Resume

Scott Ayres B.Comm, Adv Dip FS (FP), AFPA

Professional Profile

A highly professional and experienced financial adviser who enjoys helping people optimise their financial future. My belief in the benefits of good financial advice started when I was recruited to work for the Retirement Benefits Fund (RBF), the Tasmanian public sector super fund. Whilst helping people manage their finances during the transition to retirement, it became evident that there were those that were retiring comfortably, and those that would keep struggling. I was surprised to realise that it was not always a simple matter of income or education that differentiated these people. The people that were happy with life and their finances were the ones that had taken an active interest in their money, had sought advice and made plans.

It was these years that really made me passionate about the financial planning industry. Whilst helping so many public servants I also had to deal with too many cases where a family’s financial future had been shattered as a result of death or disability. This motivated me to become more qualified by accepting a financial planning position at Westpac. This role gave me great training that enabled me to advise on investments and insurance as well as superannuation. I had exceptional performance figures whilst at Westpac and received a high performance award and was rapidly promoted to the role of Business Financial Adviser. My success was not just due to my technical knowledge but also the fact that I enjoy helping my clients.

In May 2005 I progressed to providing completely holistic financial advice. This involved providing advice on self managed superannuation, direct shares, real estate investment strategies, estate planning, business structures, asset protection and many other top tier strategies. The role further enhanced my technical knowledge and also taught me the skills necessary to service a large portfolio of high net worth clients. My education and experience demonstrate that I have the technical knowledge and advanced interpersonal skills that are required to be a successful financial adviser. The high performance awards that I received from both Westpac and RBF are evidence that I also have the exceptionally high level of motivation required to be successful in this field.

Macquarie Private Wealth – April 2008 to present

A recent switch to the dynamic environment at Macquarie Private Wealth will enable me to provide my clients with better financial outcomes. The move to Macquarie provides me with even more flexibilty to recommend the best possible strategies and solutions.

Superannuation Advice – Comprehensive advice on your superannuation options tailored to your individual circumstances and stage of life.
Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) – I can help you to assess the benefits of an SMSF and to determine whether it is the most appropriate superannuation solution for your needs. I can also provide you with a comprehensive set up service for your self-managed super fund.
Trusts and Alternative Structures Service – I can offer you comprehensive financial advice on all aspects of family (discretionary) trusts and alternative structures and assist you in setting up your own family trusts and alternative investment structures.
Cash Management Advice – Advice focussed on your individual cash management strategies and requirements. I can help you get more from your income or cash investments and connect you to the most appropriate cash solutions for your needs.
Trading and Stockmarket Advice – Access to a full range of advice on trading and stockmarket investments including access to superior market research and comprehensive broking services across a full range of trading products.
Investment Loan Advice – Comprehensive advice on your investment loan options including the benefits of gearing and borrowing to invest in line with your own overall financial strategies and goals.
Investment Selection Advice – Access comprehensive financial advice to help you select the most appropriate investments for your particular circumstances and financial goals.

Citi Smith Barney – Brisbane from May 2006 to April 2008

I was previously employed as a specialist financial planner in the private client group of the world’s largest bank. My role was to provide holistic financial plans that include investment advice, share portfolio design and management, superannuation, insurance advice, estate planning and retirement forecasting.

Executive Strategies - Specialist in providing strategic financial advice to the executives of many of the largest publicly listed companies in Australia. My approach was unique in that it concentrates on the distinctive needs of these individuals. Strategies include dealing with highly concentrated stock positions, downside protection through the use of options strategies, advising on the complexities of employee share plans and high level tax management strategies.
Direct Share Advice – Designing portfolios from within the ASX 300 that are individually tailored to a client’s level of risk tolerance and financial goals. Providing ongoing analysis and monitoring of the share portfolio and up to date commentary on the economic outlook.
Workplace Seminar Program – Initiated a program of workplace seminars aimed at providing quality advice to be delivered in a cost effective manner to the employees of corporate clients. This consisted of seminars that are individually tailored to the lifestages of the participants, individual meetings with interested participants and the preparation of financial plans when required.
Concentrated Stock Positions – Devising strategies to cope with highly concentrated stock positions that often result from employee share schemes and bonus allotments. Strategies include using margin lending to diversify portfolios, downside protection through the use of put options and zero cost collars, risk mitigation by strategically reducing exposure while controlling the capital gains tax consequences.
Asset Protection – Many of my clients have significant assets that need to be protected through the use of binding financial agreements, discretionary trusts, testamentary trusts and superannuation structures.

ABN AMRO Morgans Brisbane from May 2005 to May 2006

I commenced work with ABN AMRO Morgans as a private client adviser in May 2005. I was attracted to this role because it involved servicing a large portfolio of high net worth clients on an hourly fee basis.

High Value Gearing – Gearing was one of the key strategies that I implemented regularly. Whilst at Westpac the average gearing strategy was around $100K, whereas this client base was more suited to gearing levels between $300K and $600K. I also took an active role in organising the property secured lines of credit and the margin loans for these clients. The higher debt level also increased the level of servicing required. Client expectations were managed by forecasting their household cash flow and the portfolio dividends out over a five or ten year period.
Portfolio and Strategy Reviews – An initiative that I implemented was to devise the process and tools required to perform reviews for existing clients. It increased client satisfaction dramatically and most reviews uncovered either problems with the original implementation process or further opportunities for the client.
Self Managed Superannuation – Another major component of my work during this time was the implementation of self managed superannuation funds. I looked after every aspect of this process, from putting together the fund register to writing the investment strategies and trustee minutes. There was also considerable time spent on the superannuation assets, from rolling over old funds to liaising with lawyers and real estate valuers to sell or transfer real estate to the superannuation fund.
Tax Planning – Towards the end of the financial year, considerable time was spent on looking for opportunities to minimise a client’s tax liability. Strategies included making personal deductible superannuation contributions, prepaying interest or realising capital losses.
Insurance – I provided unbiased insurance recommendations using a wide variety of insurance companies. What differentiated me was the fact that I worked closely with the underwriters to ensure the best possible outcome for the client. This resulted in a very high completion ratio.

Westpac – Launceston and Brisbane from December 2003 to May 2005.

I was employed as a Hybrid Business Financial Adviser at Westpac from December 2003 until May 2005. As a hybrid adviser I was able to provide advice to both consumer and business clients. Whilst in Launceston I was the recipient of the “2004 Half Year High Achievers Award”. During this time I was responsible for providing financial advice to the customers of six branches and seven Business Bankers. As the most experienced adviser in the region, I was responsible for mentoring new planners. This resulted in recently employed planners having a similar level of success to myself.

Investments - In conjunction with five home finance managers and six branch managers I instituted a series of evening seminars around the north of the state. These resulted in enough gearing and other leads to make the program a success for all involved.
Initiative – Another initiative was using the vast Westpac database to target specific client demographics. This information was previously not available to financial planners. It took several requests to many different levels of management, to make this information available. When the reports were delivered they provided enough quality leads that I was able to share them with other planners throughout the state.
Relationship Building – There have been many good advisers who have not been successful in the banking sector because they fail to realise the importance of building and maintaining a relationship of confidence and trust with other stake holders. In the banking environment these ranged from the branch managers, business bankers, home finance managers as well as the general bank staff. I addressed this problem in two ways. Firstly I instituted a program of group and individual training sessions that helped to establish me as an expert in my field who was keen to help our mutual clients. Secondly I developed an excel based reporting tool that I used primarily as a way to keep track of tasks I had to perform, and it also worked as a reporting tool. Each week I would provide my referral sources with a report that would show the exact status of each of their referrals. By keeping them informed they were comfortable that I was adequately pursuing each opportunity they gave me.
Insurance – A high number of insurance sales was a big reason for my success at Westpac. The fact that I was only able to offer Westpac Insurance presented some difficulties but it also meant that I had to learn to present a clear and complete picture to the underwriter to ensure that applications went through to completion with the least amount of interruption to my clients.

Retirement Benefits Fund – Hobart and Launceston from February 2002 until November 2003

I commenced working at the Retirement Benefits Fund after graduating from the University of Tasmania. The RBF is the Tasmanian public sector super fund and the largest financial institution based in Tasmania. Starting in the finance department as a Tax and Investment Officer, I was then promoted to member services after only a few months. This was a great first job as I was provided with plenty of training and mentoring. It was during my time here that I studied DFP 1 to DFP 7. I was the recipient of the “CEO Quiet Achiever Award” for 2003, largely due to my work developing time saving spreadsheets and other tools.

Retirement Planning – My role here consisted of advising public sector employees of their entitlements under the older defined benefits schemes or the newer accumulation scheme. Most of my clients were nearing retirement and it was my job to help them through this process. This was largely an educational role informing the members about their entitlements, etp tax, salary sacrifice, allocated pensions and life annuities. I advised them on the most common pre-retirement strategies including re-contribution, buying back past service for the defined benefit scheme members and using life pensions to maximise Centrelink entitlements.
Seminar Presentations – RBF held state wide seminars twice per year and there were also countless workplace seminars. I presented these seminars whenever possible, audience sizes ranged from half a dozen to well over 100. The topics I presented were usually of a fairly technical nature so it was necessary to work hard to engage the audience to keep their attention. I enjoyed presenting these a great deal and was regarded by my managers as a very competent public speaker.

Education

Advanced Diploma of Financial Service – Financial Planning – Deakin University and Kaplan.
SMSF Adviser Education Program – Financial Planning Association.
Bachelor of Commerce, Majoring in Finance, University of Tasmania.