Guardian outlines plans for future

Dealer group to review value proposition

By Julie May
Tue 20 Jul 2010

Guardian Financial Planning is preparing for growth as well as a new executive manager later in the year.

Suncorp-owned dealer group Guardian Financial Planning (Guardian) would like to have five more member firms on board in the next 12 months, the group has announced.

Asteron executive general manager Jordan Hawke, who now oversees the Guardian dealer group following recent changes to the Suncorp executive team, said while he wanted to grow the national dealer group, there was no intention of making it "huge".

"We don't want to double the number of firms under Guardian, but rather bring on board say five successful practices over the next 12 months that are most likely self-licensed and looking for the support of an institutionally-owned group," Hawke told InvestorDaily.

"We want to identify practices that are bringing in approximately $1 million or more in revenue and that are perhaps experiencing increased compliance costs and lower returns, and that want to partner with a group that wants to help them grow."

Hawke said Guardian would also be looking to replace executive general manager Steve Browning, who would exit on good terms with the group this November.

"We are also currently reviewing Guardian's value proposition, trying to elevate the Guardian brand and assist existing practices in their individual growth plans as well," he said.

Hawke added that while growing the Guardian dealer group could ultimately help Asteron to also grow as an insurance brand, he had reiterated in all his meetings with Guardian advisers he had met so far that Asteron would not be forced on to them.

Guardian currently has approximately 160 advisers within its network.

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