I am a firm believer in getting the most out of life, and since I enjoy taking a risk or two why not spend most of my days assisting clients to embrace worthwhile and rewarding risks.

For more than 20 years, I have assisted many clients to outline, define and work on their goals and do so with regular proactive contacts.

My background in Canada during my University days was working in Credit Unions (the Canadian banking system is extremely similar to the Australian system), as well as a Waiter in a restaurant. These roles enabled me to understand that everyone wants to be heard, and have their needs met. They don’t like to be thought of as a number, and I endeavour every day to ensure that a client feels heard, and that their needs are appropriately and timely addressed.

I’d personally consider myself a Financial Coach, and as I’ve said all along to clients, we don’t have anything to sell you, we are focussed on ensuring we meet your realistic needs and expectations in a manner that helps you sleep at night.

Early on in my career I had the good fortune to win some Top 50 CFP awards, as well as the Independent Financial Adviser (IFA) Queensland Adviser of the year. During my interview for that recognition, I mentioned a famous sportsperson that provided me with inspiration daily.

Martina Navratilova, a famous former Tennis champion was once asked why she had decided to unretire from the professional Women’s Tennis circuit and she responded:

“Because the ball comes over the net a different way each time”.

I really liked that quote and our industry is one that allows me to meet people from all walks of life, with varying views on investment and wealth, and it is such a great challenge to be able to assist a broad range of clients in this ever-changing industry.

My main passions outside of the business are family and sport. My wife Vittoria and I are a blended family, and my 3 children are now all working and/or studying…no more teenagers! Vittoria has 2 of her own, so as we like to say we are 5/6 of the Brady Bunch – minus Alice!

We like to be active with bike riding, heading to the beach, and our regular date nights (without kids of course). We always have a great laugh and fun times playing traditional family card games when we all get together.

As for sport, growing up in Central Canada, as a terrible ice skater I had to pivot pretty quickly away from hockey and I chose Basketball. For many years I was the shortest kid on the court (or in my case – the end of the bench!).

Spending so much time “watching” basketball is probably why I then began coaching it shortly after high school. I still play my old man basketball, and also for the last 4 years or so I have been more involved in golf, playing competitions, although you wouldn’t know it by the lack of improvement in my handicap.

When I am not gas-bagging, I love wiling away the hours on a beach reading a good book, and I have recently finished What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell.

There are great insights into some current thinking on business, leadership, sport, technology and other concepts in that book.

For escapism I do like a good spy novel, so please don’t hesitate to hit me up with suggestions if you have any.