Suncorp Metway has signalled its intentions to move further into the retail market with the addition of 24 new financial advisers.
The new planners will push the group’s total number of advisers to 130 and will be located in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth as well as a number of the Queensland offices. The recruitment drive is aimed at boosting its presence outside of its home state of Queensland.
Distribution general manager Mark Blucher says Suncorp advisers have mainly operated out of the group’s retail branch network but demand for advice through other channels had prompted the new moves.
Part of these include changing the distribution strategy by linking advisers to Suncorp Metway Business Bank branches, mobile lenders and placing advisers with the group’s call center.
Blucher says the growth in demand for advice was being generated after the group rolled out a system which enabled any employee to pass on referrals to the advisers.
However he also stressed that the current performance of the group had also generated strong interest in advice and the sale of superannuation and investment products.
