EQT to grow adviser business

Equity Trustees (EQT) is set to grow its internal and external distribution arm over the next year and has recruited Julie Foster as its new national manager for advice and personal services.

Foster will be responsible for all EQT's advice services including its aged care advisory and placement businesses, corporate superannuation advice, and personal wealth management.

Head of EQT private wealth services Geoff Rimmer told Money Management Foster's contacts in the advice industry would help the firm grow its distribution over the next year.

"We're going to aggressively grow our internal advice business," Rimmer said.

"But we're also going to partner with external advisers because there's a lot of things that we do that can complement the advice and services that advisers in the broader market provide," he added.

"And that's where it's going to be useful to have somebody with Julie's background and experience — it will help us understand what we need to do internally to take our offer out to the market."

Foster has previously worked in distribution and marketing roles at organisations including Tower Australia (now TAL), Suncorp, Commonwealth Bank and Colonial First State.

Most recently, she ran a consulting and change management business.

Rimmer added Foster would assist in bringing together the specialist areas in which EQT's private wealth division operates, so that the company offered one advice model to clients and partners.