KAN's AB joins up with another group

Pukekohe mortgage adviser Claire McArthur is moving out from under her own brand to SHARE but plans to continue aggregating through Kiwi Adviser Network (KAN).

KAN is a little different to most aggregators as it has just one Authorised Body - McArthur.

She says she has as long-standing relationship with KAN she values and believes its CRM system is market leading.

“It’s too good to leave so I am just moving from one FAP to another.

McArthur is merging with like-minded owners to expand her business to include insurance and KiwiSaver.

She, Waiuku insurance adviser Joey Gregory and Alex Nicholson, who also specialises in insurance and KiwiSaver are directors of the business. They have worked alongside each other for the past six years.

The new business arrangement came after she had an informal arrangement with insurance adviser Joey Gregory based in Waiuku. Both built up businesses that had mutual clients and worked in similar ways in dealing with clients. 

“We have both seen exponential growth in the past couple of years and discussions started on formalising our arrangements. We went from that to looking at merging the businesses together and extending our services to offer full a financial package under one roof,” she says.

Her mortgage business has merged into Gregory’s insurance firm to fall under SHARE and has rebranded to that name.

There is not much change to her business – a boutique, personalised service, McArthur says. “It just made sense when we looked at the options to merge into SHARE, which is already established, and we can offer three products under that brand. “We will have greater resources and stronger industry connections.

“Obviously, we get the benefit of nationwide SHARE’s network, but ultimately it doesn’t change the experience for our clients because it is still the same staff and CRM system for us.”

The biggest advantage to the move she says is being able to offer a seamless full service in-house.

When I talked to clients previously, KiwiSaver always came up for first home buyers, and I would have to farm that part of the out. It was the same for insurance. Now a client’s complete financial position can be reviewed and advice easily given.

“Mortgage advisers have a duty of care talk to clients about what their insurance and KiwiSaver positions are for protection and increasing the value of their assets,” she says.

“It’s not a product push, but it means if that client wants the option of getting advice on these issues, we have somebody in-house that can help them.”

McArthur is not daunted by the move and rebranding as she has a background in banking and before setting up her own business worked for another mortgage business.

“If people want to deal with you, they don’t care what brand you operate under.”

She says the trio is looking forward to “getting stuck in” to the new business and continuing to work with a wide range of clients.

Pukekohe seems to have a good balance in terms of people with reasonable incomes and KiwiSaver balances and decent, affordable housing, she says.