Bombora Advice (Bombora) Managing Director, Wayne Handley, has announced the group has increased its adviser strength with the addition of two Victorian based practices Shane Coutts, GL Financial Planning and Rory MacKenzie, Prom Country Financial Planning Commenting on the announcement, Handley said that the advice group’s non- aligned model and marketplace offering dedicated to the specific needs of risk professionals were the underlying factors attracting advisers and enquiries. “Advisers’ who want highly successful and sustainable business models for the future, are in search of a partner with a quality brand, sound strategies and are completely aligned to their business model – it just makes sense when we are all talking the same language – are on the same page and heading in the same direction”.
“For dedicated risk specialists, Bombora unquestionably ticks these boxes”.
Both Coutts and MacKenzie are excited about the move and adamant that the future of their respective practices and client service models will benefit immensely from their association with a dedicated risk specialist dealer group.
In addition, Coutts and MacKenzie shared two overwhelming objectives – the first to be in control of their destiny as practice owners. The second is a commitment to the long-term success of Bombora that motivated them to join the organisation as equity partners.
“Bombora is such a unique organisation and industry brand that has developed an exceptionally strong marketplace reputation in a relatively short period of time. Joining as equity partners has given us the opportunity to contribute to the strategic direction of the business whilst working alongside a professional team of practitioners in a supportive compliant administrative infrastructure,” said Coutts and MacKenzie.
Coutts has been a passionate advocate of the benefits of comprehensive financial planning/risk protection since joining the industry in 1986. He gained extensive industry experience with a number of companies across a broad range of disciplines before he decided to establish GL Financial Planning in 2002.
Headquartered in Geelong, GL Financial Planning services the needs of clients from Werribee to the coastal and rural townships that surround Victoria’s second largest city.
Coutts said there were many factors that underpinned his decision, but ultimately it was the advice group’s boutique model and collegiate approach that compelled him to move. “I looked at the culture and offering of Bombora and it was a perfect fit and partner for my business and aspirations for the future”.
Based in South Gippsland, MacKenzie started his working life as an accountant partner in a local accounting practice until 2003 when a career change saw him establish Prom Country Financial Planning. The business achieved great success through organic growth until 2008 when he acquired another advice practice and the business grew substantially. Today, Prom Country Financial Planning is acknowledged as a risk protection specialist addressing the needs of medical professionals and self employed business clients.
Commenting on the decision to join Bombora as a practice and equity partner, MacKenzie said he was especially looking forward to the personal and professional benefits he will receive from working alongside some of the industry’s very best practices, principals, advisers and managers.
Handley concluded by confirming he expected to announce the addition of further practices next month. He also reiterated Bombora’s aim to be fundamentally different from the traditional dealer group model – the future is about professional service firms – we are not a dealer group stated Handley we are an Advice Business – the objective is to build the business brand and organisation by partnering risk specialists and developing long term productive relationships based on ‘sharing value’.
