Client Profile: Clive & Jackie Brooks
As most of our clients are aware, this is a momentous year for GFM, having reached 50 years of operation. We are particularly proud of having reached this milestone, and we have spent time in the last couple of Trade Screts Newsletters reflecting on our past. Perhaps one of our proudest achievements is that the first client of GFM in 1973 was Clive Brooks, and incredibly, Clive still remains a client of GFM today! Clive has kindly written the article below on his family, working life and his relationship with GFM Wealth Advisory since 1973. We are incredibly grateful for Clive’s loyalty and support over the last 50 years, and we have thoroughly enjoyed all our interactions with Clive, Jackie and his family over the journey.
I have been a client of GFM for 50 years, and my wife Jackie has been a client since we married 41 years ago. I believe we are among the longest–standing clients of GFM!
Both Jackie and I are now retired. I have to say at the outset that the financial security we have for retirement is in no small part due to the advice and assistance we have received from GFM over a long time.
Before retiring, I spent 50 years working for both the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments. At the same time, Jackie was a primary school and kindergarten teacher. We have two sons, Chris (39) and Adam (35). Both are married, and we are the proud grandparents of three granddaughters ranging in age from one to seven.
We are being kept busy in our retirement, looking after our granddaughters two days a week, getting them off to school and kinder and entertaining the one–year–old. We also do two days per week of voluntary work, and Jackie works at the Kyneton Foodbank and the Good Grub Club in Daylesford.
I spend two days doing track maintenance with the Victorian Goldfields Railway with some fellow retirees. I have also been a CFA volunteer for about 30 years.
I first became a client of GFM when Tony took me out to lunch, if I remember correctly, so I didn’t need much convincing! I took out a life assurance policy, the main savings product in those days (note: life assurance is entirely different from life insurance). In 1987 when I moved from the Commonwealth to the Victorian Government, I had a superannuation rollover. As I was unsure what to do, I contacted Tony as he had provided helpful advice. I remember that not long after I rolled my super into several equity-based funds, the share market crash of 1987 reduced the paper value of my investments considerably. But the market recovered, just as it did after the Global Financial Crisis.
Since 1987, my Superannuation has evolved from having Superannuation in retail funds, then a master fund and now an SMSF. Paul has assisted with our financial affairs for over 20 years.
I have always been impressed by GFM’s client–first attitude.I have had dealings over time with some of the larger financial institutions, and you get the feeling that you are just one of many clients. There is no personal relationship with a large financial institution, and they certainly do not take the time to understand your needs.
Jackie and I thoroughly value the personal treatment of GFM and the active involvement in our financial affairs. I enjoy the regular catch–ups with Paul to review and fine-tune our investments and financial situation. I also appreciate the provision of information through weekly emails and other publications. The GFM team are all very friendly, making you feel they are there working for you.
You read so many horror stories about people who have lost their life savings through dodgy financial advice. The main lesson from GFM is that a diversified investment portfolio with a disciplined, long–term focus, avoiding any ‘get rich quick’ schemes, is the best approach to financial security. I have no doubt we would not be in the financial situation that we are in today if not for the advice of the GFM team.
When friends and family members have mentioned that they need some advice in dealing with their finances, I have no hesitation in recommending GFM based on our experiences. The feedback I have received from people we have referred is always positive.
I congratulate GFM for reaching the 50–year milestone, and we hope our relationship continues for many years ahead.