The paper, Building a national advice firm: Critical factors for growth and expansion, draws on almost four decades of the firm’s history, beginning as a Brisbane boutique and evolving into a national network with offices in major cities and regional centres. The document outlines four attributes that the firm believes underpin successful national businesses and sets out practical considerations for advisers looking to grow while maintaining consistency of service and culture.
Andrew Fairweather, chief executive of Fitzpatricks Financial Group and co-author of the guide, said larger advice businesses have an important role to play in supporting the sector’s long-term sustainability.
“Small businesses are the engine room of the Australian economy and dominate the advice landscape, but there’s room for businesses of all different sizes and the entire financial services eco-system needs to support and encourage ambitious advisers to significantly grow their businesses if we hope to close the advice gap,” he said.
The guide argues that national firms can help advisers operate more efficiently, create unified expectations for staff, and offer clients consistent service standards. It also explores how alignment in values, processes and decision-making can underpin the cohesion needed for firms operating across multiple locations.
Fairweather said the publication was intended to share lessons accumulated through the firm’s expansion journey.
“We have put together this guide to share some of the strategies and initiatives that have helped Fitzpatricks Advice Partners become a purpose-driven national firm that is partnering with advisers to drive strong client and business outcomes,” he said.
Co-author Debbie Jensen, head of marketing and client value proposition at Fitzpatricks Advice Partners, said the guide arrives at a time when many advice businesses are reassessing their growth ambitions.
“We’re seeing a trend of advice businesses getting bigger through a combination of M&A and organic activity, and with this growth comes additional opportunities and considerations,” she said.
Jensen said the guide distils the firm’s longstanding experience into a resource for advisers weighing their next steps.
“This guide distils almost four decades of learning and experience into a short paper to inspire advisers and business owners to develop a national firm strategy and ensure the right foundations are in place to see them flourish and achieve their long-term goals,” she said.
Fitzpatricks said the paper is intended as a starting point for advisers considering how to scale responsibly while maintaining cultural cohesion and client-focused standards, with the firm positioning national model development as one of several pathways available to help strengthen the future of the advice profession.
