Kepa has announced a strategic alliance with Albany-based Financial Design Group (FDG), which will see the dealer provide capital to the advice company and take a 20% stake to assist in its growth.
The move is part of Kepa’s partnership programme and Chairman, David Johnstone, will join the FDG board.
FDG Managing Director, Mat Page, said the new partnership will provide the opportunity to learn from Kepa.
“Since Kepa was established, we have benefitted from the use of its support services, including its customer relationship management, compliance, and business development tools, as well as leveraging its national brand,” Page said.
“Now, thanks to this enhanced level of cooperation and the strategic advice provided by David and his team, we are already making good headway on our strategic objectives. We have added an FDG presence in Whangarei, Wellington and Christchurch and we are now targeting the recruitment of several other advisers through this year.”
Johnstone said the investment will help the advisory group achieve its growth ambitions.
“The programme is leading to a sharing of financial advisory expertise and increasing collaboration across the Kepa network for the benefit of all our members and their clients,” he said.
FDG is the second partnership in the programme, after Kepa invested in the Takapuna-based Mortgage Lab in October last year.
“The alliance with Mortgage Lab and now FDG are proving the great benefits of Kepa’s new partnership model. We are looking to further develop this opportunity with other advisory practices in the coming months,” Johnstone said.