Hostplus to boost planner numbers
By Christine St Anne
Wednesday 14 July 2010
Industry superannuation fund Hostplus has plans to hire more financial planners as it continues to expand nationally.
The superannuation fund for the hospitality, tourism, recreation and sport industries recently established offices in Parramatta and Darwin, and on the Gold Coast.
"We are looking to add more financial planners. We have hired two planners for the Gold Coast office and have plans to hire more planners in Brisbane," Hostplus chief executive David Elia said.
Hostplus uses financial planners from Industry Funds Financial Planning. Each planner, however, is located in the fund's respective offices.
The fund currently employs about a dozen financial advisers.
Elia said research undertaken by the fund found its members wanted face-to-face superannuation services.
He said the fund would continue to focus on member education, boosting its online education services.
As a result of the research, the fund now offers shopfront communication, a call centre and an online service.
"We will be enhancing our website, adding more education tools and generally giving it a new look," Elia said.
Hostplus would also capitalise on opportunities under the Cooper review's MySuper proposal, he said.
"The MySuper legislation has a big focus on education. We already provide simple, low-cost education to members. This makes us well positioned to meet Cooper's reforms," he said.
The fund would continue to expand its "national footprint" as it prepares to hire account managers, he said.
"We are eager to grow nationally. We will be looking at hiring more account managers as our national offices grow," he said.
| 
