I landed in Financial Service by accident (or so I thought at the time) when I ran out of cash on a trip to the UK. After a very short stint managing peoples loans and mortgages, I realised I had a gift. I was able to identify people’s needs for protection and through educating them, I was able to show them a simple way to reduce some of the financial ‘fall out’ that results from the unpredictable world we live in.

After a double degree in business and management, several financial planning qualifications, multiple awards and many years of experience working for large institutions, I opened a business for Custodian where I stayed for 5 years. During this time I was awarded Adviser of the year two years in a row and changed the lives of many people along the way.

I believe this was because I understand that Insurance is not about the sale. It’s an education or a conversation around protecting what people care about in a way that compliments their priorities and budget. It is often a lack of understanding that prevents people from focusing on their priorities and making smart decisions. I don’t know anyone that would choose to gamble their families future well being if they genuinely understood the implications of what that means. Removing the financial risk or burden of life’s uncertainties can be controlled. Most people just don’t know how.

I know this for a fact.  Having lost 5 male family members within 3 years, I know how much emotional stress this caused our family and friends. My Father was one of these five and was taken from us suddenly at age 54 with cancer. What made our loss worse was the financial predicament and lack of choices that robbed our family of being able to grieve properly.

This personal experience and a decade in the industry drove me to starting my own business, EKS Financial Planning in 2012. I wanted to be the master of my own destiny and be in control of my life. Through my business I am able to share my gift and bring greater awareness to more people, giving them their ‘light bulb moment’. I do this though educating and explaining the ‘facts of life’s uncertainties’ and helping others understand the implications if they are thrown an unwanted curve ball.  It pains me to see people’s lack of understanding harming so many unsuspecting victims. I was one of them, so I get it.

Life is a gamble and no one is untouchable. I have since made it my mission to spare as many people from suffering the unnecessary stress and financial difficulty and that can occur. I realise you can’t put a dollar value on what insurance can save you in stress, worry and anxiety. With the benefit of hindsight, our family could have moved on with our lives much sooner if we didn’t have to deal with the financial frustration that we were left with. If only I knew then what I know now.

Most of my new business comes when a tragedy happens or when people get sick or suffer a loss. By then it’s too late. The ‘she’ll be right’ attitude adopted by much of society has meant we now have a greater dependency on the government to bail us out. And that is by no means a good result for anyone. The fact the Government needed to provide a national disability scheme is evidence of the gross underinsurance across the board. It doesn’t have to be this way.

For over 10 years I have been privileged to speak at events all over the country to help raise awareness of the lack of insurance that exists. After Black Saturday in 2009, I was devastated to find out that 80% of the victims had home insurance yet only 20% had life insurance.  Does this mean people value their house more than their life? Of course not. What it shows is how few people do anything about it.

Insurance is simply about removing unwanted surprises and creating some financial certainty if you ever need it. It’s shifting the financial burden you could end with to institutions who do this for a living. What’s that worth to you? Hearing the relief in a clients voice when they say “thank you for making our family less vulnerable”, shows the difference I am making in peoples lives.

There are so many affordable insurance options available today, however it can be overwhelming to know what is right for you. I am a ‘fine print’ junkie and specialise in understanding all the in’s and out’s, loop holes, confusing jargon and granular details when it comes to finding the right insurance solution for any situation.  I make sure anyone I work with gets the most out of their insurance dollar and that they are fully covered against the unexpected. And when it comes to managing a claim, I am the person you want on your team.

With my consultative approach to advice and ‘can-do’ attitude, people often refer to me as the ‘go-to’ person. They know I will do whatever it takes and I am with them for the long haul. I tell my clients to put my business card on your fridge and make me the second call after the ambulance. I can provide an immediate fix and reassurance at a time when you are going to need it most. This is when you will realise that insurance is not about the money, it’s about the peace of mind and options it provides you.

My attitude is life is too short and I have seen how quickly it can be taken away. I personally work so I can enjoy every minute I have. This has never been important than after the birth of my son. From the minute he was born, my philosophy that insurance is not about the money has never been clearer. There is no amount of money that is worth more than his future happiness and well being. For some, this peace of mind could cost the equivalent of 2 coffees a week and a conversation with me.

I’d rather know my hard earned savings are going towards holidays, family outings and life’s amazing experiences, rather than to cover the daily costs of surviving (or not) a misfortune that could have been outsourced to insurance.

I now realise how my gift has changed my life forever, along with the lives of those I am lucky enough to touch.

ed their needs and fulfilled their requests. It’s not as simple as trying to sell them a property, but finding them the perfect home for their family or investment for those who want to lease the property. The following year, I worked as a home-based Account Manager where I was responsible for the management of several Airbnb properties in Japan and relationships with the guests.

I am a chronic puzzle-seeker and a lifelong learner. I unpack complicated problems by approaching each with the flexible process and attention it deserves. Over the years, I have had the privilege to work with different industries and businesses. I continue to seek adventure and to acquire new knowledge and skills which led me to work alongside Emily at EKS Financial Planning. I had no background in finance, insurance or working with Self-Managed Super Funds. But being part of EKS is amazing and we always work as a team, learn new things, and solve problems together. Completing administrative tasks and supporting our clients in the best way possible is our goal.

Offline, I like to sketch, watch movies, read books and play video games. I live to cook and eat,  “serve” my cats (yes, with an ‘s’), feed the strays, and, occasionally, do some freelance fashion styling and event planning.

tion when difficult times would arise. Working at EKS has given me great satisfaction because I know I am helping our clients provide security and protection to the people they love the most. I know this journey will be a great learning experience and I will treasure every minute of it.

In my spare time I spend it mostly with my family. My wife and I are still learning each passing day the tricks of the trade of being a good parent. I always make it a point to have time for my wife and daughter and treasure the little things in life. If I have the time, I’d play basketball or take a short running routes to exercise.