Australian Franchise News – 05-12-12
Mortgage Choice Financial Planning is thrilled to announce its first financial planning franchises are now open for business.
After becoming operationally ready to provide advice in October, Mortgage Choice Financial Planning’s trailblazing franchisees, Brisbane-based Kayla White and Sydney’s Fairien Azeem have this month opened their doors to customers and are already writing business.
General Manager, Tania Milnes commented, “Our first financial advisers have really hit the ground running. On top of their existing customer pipeline and the strong lead flow from the mortgage broking side of the business, they are receiving a steady stream of risk insurance enquiries from Mortgage Choice’s acquired comparison website, HelpMeChoose.com.au. Word is travelling fast and consumers are embracing the brand’s evolution!”
Following 14 successful years as co-owner of a Mortgage Choice franchise, Fairien Azeem recognised the need to be able to look after her customers’ full financial future. After gaining her financial planning qualifications, she opened up a separate financial advice practice, working in alliance with her original business partner, her husband, who continues to run their mortgage broking franchise.
Fairien Azeem explained, “For me, investing in a Mortgage Choice Financial Planning franchise was a no brainer. After 14 years with Mortgage Choice as a franchise owner, I knew the support, training and technology, together with the compliance framework, would be industry best-class. Moreover, my customers trust the Mortgage Choice brand, so moving my financial planning business under the one brand made perfect sense.”
Financial adviser, Kayla White, was working closely with a Mortgage Choice franchise, looking after their risk insurance, superannuation and investment referrals when she was approached to become an equity partner. Having worked in the industry for ten years, Kayla was eager to open her own business and felt the Mortgage Choice Financial Planning proposition was the perfect fit.
Kayla White said, “It’s fantastic to be working in a franchise system alongside mortgage brokers – helping ensure our customers protect themselves as they increase their debt levels. It’s our duty of care.”
“I am also really excited about working with clients to provide the type of advice they need relative to the life stage they are at. I am passionate about making financial advice accessible to younger people and Mortgage Choice Financial Planning really get that.”
With a strong pipeline of demand from prospective franchisees, the business is on track to achieve its target of having 10 Mortgage Choice Financial Planning franchises open to test its systems, processes and proposition, in what is being called a soft launch, before the full roll-out planned for July 2013.
Tania Milnes commented, “Our adviser recruitment criteria is stringent and we are being very picky. We want new generation advisers who share our ideals and passion. People who embrace the post-FoFA world and inherently have their clients’ best interests at heart. Professional advisers with solid experience who appreciate the support we provide for both their business and their professional development.”
“Helping our franchisees build better businesses is what Mortgage Choice has done for 20 years – it’s our core strength. We can now transfer those learnings to Mortgage Choice Financial Planning – to give our new advisers every advantage possible.”
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