A group of former Suncorp financial planners has jumped ship and opened up shop at the Gold Coast under the AXA umbrella.
The six planners have united together to form the new AXA Financial Planning Gold Coast practice.
Former Suncorp executive general manager of customer and channel strategy Craig Barker has taken on the managing director’s role at the new practice.
“We know the financial crisis has hit many Queenslanders hard with the collapse of some organisations, so as local advisers we have banded together to offer the very best financial advice, and restore some of the trust that has been lost,” Barker said.
Together, the group has more than 100 years experience between them.
“We do have the runs on the board,” Barker said.
AXA has put together a package including a business plan, office branding, lead referrals and marketing to kick-start advisers into running their own advisory office under the AXA umbrella.
Since the inception of the AXA start-up offer late last year, offices under the AXA brand name have opened in Nambour, Newcastle and the Gold Coast with contracts for more offices in Adelaide and Sydney.
A spokesperson for AXA said the aim was to open 10 practices this year.
The new Gold Coast advice team also includes Jacqueline Smith, Rose Menefy, Ben McGrath, Michael Kiefer and Darren Pilcher.
