Fastest growing dealer groups: Being the best Counts

Even thoughCount Wealth Accountants’ managing director Barry Lambert says, “Our emphasis is not on growth — not to be the biggest, just the best”, this philosophy has seen the group become one ofMoney Management’s fastest growing dealer groups.

While the accounting-based financial planning group was established in 1981 by Lambert (previously a banker and accountant himself) to focus on providing financial planning services through public practice accounting firms, a second subsidiary group calledCompound Investmentswas created in 2001 to cater to non-accounting firm-based independent financial advisers using a similar business model.

Offering a full range of investment, superannuation and insurance services, Count has over 500 franchised offices nationally.

“We’re a dealer group that supports accountants to give good advice and good value,” Lambert says.

“Accountants realise that they should be in the financial advice industry, so the growth really just comes from demand for our services.”

Lambert says that while some of their growth comes as a result of referrals, the majority of Count’s recruitment is a result of direct marketing to accountants and independent financial advisers.

According to Lambert, Count is also the only dedicated dealer group listed on theAustralian Stock Exchange, providing an incentive to advisers who receive shares in Count based on their performance.

Aside from transitioning Count to a new Australian Financial Services Licence on July 1 (Compound is already operating under a new licence), other developments on the horizon for the group include:

* the release of a new wrap designed to simplify do-it-yourself superannuation for accountants in July, and

* the launch of Count Property, an Internet-based service to assist Count clients buy ‘lifestyle’ properties from developers.