Client Profile: Bill & Valerie Maddocks

Bill has kindly written the article below on their family, working life, retirement and the relationship they have had with our company since 1974.

I can remember first meeting with GFM in their office on St Kilda Rd. If my memory serves me correctly this would have been in 1974 – how time flies! Our eldest daughter Justine, now also a client of GFM, was quite young. As an existing client of Legal and General holding a Life Insurance policy, it was highly recommended we contact GFM. I liked their attitude immediately. One of the first impressions I had was their considered thought processes.

Valerie and I have experienced a change in careers over the years and through this journey our relationship with GFM has grown. I am a trained Quantity Surveyor and saw active service in Vietnam. The move to Melbourne in 1974 was coupled with a career change away from construction to become involved in Sales and Marketing with Handy Angle, then Corinthian Industries. I later moved into Sales Management at our local branch level with Corinthian. My next role was as Victorian State Sales Manager with Melcann Holdings – a national wholesale bagged cement distributor. My last corporate employment was with Dorf Industries as National Product Marketing Manager.

Then in 1986, I started a grounds maintenance business – Softelm Pty Limited with a client base that over the ensuing 27 years, grew to include Ministry of Housing, Melbourne Water, VicRoads, and various Municipal Councils, including Knox, Dandenong, Monash, Casey and Cardinia. In 2013, when the business was sold, Softelm had 14 employees and long term contracts with several councils at foot.

During this time Valerie continued in her various roles as a mother and P.A. In 1975 we celebrated the birth of our second daughter Rachel. Valerie started her own home décor business – Home Ideas, located in Boronia. Within 2 years however, the opportunity to work in shopping centre management presented itself which was too good an opportunity to let go. With her business sold, Valerie studied and qualified as a Certified Shopping Centre Manager and went on to manage centres such as Geelong Market Square, Ringwood Square, The Block Arcade and The Sportsgirl Centre in Melbourne CBD. Valerie completed her working career as Director of Retail Management at Knight Frank overviewing several shopping centres in Victoria. She took early retirement in 2000 and along with me, became involved in the administration of our family business until we both retired.

In 1999, Paul Nicol joined GFM and we were also impressed with him from our first meeting. We started having conversations about wealth creation for retirement. Paul was very open with his advice and recommended we set up our own SMSF. There has never been an occasion where we have disagreed with his advice as he always has our best interests at heart. Paul’s advice has always exceeded our expectations and we do not set the bar low. We appreciate immensely his inclusive style.

Over the many years in dealing with the GFM team we have thoroughly appreciated their professionalism and client first approach. We also enjoy the social aspect of our relationship with GFM, attending golf days, movie nights and their seminars.