2024 Speakers

Michael Pillemer has spent 35 years in the financial services industry. In 2002, Michael co-founded and was CEO of Centric Wealth which he built into one of Australia’s largest privately-owned wealth advisory businesses with $5 billion under advice and over $1 million in investible assets per client. He is currently co-founding CEO of PPS Mutual, a mutual provider of insurance products to professionals such as accountants, doctors, and lawyers. The business is based on the 83-year-old South African mutual, called PPS. PPS Mutual is owned by its Members who are the lives insured under the PPS Mutual policies. Each year, PPS Mutual Members are assigned a share of the annual profit generated by the PPS Mutual products. The company’s products are distributed exclusively through IFA’s. Both of the companies Michael co-founded were set up to compete with the incumbent institutions by providing a better alignment of interests between the company and its customers.

Marc Fabris is a digital consultant and founder of the recently launched Risk Hub, a resource dedicated to supporting the growth of risk advice.

Beginning his career in financial advice, Marc has held various corporate roles in product, distribution, and digital innovation, with experience both in Australia and overseas. Alongside Risk Hub, he provides consulting services within the financial sector, focusing on digital solutions that balance immediate benefits with long-term success.

Risk Hub offers tools, content, and support for risk advice and has a number of AI-driven initiatives underway.

With a background in crafting fulfillment applications, building portals, mobile apps, and learning platforms, Marc is dedicated to supporting Financial Planning and Insurance Practices. He believes in collaboration with industry experts to drive change and innovation.

Known for his energetic approach and commitment to making a real impact, Marc is eager to collaborate, innovate, and reinvigorate the industry.

• Bachelor of Commerce, La Trobe University, 2004
• Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment, KAPLAN, 2005-2010

Cable Rickard, General Manager Wrap Product Solutions and Product Integration, is responsible for the strategy, development and management of Insignia Financial’s wrap platform products including superannuation, retirement, investment, along with managed accounts. Cable is also responsible for Insignia Financial’s platform and product integration strategy and execution.

With over 19 years in financial services experience gained both in the UK and Australia, Cable has gained extensive experience in a variety of roles at several large financial institutions, including Aviva Australia, UBS London, MLC and IOOF.

Corey Wastle is the CEO of Verse Wealth, a multi-award-winning firm providing advice across Australia. Verse has a highly personalised and technology-enabled client experience based on the client’s values, intentions and financial well-being, and were early adopters of video SOA’s having integrated them into the firm in late 2022 with great success.   

Emma brings significant experience gained across executive management, human resources and change management, and relationship management. Emma joins Foresters from Rural Aid where she was Director of Philanthropy and Development. Prior to this she was Executive General Manager at Australian Unity Trustees, where she was responsible for establishing and launching its trustee company, to assist Australian families protect their assets, across multiple generations.

Emma commenced her financial services career at ANZ Wealth before moving to ANZ Trustees where she led the client management function. She helped lead the merger between ANZ Trustees and Equity Trustees, and subsequently joined Equity Trustees as General Manager of Estates and Trusts. Emma is passionate about ensuring clients’ assets are protected and their final wishes honoured into the future.

Emma is currently in the final stages of completion of a Master of Social Impact.

As Chief Executive of Lifespan Financial Planning, Eugene is passionate about ensuring that Lifespan continues to make it simple for advisers to provide quality advice to their clients. He is also a member of the Lifespan Investment Committee and believes strongly in the benefits and efficiencies that managed accounts can provide.
Eugene has worked in a variety of roles within Lifespan, ranging from Business Analyst, adviser, Compliance Manager, and General Manager. Understanding the importance of appreciating the adviser-client experience, Eugene is also a licensed financial adviser, advising clients in conjunction with his CEO role. Taking the helm back in 2015, Eugene is renowned for being approachable and closely connected to his adviser community, as well as his Lifespan team. With a love of all things data and numbers, Eugene graduated with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Mathematics from The University of Sydney

Adele Martin does financial advice differently. She is the founder of My Money Buddy and the Savings Squad Podcast.

She is passionate about helping more people get advice and so is now supporting other financial advisers to grow modern businesses so they have more time and money.

Check out her “Financial Adviser Scale Blueprint” inside My Advisers Buddies (Adele’s free Facebook group for financial advisers who are growing and scaling their business).

Hans became a financial planner in 1998, starting his own practice in 2001. He built the practice into a successful business based in North Sydney, in May 2015 Hans sold the business to focus on the AstuteWheel business but has maintained his Financial Planner license and CFP status.

Whilst a financial planner Hans recognised a gap in the tools available to him to effectively engage with his clients in the initial stages of their relationship and during reviews. Hans, in conjunction with business partner and financial services marketing executive, Michael Topper and Financial Planner Andrew Wardle, developed the ground-breaking online client engagement platform, The Astute Wheel and more recently Astute Estate.

Hans holds a Bachelor of Business (Marketing), the Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance, the Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning and Certificate IV in Mortgage Lending. He is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and is a current member of the FAAA

Hans is currently a Doctoral Candidate completing a Research Project in the Doctorate of Professional Studies with Central Queensland University. The title of his thesis project is:
An exploration of Australian financial planners’ client onboarding process and ongoing client relationship management and the role of technology in these processes

As a seasoned financial services professional with 30 years’ experience, Tim has a broad and passionate understanding of the advice process and what it takes to deliver successful outcomes for clients.

Tim has worked in both independent advisory firms and institutional financial services companies such as Wealth by Design, 360 Private, and BT. This experience gives him a deep understanding of the advice process and the workflows required to have successful client outcomes.

Seeing financial advisers and their clients have high quality and engaging experiences is what Tim is passionate about.

Matt Esler is Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Padua Solutions. Matt has been pioneering financial technology in Australia for the past two decades, having formerly co-founded Midwinter. Under Matt’s leadership Padua aspires to be the global leader in data-driven, tech-enabled & value-creating financial advice generation.

Sarah Abood is Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Advice Association of Australia (FAAA). The FAAA was formed in April 2023 from the merger of the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) and the Financial Planning Association (FPA), and is Australia’s leading professional association for financial planners and advisers.

Sarah has over 25 years’ experience working in the financial services sector and she is a passionate advocate for financial planning. She has a deep understanding of the profession, and the demands of running an advice practice, gained from her nine years as CEO of a privately-owned and self-licensed financial planning firm.

Prior to commencing as FAAA CEO, Ms Abood held the position of chief operating officer at the for-purpose fund manager HOPE Housing. She has also worked in senior leadership, change and transformation, and marketing roles for some of Australia’s leading financial institutions including Fidelity International, CFS, BT, Westpac, Rothschild and AMP. Sarah holds a BA from the University of Sydney, an MBA from Macquarie University (MGSM) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

Amie Baker is an esteemed financial adviser and renowned Money Mindset Coach, recognised for her outstanding contributions to the field of finance and empowering individuals to take control of their financial futures. With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, Amie's journey is marked by resilience, determination, and a relentless passion for helping others achieve financial freedom.

Simon joined Aware Super in September 2023 as Head of Portfolio Management, encompassing Infrastructure, Property, Private Equity and Public Equities. Simon has over 26 years of experience working in London, Singapore and Sydney in banking and investment management. He has worked for JP Morgan, AMP Capital and Macquarie including as Global Head of Public Markets at AMP Capital where he was responsible for the Fixed Income, Equities and Multi-Asset businesses across investment teams, operations, support functions, distribution, and governance. Simon holds a BSc and MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics, an EMBA from NYU, HSE Paris and the LSE and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Background

Steve Prendeville

I am the company founder and director of Forte Asset Solutions Pty Ltd (Forte). Forte’s core activity is selling financial services businesses.  
 
I have enjoyed a successful 30 plus year career in financial services.  I began my career in New Zealand, then England working first in banking and then in stock broking.  In 1987, I became Australia’s youngest certified investment planner (ACIP).  My roles included client advice and subsequently senior management. 
 
I established the dealer group National Mutual Financial Planning in Victoria in 1991. 
 
I joined First State Funds Management in 1993 and presided over Victoria’s growth from $40 million pa inward flow of funds to more than $1 billion pa in 1999.  
 
I then accepted a global partnership in Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, where I held the position Partner, Director and CEO of Deloitte Financial Services (DFS), a national High Net Worth dealer group.  After re-engineering the business, I completed the successful sale of DFS in 2001.
 
After a 12- month sabbatical I came back to the industry and created Australia’s first specialist financial services M & A group Kenyon Prendeville. I co-founded Kenyon Prendeville in 2003.  Kenyon Prendeville was the first M&A business specialising in financial services and it went on to be the predominant broker until 2011.  I split the partnership in May 2011 to create Forte Asset Solutions Pty Ltd. 
 
Over the last 20 years’ experience, to the best of my knowledge, I have facilitated more than 200 Financial Planning business sales in Australia.  
 
Forte has a database of 6,300 contacts of buyers/seller and Centre’s Of Influence. On a mass mail- out the amount of emails opened ranges from 800-1500, and the number of actions taken from the mailout is approximately 30%. 
 
Forte has 6,000 plus subscribers to our Market Commentary. 
 
I have 2,500 plus Linkedin contacts. The last posted video market update achieved 3,700 views.  
 
Forte website attracts on average 1,800 views per month all primarily seeking businesses for sale.  
 
I am an active media commentator and public speaker on all issues affecting financial services businesses, especially financial planning businesses and Dealer groups. 
 
I have been published in the industries leading publications IFA Australian Financial Review, Professional Planner, Money Management and others.
 
In the last few years I have been a speaker at the following conferences – AIOFP international conference in Shanghai 2015, AIOFP 2017 Tokyo, AIOFP 2018, New York and Washington and speaker at the AIOFP National Conferences since 2004 (speaker at the national conference for the last 19 years), Independent Financial Advisers Strategy Day 2014/15/17/19/20, AMP Distribution team 2019, IFA Masterfund Conference 2015/2016/2017, Boutique Association Conference 2105/2016/2018, FPA National Congress 2016/2018, AFA National Conference 2017 and many others. 

In 2019 I did a white paper commissioned and distributed by HUB24 entitled “Redesigning a practice, a case study “on the ways a MDA can improve business efficiency and profitability.  I also participated in a Webinar for TAL August 2019.
 
I believe I spoke in front of approximately 2,500 advisers in 2019 and similar or greater numbers in 2020 and 2021. 
 
For 2020 I presented at the IFA Strategy day (700 to 800 advisers in total in Brisbane, Sydney, Melb, Perth). Also Futuro national conference before COVID 19 travel limitations.

In May 2020 released a paper titled “Valuations in the middle of a Pandemic” which was sent to our 6,000 subscribers and has received 3,700 Linkedin views and was referenced in IFA daily. 

Digitally in 2020 I did as Forte Market Commentary “Valuations in the middle of a Pandemic”
the AIOFP annual conference, Netwealth webinar, My Prosperity webinar, Hub 24 webinar, Shartru Adviser Update and IFA Client Experience Workshop.

In April 2021 I was the opening speaker at the AIOFP Tasmanian national conference and also their December Hunter Valley conference.

In 2021 I conducted webinars for AMP Authorised Representatives Association ‘How to select the best Dealer group for your practice’. I conducted a webinar with Praemium entitled “Navigating your way to a strong business valuation”.
Market overview for Challenger Executive Management team. Spoke at the Hub24 and Myprosperity adviser function and was keynote speaker for the Profession of Independent Financial Advisers Symposium on “M&A trends and selling for top dollar”.

In 2022 I have presented for the Challenger Retail Distribution team, at the Affinia conference on Hamilton Island, Lifespan, AIOFP Darwin conference, Sentry Summit conference in the Barossa, IFA Future Forum in Sydney, IFA podcast and Dimensional Conference in Melbourne. I was also a guest on the IFA podcast to discuss the imperative Mental Health Survey released in collaboration with Philippa Hunt as well as an IFA podcast to discuss the bright outlook of 2023 in the Financial Services industry.

In 2023 I have conducted a webinar for TAL Risk Academy, video presentation for AIOFP Bangkok conference, spoken at Integrated Portfolios conference and participated in podcasts for Stewart Bell and Scott Fitzpatrick

I have been a judge for the IFA Excellence Awards every year since 2014 to present in multiple categories – 
  
1.       Risk Adviser of the Year  
2.       Best New Licensee  
3.       Boutique Group of the Year  
4.       Dealer Group of the Year  
5.    Rookie of the Year 
6.    Boutique of the Year 
 
I have also been a judge for the 2015 to 2023 Australian Accounting Awards in the categories of- 
Firm less than $1bn of the Year 
Boutique Firm less than $10M of the Year 
Diversified Firm of the Year 
Partner less than $1bn of the Year 
2020 Categories are-  
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Year 
Corporate Accountant of the Year 
Partner of the Year (Boutique Firm of the Year) 
Rising Star of the Year 
  
In 2022 I was also the judge for Women in Finance in the following categories –
Chief Executive Officer of the year.
Innovator of the year.
Small business adviser of the year.

I am a member of the International Association of Consultants, Valuators and Analysts. 
 
I am recognized by the Financial Services Industry as an expert. I have run, managed, and sold national dealer groups, financial planning and multi-disciplined businesses in Australia and thus my work is not just theoretical but overlaid with actual business sales or valuations that I have personally facilitated. 

Sue Viskovic is a proud mother of four; the founder of national consulting business Elixir Consulting; a popular speaker; a business coach; and an author of a number of books, research reports and programs designed for advisers.

An award-winning advocate for financial advice and small businesses, Sue and her team specialise in helping advisers to improve their businesses with a firm focus on delivering better outcomes for their clients.

As an independent Consultant to the financial advice sector, Sue is highly sought-after for her depth of knowledge, her strategic thinking, and her ability to inspire others with her passion for improving the profession of advice.