Mortgage Choice grows planning arm
Mortgage Choice has declared that its financial planning arm has appointed its 30th adviser and is on track to double that number by June, next year to become a "financial services hub".
As well, the company's chief executive, Michael Russell claims that combining financial planning with mortgage broking has created a compelling customer proposition.
"We understand the central driver for the convergence of services from a customer's perspective is really one of trust and convenience," he said. "Our customers do not want to disclose their personal financial information over and over again to various service providers. They want the convenience of dealing with one trusted organisation who can meet all of their financial needs."
Russell emphasised that Mortgage Choice was not controlled by a financial institution and intended to continue building its distribution footprint and "clearly establish itself as Australia's pre-eminent financial services hub".
"Our aim for Mortgage Choice is to revolutionise the way customers access quality financial planning advice, just like we did with home loans over 20 years ago. And, with this in mind, we are now fully operational and delivering," he said.
Russell said the company was currently road-testing our its brand and recognised that there was still work to be done for consumers to see it as more than a mortgage broker.
Recommended for you
As the first quarter of 2024 comes to a close, Money Management looks back on the corporate regulator’s bans and AFSL cancellations in the financial advice sector.
Insignia Financial is holding ‘relatively steady’ onto its rank as Australia’s second-largest financial advice licensee after the Godfrey Pembroke exit but Count is hot on its heels.
Liberal senator Slade Brockman has said the government needs to have a “cold hard look” at the level of regulation in the financial advice space and the costs of running a business.
FAAA chief executive, Sarah Abood, has warned changes in the first tranche of the QAR legislation around advice fees documentation could create more work for advisers rather than less.