The role of a business development manager (BDM) was not even in Greg Bird's thoughts until 2011, when he was approached by Lifeplan Funds Management for the Victoria/Tasmania role.
Fast-forward three years, and the Victoria and Tasmania nominee is the winner of this year's national Money Management/Lonsec BDM of the Year.
"What I find enjoyable – and different – about my role at Lifeplan is that it brings me into contact with advisers of differing levels of knowledge and experience, different demographics (some open-minded, some closed)," Bird said.
"But what I enjoy most is that it takes me back to my financial planning days as it is mostly a strategy coaching role, and the importance of product almost becomes secondary."
In his role as a strategic coach of advisers, Bird steers them away from looking solely through their "superannuation goggles".
"We as advisers regularly spruik the importance of diversification to our clients, but do we practice fully what we preach?
"Diversification can reduce the risk of reliance upon one single asset class, one security, or perhaps a single fund manager investment philosophy, but what about regulatory or legislative risk?" Bird said.
He wants people to know there is another tax structure out there for consideration: the investment bond.
"It allows advisers to pro-actively provide supplementary estate planning advice and a complementary strategy for funds that slip through the cracks or cannot be considered for superannuation."
He also spreads the word that advisers can provide estate planning advice outside the conventional wills and powers of attorney arena.
"My lifelong philosophy has been to treat others as I would like to be treated in return," Bird said.
"So from my own perspective I am definitely not anti-superannuation; in fact I embrace it and actively contribute to it. But I do not rely upon it being my sole retirement funding vehicle of choice."
Bird has 27 years experience in the banking and finance sector, with 15 years experience in the financial planning industry.
He started out in financial planning at the State Bank of Victoria/Commonwealth Financial Planning in 1987 and became a financial planning manager at Commonwealth Financial.
Bird was a nominee in the BDM category last year.
