.
