Count boosts franchisee numbers

TheCount Financial group will have added 50 new franchisees to its books by the end of this financial year, the group’s managing director, Barry Lambert, announced today.

Lambert says the group’s franchisee numbers - across both Count and its new dealer group, Compound Investments - will have grown by 10 per cent in the 12 months to the end of the financial year to reach the figure.

The news comes as Count’s wrap account, the wealth-e-account, has exceeded the $1.4 billion mark, with the group expecting it to exceed $1.5 billion by the end of next month.

Lambert says while it took more than two years to reach the $500 million mark, another year to hit the second $500 million, it will take less than eight months for the next $500 million to be reached.

He says the group is confident the wealth-e-account will break the $2 billion mark by December 31, 2002 and continue to grow by $1 billion annually thereafter.

As well as experiencing strong growth in its wrap account division, Count will also expand on its services starting with the roll out of a fee-for-use paraplanning service for its network of advisers from next month.

Lambert says the service will be free to new franchisees for their first 12 months from the date they join the group.

As for the future, Lambert says the group plans to increase the flow of compulsory superannuation contribution into the group by 12.5 per cent, which he says will generate additional business for its financial planners.

Lambert expects the strong growth in its franchisee numbers to continue.