Building a boutique with old-fashioned service
Netwealth director of distribution and marketing Matt Heine says the favourite parts of his role are the people, the clients and the “challenge”.
“We’re a new company and a new brand, so you need to fight for every single dollar,” Heine says.
Prior to his four years with Netwealth, Heine studied marketing and business administration.
He has the task of signing up new dealer groups to use Netwealth’s suite of products, servicing existing relationships nationally, and also dabbling in product design and marketing.
Paul Webb of Integrity Financial Planners says Heine’s very hands-on approach is of great assistance to his practice.
“Matt is willing to come in and help to do the ‘yucky’ paperwork part of the job, filling out forms for clients, which is an invaluable service,” Webb says.
“He is also very approachable and quite contactable — many of the BDMs I deal with are difficult to get in touch with, but Matt is always easy to get hold of.”
Heine says this really stems from Netwealth’s service-oriented philosophy.
“We start with the service, and then look at the product. We’re not just about providing what everyone else is providing, so if it means taking that extra step, then so be it,” Heine says.
The feedback flows both ways between Heine and the advisers he works with — he helps them with practice management and development, and they provide suggestions on how Netwealth can improve its service, all of which are taken seriously.
“Probably more than anything they appreciate that we are listening to them,” Heine says.
Netwealth’s independent status does attract interest from advisers, according to Heine, but also brings with it unique hurdles.
“In a big institution you have an abundance of research and resources, whereas in boutiques if you need information you have to find it, or if you want to do something, you have to implement it. So there are big challenges,” he says.
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