Count Financial has announced that Melbourne-based advice practice Ascent Private Wealth has decided to join its advice network.
A statement from Count Financial says this continues the CountPlus-owned licensee’s growth strategy and that since January this year Count Financial has recruited more than 50 new financial advisers to its revamped national financial advice network.
It says that Mark O’Toole founded Ascent and the firm has been part of the Godfrey Pembroke network since 2001.
He has 27 years’ experience as a senior financial adviser and has held key leadership roles throughout his career – most notably as a former Director of the Financial Planning Association and then as founding Chair of Godfrey Pembroke’s Advisory Board.
The statement says that Ascent’s decision to join Count Financial comes after IOOF announced the acquisition of MLC’s advice businesses (which includes Godfrey Pembroke) in August 2020.
Andrew Kennedy, Chief Advice Officer at Count Financial, says the appointment of Ascent was a boost for the licensee which continues to target quality advice firms to join its network.
He says O’Toole is one of the leaders in financial advice in Australia and his experience and knowledge speaks for itself.
Kennedy adds that O’Toole has always advocated for the best outcomes for clients and that Count Financial is delighted to have him and the Ascent team coming onboard.
