Client Profile: Bryan & Maree Meehan

Bryan has kindly written the article below on his family, working life and the relationship he and Maree have had with our company as clients since 1976 and as employees since 1997 (Maree) and 2004 (Bryan). We greatly appreciate their contribution to this edition of Trade Secrets.

Maree and I have now been clients of GFM for over 40 years. Maree then joined GFM in 1997 as a receptionist/administrator and I joined GFM in 2004 as the Operations Manager.

Maree and I married in 1974 and we have three married daughters, Belinda (41), Rebecca (39) and Kelli (36) and nine grandchildren (six boys and three girls) from 6 to 15 years of age. Maree’s mother Marge has been living with us for the last 10 years and at age 95 she is doing extremely well.

When GFM commenced business in 1973 they were continually recommending that we take out an insurance policy and in September 1976 they succeeded. Little did we know at that time how involved we would become with GFM.

Prior to joining GFM in 1997, Maree had rejoined the workforce in 1992 on a part time basis in retail but at one of our appointments in late 1996 GFM was looking for a part time administrator/receptionist. Maree commenced employment initially 1 day per week but that quickly increased to 4 days per week over the last 19 years.

I commenced employment with Department of Defence (Defence Force Pay Accounting Centre – DEFPAC) in 1969 and worked for 35 years until late 2004 when I took early retirement from the Commonwealth Government. For the last 17 years of my public service career, I was involved in the HR area of DEFPAC and I specialized in superannuation, recruitment and budgeting. Over that 17 year period I provided advice to a large number of Commonwealth retirees in relation to the benefits of the super schemes they were members of (CSS or PSS schemes).

As clients of the business, and with Maree already working at GFM, I had a very good relationship with staff and in late 2004 when I informed GFM of my impending retirement from the Department of Defence, an opportunity presented itself to join they company and look after the compliance requirements associated with GFM gaining its own Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL).

While Maree was quite apprehensive about the 24/7 involvement with me, you would be pleased to know we are still happily married but I am very good at doing what I am told! Maree and I are incredibly fortunate to be given the opportunity to work at GFM.

Having received financial advice for a long period of time (and understanding how important that advice has been for Maree and I), I have always encouraged family members and friends to seek financial advice. You can never start too early!!

A long term clients and employees of GFM, Maree and I are most grateful to have received expert financial advice, to work with wonderful staff and assist all of the clients with their day to day financial needs.