Client Profile: Ingrid Crichton
Ingrid has kindly written the article below on her working life, retirement and relationship with GFM Wealth Advisory. We greatly appreciate Ingrid’s contribution to Trade Secrets.
When my husband Douglas, the love of my life, died suddenly in 2004, he left behind a devastated wife and 14–year–old daughter, Isobel. He had worked as a CFO and CEO of several companies. As a Fellow of both the UK and Australian Society of Accountants, he had always managed our financial affairs.
I worked for 37 years in the federal Public Service. I was fortunate to work in many interesting and challenging positions before I met Douglas. During 15 years in Canberra, I was at different times Director of Housing Policy for the ACT, Director of Nursing Home Approvals in the Health Department, head of Training Sections in 2 departments, and on return to Melbourne, Regional Director of Immigration for the Northern Region encompassing the northern suburbs and regional area up to the NSW border.
When I retired in 2006, I had a decent pension and what seemed to me a lot of money that Douglas had invested wisely. As such, I was, unfortunately, a prime target for unscrupulous financial advisors, of which there seemed to be quite a few at that time. Luckily a good friend referred me to GFM Wealth, who rescued me from the clutches of one such charlatan. So, in 2008, GFM set me up with an SMSF and thus began a long, and for me, pain-saving and productive relationship.
James Malliaros has been my Adviser. James has been a rock, helping me to select suitable investments and always providing a range of alternatives. Through GFM’s excellent resources, there has always been an abundance of well-researched information and investment opportunities. Douglas’s legacy has grown; Isobel has been well educated and is now General Manager of a multi-million dollar company, married with a young daughter. She is as grateful to GFM as I am.
Apart from the excellent financial services provided by GFM, I also greatly appreciate the social opportunities they provide their clients: the golf days, theatre nights, seminars at the beautiful Leonda and Riversdale Golf Club, and since COVID, the ability to attend webinars. The calibre of the speakers is fantastic! The staff are unfailingly friendly, helpful, and efficient, and I have met many interesting people during such events. I feel very blessed to be one of GFM’s clients.
Being financially independent has also allowed me to continue pursuing my passion: riding and competing with my two performance horses, a sport Douglas and I used to pursue together and Isobel also participated in as a child and teenager. It has also allowed me to continue to live on and maintain our lovely acreage property just 25km NE of Melbourne’s CBD and to travel in Europe, Asia and the US.
When I look back to what might have happened had I not been told about GFM, I shudder and thank my lucky stars! Thank you, GFM, for all you have done for me and my family since 2008; long may our relationship continue!