Mercer shuffles Wealth Solutions team
Mercer Wealth Solutions has consolidated its position within the broader group with the appointment of a full-time head and a new chief financial adviser.
The group has signed-up former Bridgeport financial planning manager Bronwyn Speed to the newly created head planner role, while Mercer executive David Anderson has been promoted to national practice manager to take over the day to day running of Wealth Solutions from executive director investment advice, Tony Cole.
Cole will now straddle bothMercer Investment Consultingand Wealth Solutions with their respective heads Chris Andrews and Anderson reporting to him.
Anderson, who has been a senior executive at Mercer for five and a half years, will be responsible for the complete spectrum of Mercer services to individuals - spanning financial advice, its service centre and web services, along with wealth education and product development.
“Mercer Wealth Solutions is now well positioned to combine its services for the benefit of many clients be they members of Mercer administered super funds, investors in Mercer trusts or the many thousands of individuals who rely on our strategic financial planning advice,” Anderson says.
Meanwhile Cole says the appointment of Speed, who prior to March 11 represented the Institute of Chartered Accountants on a selective Government committee on Financial Services Reform, represents the group’s strong commitment to raising its financial advice standards.
Speed’s chief role will be to provide mentoring and support to Mercer planners and assist in the development of products and client services.
Prior to Bridgeport, where Speed was responsible for two financial planning businesses with combined funds under advice of $1.6 billion, she was AM Corporation accountant and researcher services national manager for two years.
Recommended for you
ASIC has released the results of its first adviser exam to be held in 2025, with 241 candidates attempting the test.
Quarterly Wealth Data analysis has uncovered positive improvements in financial adviser numbers compared with losses in the prior corresponding period.
Holding portfolios that are too complex or personalised can be a detractor for acquirers of financial advice firms as they require too much effort to maintain post-acquisition.
As the financial advice profession continues to wait on further DBFO legislation, industry commentators have encouraged advisers to act now in driving practice efficiency.