18% of Australia’s Top Financial Advisers work for Shadforth

Shadforth Financial Group has been again confirmed as one of the leading financial advice groups in Australia with Wade Ritchie named as the top ranked adviser in the AFR Smart Investor magazine’s annual Master Class.

Mr Ritchie, an integral member of the Shadforth team in Melbourne, is one of nine Shadforth advisers named in the Master Class Top 50.

Launceston based Nic d’Emden and Brisbane based Daniel White were ranked in the Top 10. In addition, Chris Elliott and Matthew McConnell from Tasmania, Sally Huynh and Cameron Wenck from Brisbane, Darren Higgs from Sydney and Patrick Carden from Perth were named in the Top 50.

Shadforth advisers have consistently achieved top rankings in nationwide assessments. The success in the Master Class follows the recent announcement that another Shadforth adviser, Charles Badenach from Hobart, was named Money Management’s Financial Planner of the year 2011.

The Head of Shadforth Financial Group, Nick Bedding said today that the performance of the advisers was outstanding, and reflected Shadforth’s dedication to building a team of advisers that excelled in the profession resulting in great outcomes for clients.

“This is excellent news after what has been an exciting and busy 12 months for the Shadforth Group,” Mr Bedding said.

“The year was highlighted by the merger with Snowball Group Limited, now SFG Australia Limited, and the performance of our advisers is really at the heart of the merger, that is: we offer clients a point of differentiation from advisory groups that are owned or controlled by banks, fund managers, life insurance companies or product providers.

We employ some of the most qualified and experienced advisers who put clients first and focus on providing truly high quality financial advice and service. The performance also demonstrates Shadforth’s breadth of advisers across a genuinely national firm.”

AFR Smart Investor has run the Master Class since 1998 to help its readers identify financial consultants who they could trust with their financial affairs. Participants sit an online exam set by some of Australia’s leading consultants.

The survey aims to assess the technical knowledge and expertise of advisers and the effectiveness with which that the adviser applies it to client situations and requirements, in such areas as financial structures, tax, superannuation (including self managed super funds) asset allocation, social security and investment strategies. Market environment and macro economic factors are also considered.

Shadforth advisers also performed well in a recent client survey performed by an independent body across approximately 1,000 Shadforth clients. The results confirmed that more than 90 per cent of clients were satisfied or extremely satisfied with the professionalism, overall manner, knowledge and client understanding of the Firm’s advisers.

Mr Bedding said that, given all the debate about the professionalism of financial planners and advisers and the recent history of financial markets, the results were very encouraging.
 
“The survey results clearly showed Shadforth’s clients were very positive about their advisers and the advice they were receiving, and most notably the integrity, honesty, knowledge and expertise of their adviser. Shadforth has always been dedicated to ensuring we employ the very best advisers and these results again demonstrate that we have been successful in growing a national firm of the highest quality.”