Hopefully many of you recognise that line from Douglas Adam’s ‘Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy’, when we found that dolphins were actually aliens?
Deliberately dating myself here as it was initially a radio show on the BBC in 1978 (tell your kids that people listened to comedy on radio back then and even read physical books).
This is just a short blog to let all those clients who have suffered through my blogs through these many years know, that your torment is over. Well, sort of…
Over the last six months we have actively been looking for my replacement and we found an excellent human being, Greg Black, who has now started as General Manager for RFS (1 July 2024).
Greg will introduce himself post this blog but suffice to say, we have known and respected him for a long time and similarly to when I stepped out of the corporate world in 2011, he sees this as a great opportunity for he and his family.
From me, I just wanted to thank all of you for making my time with RFS so enjoyable. Troy and I got together in February 2011 and the last thirteen years have been a very enjoyable blur.
In that time, the business has grown exponentially, and hopefully it still has that family feel that we never want to lose. I have been grateful to share many of our client’s life changes through my time here and that has given me the framework for making my own decision.
Elle McPherson and I turned 60 this year, as I mentioned at the time, (though she is 4 days older than me) and it was always my plan to be ready to make some life decisions at this age.
If you work in the advice space it would be a little irresponsible not to practice what you preach and one of the things we often discuss with clients is the importance of doing things while you are healthy.
Nina (my wife) and I have lots of plans and we now need to find the time to make them a reality.
By 30 September I will complete my time with RFS and then drop to three days a week within our other two companies – Australian Advice Network (our licensee) and our asset management company which is going to be rebranded as Aspen Asset Management (currently AAN Asset Management).
Aspen has grown into a substantial business and does need more of my focus, so this is a good opportunity for me to do that.
I will be providing the investment updates within Aspen so masochists will still have the opportunity to access my scribbling, albeit under a different brand.
I know the RFS team will continue to deliver for you, and Greg, as the new executive is focused on taking RFS onward and upwards so I look forward to watching the businesses’ ongoing success.
Troy and Darko are still here, and your advice teams haven’t changed so a big change for my family and I, but a small one in the context of your RFS relationship.
I will still be a client of RFS and will look forward to seeing many of you at RFS’ various functions, though I can now just be a heckler rather than being at the front of the room 😊
As a final word from Douglas Adams, the meaning of life is ‘42’ and that is all I have to say about that.
