QLD winner: Lea Kerry Clothier

Working with the adviser to discuss a client’s financial needs proves two heads are better than one, says Brisbane-based Godfrey Pembroke paraplanner Lea Kerry Clothier.

“I feel that working with an adviser in the strategy development stage helps us to establish the most efficient strategies to enhance a client’s position and enable them to meet their personal and financial goals and objectives,” she says.

“It is very gratifying and motivating to be able to help clients meet these goals and objectives.”

Clothier says having the opportunity to meet with the clients before preparing the plan makes it easier to tailor advice to their level of financial literacy.

“It enables me to focus on the key issues of importance to the client,” she says.

“These are generally things that would be missed if I were to prepare the advice straight from a file note.”

Clothier admits she fell into the financial services industry. She was studying for a diploma in business management and hotel management when a career placement officer suggested financial planning.

“They got me an interview with a financial planning firm in Brisbane and I got the job,” she says.

“That was four-and-a-half years ago and I moved to Godfrey Pembroke as a senior paraplanner a year ago.”

Clothier is also working towards becoming an adviser and is currently completing her Advanced Diploma of Financial Services (Financial Planning).

“I intend to start my CFP on completion of my last subject [next semester],” she says.

“In June this year, I was awarded a scholarship under MLC’s National Adviser Scholarship Program.

“The two-year program is designed for paraplanners who intend to make the transition to an advisory role in the future.”

The scholarship focuses on providing formal training and development of skills in areas such as sales, practice management and client service in addition to quality advice accreditation and continuing education.

Clothier says her original training in the hospitality and business management has been useful in building client relationships.

“The hotel management course helped me deal with people and gave me the background to develop my client relationship skills,” she says.

“Paraplanning does not just involve having a strong technical background, you need communication, analytical and problem solving skills.

“The ability to think ‘outside the square’ will also enable you to combine a number of strategies to better the potential outcome for a client.”

Clothier says the combination of technical, client service, problem-solving and advice preparation aspects of being a paraplanner is what motivates and challenges her.

And after work, she finds writing and cycling with her partner the ideal way to relax.

“I try to get outdoors as much as possible to provide the perfect balance to what is an indoor profession,” she says.