VIC/TAS winner: Katie Chessum

Having a passion for people and helping clients with their lifestyle is why Katie Chessum joined the financial services industry.

She has been a paraplanner for almost eight years, currently working at Quadrant Securities in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

“My current role during the past 24 months has seen me relocate from one of our main branches to help establish and build up a couple of one-man adviser offices in the local vicinity,” Chessum says.

“During this time I have been working three days with one adviser in one office and two days with another in another office of the group.”

She works closely with each adviser by preparing the documents they require to complete initial meetings with clients and discussing the potential strategies they could recommend for the clients. Chessum also prepares the statements of advice (SOAs) and works with the clients, adviser and fund managers to implement recommended advice.

“I then write regular review reports for existing clients, in addition to attending to client queries and other reports as requested,” she says.

“I love the analysis as well as the technical side of paraplanning and the attention to detail. Also I enjoy being committed to ensure compliance procedures are followed at every step.”

Chessum completed her Bachelor of Commence in 1997 and then completed the Securities Institute Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance & Investment. She has been an authorised representative since mid-2001.

But Chessum, unlike so many of her colleagues, wants to stay a paraplanner.

“I really believe there is a career in paraplanning,” she says. “Although I have completed my diploma, I am completely happy to continue working at the dealer group as a paraplanner.”

But with that degree of experience in financial planning, Chessum has undertaken other support roles for the dealer group.

“My role as a paraplanner throughout this time has seen me work with up to three advisers at the one time, which has provided me with excellent project managing skills, training and supervising new paraplanners as they have come on board,” she says.

“As senior paraplanner, I have also been involved as head of investment research for one of our dealer group offices and in organising ongoing professional development training of advisers in our group.”

But helping people does not stop at the end of the work day. Chessum takes an active role in the local church community through outreach projects.