Dealer caps off growth plans

CapstoneFinancial Planning has continued its push to establish a national financial planning presence with the opening of a Brisbane office.

The move comes after the group secured two advisers from Barbacan Benefits, the boutique Queensland dealer group of former Financial Planning Association national board member Tony Beal.

The two advisers joining Capstone are well-known Brisbane planners Richard Grimshaw and David Vaughan.

Capstone managing director Grant O’Riley says the opening of the Brisbane office is in line with the dealer group’s growth plans in its third year of operations.

“This is the first of a number of offices we plan to have in Queensland,” he says.

“The Queensland market is very sound and we have received regular interest from advisers.”

Grimshaw’s practice caters for high-net-worth and corporate clients.

Grimshaw says he joined Capstone to have greater choice in areas such as software, platforms and investments.

“We saw a natural fit with Capstone due to their independently-owned and operated model, plus their full range of support services,” he says.

Vaughan has built his business advising on wealth creation, pre and post-retirement, superannuation strategies and life insurance.

Both advisers will work out of the new Capstone office in the Brisbane CBD.

Capstone has just recently opened its first office in Perth and continues to operate in South Australia and Victoria.

The dealer group now has more than 40 advisers and about $900 million of funds under advice. It was ranked 52 in Money Management’s 2004 Top 100 dealer groups list.