The Board and Executive
Stephen Hopley
Co-founder and Executive Chairman
Stephen is a highly experienced and respected financial services professional, having been actively involved in the industry since 1984. His knowledge about the Australian market is unparalleled.
Stephen has built his reputation through his hands-on involvement in the industry, which in many instances led to revolutionary changes.
While at Macquarie, he co-founded and chaired the Master Trust Focus Group, which was formed to deal with common issues facing this sub-set of the industry.
Following his review of the Financial Planning industry in Australia and North America, Stephen recommended market transforming changes to distribution networks and wrap platforms for Macquarie Bank.
Technically astute in superannuation, markets and financial planning, meant Stephen provided training to many in the industry through his work at Macquarie, his leadership in developing the Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning for Securities Institute Education, and his extensive involvement with FINSIA, the professional membership body of the financial services industry.
Stephen has extensive experience as a Director, having held many board positions with corporate and not-for-profit organisations over the past 40 years.
Neelesh Mehta
Co-founder and Managing Director
Neelesh brings a breadth and depth of experience in capital markets and financial services in South-East Asia, particularly India, and in Australia.
His experience spans mergers and acquisitions; investments; capital raisings; corporate restructuring; finance; governance and treasury management.
As a senior executive in dominant (top 10) broking houses in India, Neelesh managed investments on behalf of many of India’s ultra-high net worth individuals and corporate houses. He also helped establish more transparent and robust governance and operating procedures.
Since moving to Australia in 2004, Neelesh has been Chief Financial Officer and Finance Director of a number of organisations where he has continued to provide strategic and financial advice and manage corporate investments across various markets.
Neelesh’s extensive financial management experience has also assisted many not-for-profit organisations through his long-term and active involvement as a board and committee member.
Kay Aarons
Director
Kay Aarons is the Principal of Strategic Financial Solutions (SFS) and a qualified financial planner with over 30 years’ experience in the profession. Kay established SFS in 1995.
Since that time, SFS has become of the largest and one of the most influential independently-owned boutique financial planning groups in Melbourne.
Kay holds a Bachelor of Economics and Politics from Monash University. She completed her Diploma of Financial Planning and achieved Certified Financial Planner Status in 1996. Before this, Kay also spent many years owning and operating retail businesses giving her a unique understanding of what SFS clients need and expect and how to ensure SFS match those expectations.
As the Chair of the Investment Committee, Kay is responsible for developing and managing the overall Investment Policy for the Group. Since the mid 90’s she has been a keen supporter of the value of Emerging markets as an asset sector in its own right for investor portfolios.
For the last four years, Kay has also attended JP Morgan’s Annual Research summits in Asia gaining a deeper experience and understanding of the investment opportunity afforded by Greater Asia, including India.
Kay’s current position as Director of Jaipur Asset Management Pty Ltd is a logical step in a career-long interest and experience in emerging Markets investment.
Noel Lord
Director
Noel is a highly experienced Executive, who has been deeply involved in the Financial services industry for over 30 years.
Passionate about making a difference and helping people achieve their goals in their careers - Noel has worked in various capacities in several Charitable and For Purpose organisations while simultaneously building his reputation through his hands-on engagement in the Financial Services industry.
He has held various senior leadership roles including as State Manager for Queensland for Comsec, MLC, Queensland Head for the Macquarie Group and in various leading Financial Services organisations where he has headed distribution teams, designed, coordinated and structured various large capital raisings. He brings extensive experience in bringing new products to market and the distribution knowledge in selling financial solutions to the public and via Intermediaries.
He has also been a Senior lecturer with the Securities Institute of Australia (SIA)/Kaplan and also skilled in Neuroleadership.
Brian Thomas
Director
Brian Thomas B Ec. GAICD is currently Director – Consulting Services with Wealthadvice and a Director of Jaipur Asset Management.
His last major consulting assignments were with Allianz Retire Plus assisting in the development of new retirement income solutions. Prior to that he consulted to Rice Warner Actuaries and as General Manager – Business & Investments at Eight Investment Partners (8ip). He was also previously General Manager – Investments at Perennial Investment Partners, Managing Director and Head of Distribution for Credit Suisse Asset Management and a Division Director at Macquarie Bank.
Brian has been in the financial services industry for over forty years specialising in superannuation and investment management covering administration, asset consulting, product development, marketing, distribution, asset allocation, people management and board directorship.
He has been an active participant in several industry bodies and government committees and was instrumental in the development of allocated or account-based pensions. At Macquarie he developed Australia’s first individual allocated pension-based longevity solution product and has developed or co-developed several products and or specialist campaigns that have individually raised more than one billion dollars in assets. At Perennial he conceived and pushed through the development of their successful Tactical Income Trust product which has grown to just under $A3billion.
He was a member of Perennial's Asset Allocation Committee for their diversified funds, a Responsible Manager and a Director of their RE Company. Brian is also a highly regarded public speaker and a regular industry commentator on investment,
economic and wealth management issues.
Brian is also on the advisory board of a blockchain startup.