Findex, the largest privately owned financial services group in Australia and New Zealand has announced a major restructure to its operating model and an associated rebranding to signal this change.

The new branding initiative heralds the group’s formal adoption of a comprehensive service model that will see all businesses in the group offering a wide ranges of financial services including wealth advice, accounting and tax, and a range of related services, regardless of the traditional speciality of that individual business.

Businesses in the group that will now offer what Findex is terming a Family Office, or one-stop financial services shop, include Crowe Horwath accountants in Australia and New Zealand, Centric Wealth, Financial Index Wealth Accountants, Prescott Securities, CIVIC Financial Planning and the MOVO online investment advice portal.

The new branding formally introduces an ‘endorsed branding’ model for the group, which has made more than 45 acquisitions in the financial services sector since 2000.

“In essence, the Family Office model is a holistic advisory vehicle for financial services,” said Spiro Paule, Findex Chief Executive Officer.

“Traditionally a preserve of the wealthy, a Family Office service involves the availability of an extensive suite of financial advice and services from a single, trusted source.

“We believe all of our clients, individuals and corporates, regardless of their size, structure or means, should have access to the advantages of a Family Office – that is, having their financial servicing needs met from a single point of contact in their trusted financial adviser.

“The fact is, a rapidly globalising market means that fulfilling the expanding needs and expectations of clients naturally requires extended resources delivered under increasingly complex business conditions. As such, clients are seeking more and more specialised services under one roof.

“This innovative move will allow us the ability to offer our clients not only wealth protection advice and wealth building advice, but also services relating to risk, lending, accounting, tax, specialists SMSF solutions, estate planning, succession and even philanthropy.

“The client advantages include the peace of mind in accessing services from a familiar and trusted source, more competitive fees and prices through economies of scale and the convenience of having the option of accessing a range of services in one place,” Mr Paule said.

The primary element of the new branding is the launch of a new group name and identity; ‘Findex’.

Findex is an evolution of the Financial Index brand; an evolution of the business’ past. It has been carefully crafted to pay respect to the company’s heritage, but also represent who the group is today and its vision for the future.

The aspiration behind Spiro and Terry Paules’ launch of their fist businesses 28 years ago was to provide an ‘index, or ‘comprehensive list’ of financial services. The acquisition of Crowe Horwath has enabled the realisation of the vision on a wide scale.

An integral element of the Findex rebranding is the adoption of endorsed branding model to create a common thread between the business’ brands, its service offerings, and above all, its people.

This will see all brands in the group sporting the notation “Part of Findex” alongside their existing or refined logos.

“Throughout our journey of growth we have adopted a multi-brand strategy and this branding exercise involves unifying and clarifying the Findex family membership.

“The endorsed strategy will cover all major brands in the group including Crowe Horwath Australasia, Centric Wealth, Financial Index Wealth Accountants, Prescott Securities, CIVIC Financial Planning and MOVO – Online Financial Advice.

“The essence of the Findex brand is an organisation-wide commitment to revolutionising financial services and empowering the ambition of our clients,” Mr Paule said.

Source: Findex

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