Who we are
“More important than ‘doing whatever you want’ is ‘knowing what you want to do’.” – Bret Ambrose
Meet the team
Welcome and hello from the Ambrose team. We are here to help you, to collaborate with and guide you on your financial planning journey toward your short-, medium- and long-term goals.
Bret’s Journey into Financial Planning
I still remember the pivotal moment which led me to financial planning.
It arrived in February 1995, after my graduation, where Law had evolved into a Bachelor of Business; I was offered two roles on the same day. Had I pursued the higher-paying role, today I would likely be a State Government Auditor. Instead, I took the opportunity in Financial Planning.
For me I took the path that I felt was more about helping people, guiding them and being on their side to create outcomes where everyone benefits. Over the years I have discovered that this is my calling.
My Parents to My Children
Bret’s Journey
From early in my career, I have found greater satisfaction seeing people live their dreams than simply helping them hit financial milestones.
Core to this is my belief that money is important as the enabler, not the outcome.
In Financial Planning, this hasn’t always the case. My career had an early taste of Planners who were in an industry to sell products and make money for themselves, often at the expense of their clients. Being ‘all about the money’ never felt right. Rather I am far more interested in taking time to do the right thing, to get to know you and what is important.
I have refined this approach over many years, and as early clients began achieving their outcomes, this more connected approach and client service now forms the nucleus of my practice – a fully values-based financial planning practice guiding clients to lead their dreams.
With my wife Cheree and children, Finlay, Elspeth and Wilson, I too am doing my best to lead my own dreams; pursuing greater time freedom over the coming years while focusing on being more mindful and present for my family today.
An ideal week for me would involve quality time in the office guiding and leading my team, and being there for clients, while also taking days on the family farm, a shared inheritance from my Dad that creates opportunities to connect with my brother and extended family.
Introducing the
Ambrose Team
Anthony Smith, Advisory Support
As the Ambrose Advisory Support, I work closely with Bret to develop strategies within the current legislations and guidelines to help our clients achieve their financial goals.
In this role I see that I am moving the building blocks of people’s situation to help them realise, not only their financial goals, but to ‘live their dreams’ now, and into the future.
Personally, my wife and I are currently focused on achieving the dream of purchasing a larger home to better accommodate the needs of our growing family.
Cathy Mann, Client Service Advocate
My role involves supporting our client as they implement their financial plans and work toward achieving their goals. It’s a real privilege being in this position, and very satisfying when a client reaches that ‘goal’ whether it be buying their dream home, putting their children through their education, or going on that dream holiday.
For my husband and I, we are at our stage in life where we have finished educating our children and are now looking to take a holiday overseas to explore place we have long dreamed about visiting.
Anne-Marie Sams, Client Service Advocate
For me a real turning point in my relations with our clients is when I see that they are no longer thinking about or worrying about their money. When they reach this stage, I know that they are comfortable with where they are heading, and how they will reach their goals. Getting to this stage is the ultimate goal for me as a Client Service Advocate.
My own personal goal is to take on further study that will help expand the way I help people day to day.
Shanna McLean, Client Service Manager
In my role I get to support the Client Service Advocates and Brett in the delivery and implementation advice to our clients.
For me, it’s a real joy getting to know our clients and playing my part in helping them to reach their financial goals, and in turn their ‘life’ goals. It’s always a pleasuring hearing about what they have been up to, where they have travelled, and how they reached important milestones.
My partner and I are currently building our own solid financial foundation. A foundation that will give our family, and the next generation, with greater opportunities helping them to live a fulfilled and meaningful life.
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“Life is a gift. With empathy, genuine care and honesty, I help myself and others gain confidence and balance, to focus on what is within our control and make a positive difference to others so that we get the most from this great gift called life.” Bret Ambrose
Introducing the Experts Who Help Guide the Planning Process
At Ambrose, we don’t pretend to know it all which is where our expert advisors and advisor groups come in. Let me introduce them to you.
Dimensional Fund Advisors
A preferred investment manager due to a long history of delivering on what they promise is Dimensional. They meet our expectations when it comes to money management and do not promise what they are unable to deliver. In a world where the future is unknown, having a committed and disciplined group of investment professionals assist us target and capture market returns for our clients.
FYG Planners Pty Ltd
FYG is our Dealer Group or Australian Financial Services Licensee. What this means is they provide professional support for Ambrose Advisory to meet our legal commitments when it comes to providing financial advice. FYG are a group of like-minded fee for service financial advisers who at their core ensure the best interest of their clients is the centre of their advice.
FinaMetrica
Since the 1990’s we have recommended clients assess their investment preferences using the FinaMetrica risk tolerance profiling toolkit. Given 80% or more of one’s investment return can be attributed to one’s investment benchmark (tolerance for risk), partnering with FinaMetrica has provided us with an objective and scientific way to assess our clients’ aversion to risk and help them set the foundation for long term investment portfolios.
Macquarie
This platform is our preferred investment administration service provider. When it comes to client service and efficient and effective administration solutions for diversified portfolios either inside or outside of Superannuation, we choose Macquarie Wrap as they are regularly selected as a leader in this area.
Financial Advisors Association of Australia (FAAA)
The FAAA is the professional body for financial planning in Australia. The association represents 11,000 members of whom more than 8,000 are practicing financial planners. Since 1992, the FAAA has been working to change the face of financial planning, from an industry to a profession. At their core, the FAAA believe that better financial advice will influence the financial wellbeing of all Australians.
James Stokes LLB
James is an experienced lawyer who left a large national practice to establish his own firm in 2012. He is a preferred and trusted legal expert of our practice based on who he is as a person and what he cares about. James cares deeply about his work and clients, and often goes above and beyond professionally to help our clients.
‘Bret and his team truly work towards the best outcomes for their client, presented practically and in an understandable way. I am constantly impressed by their distilling of complex considerations into client-centric actions and reports.’