Alman Partners, Enlightened Financial Solutions finalist in FPA Awards

Two Mackay financial firms are in the top three contenders for a prestigious national prize. Find out why they’re at the top of the adviser crop.

Mackay financial planners are proving they are among the best in Australia by taking out two of the top three spots for professional practice of the year.

CBD-based Alman Partners True Wealth along with Enlightened Financial Solutions are finalists in the category for the Financial Planning Association of Australia 2021 Awards.

Alman Partners director Steve Lowry said it was thrilling two Mackay firms were judged to be in the “most elite”.

“It’s a nod from our professional body that what our team is delivering to our clients is at the highest level of professionalism, ethics and advice,” Mr Lowry said.

He said the financial advice industry had matured from a sales-like culture to one where clients had “complete trust” their adviser would put their interests first and align with their values.

Alman Partners True Wealth team members (from left): new partner and business improvement executive Matthew Falzon, financial Adviser Veronika Holubova, and existing partner and senior financial Adviser Stephen Lowry. Picture: Heidi Petith

Recently expanding with a second office in Brisbane, Mr Lowry said it was the satisfaction from changing clients’ lives that got them out of bed every morning.

Enlightened Financial Solutions founder and CEO James Wortley said they were proud to be a contender with their firm shaking up tradition.

Enlightened Financial Solutions Mackay CEO/Founder James Wortley Picture: Jim Cullen Photography

EFS is one of 11 firms behind the Lumiant software with an app currently in development that will allow clients to visually track their financial goals and engage with their adviser.

Mr Wortley, who featured in Barron’s top 100 financial advisers in Australia list, said the firm had also moved to a fee-for-service model rather than commission-based and were using videos to simplify financial advice.

Enlightened Financial Solutions Mackay team of financial advisers (from left): certified financial planner Mike McLeod, financial planner Brendan Hughes, owner/financial planner Scott Jamieson, certified financial planner Mike Thackray, CEO/founder James Wortley and risk Adviser Simone Anderson. Picture: Jim Cullen Photography

“We really are the prominent business that’s innovating to make sure we provide clients with advice that's concise and simple to understand,” he said.

Mr Wortley said EFS was working with ASIC and FPA to help other firms make the transition, with a key aim to professionalise the industry.

The FPA Award winners will be announced on November 17 with Mr Lowry hoping they can secure the win after being named a finalist in the same category in 2020.

EFS was also a 2020 finalist but in the Advice Innovation Award category.