Colin & Anne Brush
Colin has kindly written the article below on their family, working life, travels, and their experiences with GFM Wealth Advisory since 2011. We much appreciate Colin’s contribution to Trade Secrets.
Anne and I were introduced to GFM in November 2011 after a chat with a neighbour who was a GFM client. We were just starting to make some progress into securing our financial position but lacked the structure needed to consolidate and enhance our financial security towards retirement. After an obligation free first meeting discussing our financial position, we have not looked back!
I have been working in the office for a family company Burton Industries, which has been operating in the Cool Room Building industry for 42 years! Anne has been employed as a sales assistant with Coles for the past 19 years. Before Coles, Anne was employed by “The Clothing Company” for 25–odd years in between having our three children. We have been married for 42 years and have two sons and a daughter, as well as a daughter–in–law and two grandchildren. We are blessed to have them as part of our life.
Travel and exploring new leisure–time activities are foremost in our mind, as well as ensuring that we have the freedom of choice that a secure financial position will give us. The current situation caused by COVID–19 has put our travel plans on hold for the time being.
Our significant trips have been a 28–day tour of the western part of Canada, including a cruise to Alaska, and a 21–day trip along the Rhine (which became a magical mystery tour when the rivers dried up because of the drought in Europe the previous winter). In 2000, Anne also travelled throughout England and Europe, as well as returning to visit her extended family in her hometown of Belvedere, in Sicily, after 36 years in Australia. A cruise to the South Pacific islands was another one of our travel highlights.
Family is an integral part of our life, and we always try to catch up with everyone as often as possible. Apart from family, I am very involved with the Norwood Sporting Club, comprising football (AFL), cricket, netball, golf, and angling clubs and enjoy watching Collingwood with my sons whenever possible. Anne keeps her mind active with lots of trivia quizzes and her social skills alive with a weekly bingo game. Sadly, her love of tennis has been overshadowed by her injured knees.
We are both approaching retirement age and now understand the value of high–quality financial advice.
From the outset, we were very impressed with the professional but friendly and courteous, approach and attitude of all the staff at GFM and we felt a great sense of relief when Paul Nicol constructed a financial plan with a focus on retirement which gave us a clear pathway to financial security in retirement. We have always felt assured that Paul and GFM have our financial health as their priority.
The GFM seminars, lunches, the Movie Night and Client Dinners conveys the sense of how much the GFM staff enjoys their work at GFM and their client-first approach business model.
To date, our expectations have been matched and exceeded, and we have felt educated by GFM in our dealings and the obligations required to meet our financial goals. They are continually working with us and reviewing our portfolio and our goals, offering tips and advice along the way. Both Anne and I have commented to each other, more than once, how we leave our Review Meetings feeling buoyed and confident that we have done ourselves a huge favour by becoming a client of GFM.
This is one of the main reasons that we have had no hesitation in recommending GFM to several friends and family. We have been confident that they will be treated in the same manner that we have experienced.
We have both played tennis regularly for many years at a private court in East Malvern until the property was sold.
In 1996 we bought the small property in Fern Hill and the family planted 8000 Pinot Noir grapes on 5 acres – something I can’t recommend! I became involved with the local wine region and joined the local committee. We spend considerable time at the property in our retirement.
Over 30 plus years we had been extremely happy with the accounting advice of P Gruchy and Associates, and have been equally impressed by the financial advice the GFM team has provided since 2015.
Our broad perception of GFM Wealth Advisory is of a well-run, knowledgeable and ethical business, who to date have been very helpful in furthering our financial position. In our experience, GFM Wealth and GFM Gruchy Accounting have seamlessly integrated, and we have found all staff across the organisation an absolute pleasure to deal with.
Glenys and I value stability in our relationships. To date, this has been a feature of our relationship with GFM Gruchy Accounting and long may it continue with the combined GFM Wealth and Gruchy business.
Most importantly, Glenys and I have no hesitation in recommending GFM to friends and relatives who would benefit from good, ethical, high-quality accounting and financial advice.