Josh Edwards

Associate Financial Planner

Coming from a background of 6 years within Financial Planning as well as a few years in banking I have had the pleasure of working with a broad range of clients and all their different needs which has developed me in to the person I am today, continuing with Praescius.

I take pride in my capacity to build genuine relationships and talking to clients in terms they understand. I did a Diploma in Financial Planning before moving on to a Post Graduate degree in Financial Planning through University of New England and I am a Justice of the Peace.

Outside of work my greatest loves include scuba diving, motorbikes, astronomy and funnily enough bees, considering their importance to all in the grand scheme of things. When not at work, you’ll find me at the beach.

Sharon Keating

Client Services

I have been in the financial industry since 1998, the last 19 years I have been mainly in the Superannuation and Advice industry.

I have had a range of roles that have varied from contact centre, administration, support and business development manager in both the industry superannuation and financial planning sector.

I pride myself in my work and believe to have a strong customer service focus, therefore have always enjoyed the interaction with clients and my colleges.
I find it very satisfying being a part of a team who help client achieve their retirement goals.

I have successfully completed my advance diploma in Financial Planning (superannuation)

Jason Rosewarne

Financial Planner

Raised in regional South Australia, I initially commenced in the finance industry as a Bank Teller after completing high school. I transitioned into Financial Planning after moving to Perth in 2001, before, following my initial role as an Administration assistant specialising in Self-Managed Superannuation Funds, I further developed my knowledge through ongoing education including the Advanced Diploma in Financial Services, as well completing a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Finance.

Along with a variety of advisory and technical roles throughout my career, my experience includes owning and operating my own financial planning practice in Perth before joining the Praescius Darwin team. This experience has enabled me to become a proficient Financial Planner with a broad knowledge base in all areas of financial planning, and a keen interest in Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Protection and Retirement Planning.

De-constructing the complex nature of financial planning, and transforming it into a simple, easy to understand approach that enable clients to reach their full financial potential is something that I value, and is at the centre of each and every interaction I have with my clients.

Outside of work, you’ll find me spending time with my wife and kids, searching for new camping locations, and exploring an ever developing interest in photography.

Darren Boman

General Manager

I have worked across many industries within Accounting, Finance & Banking, along with having run my own businesses, so Praescius is a natural fit and a great way to leverage all my skills and experience.

I enjoy passing on my finance and accounting knowledge with both clients and the wider Praescius Teams – so no two days are the same. Working with the Accounting Team to solve complex tax matters for clients, to enhancing our marketing strategy and brand awareness is all in a days work.

On the weekends I can be found in the mountains around Brisbane cycling or mountain biking. Cooking and coffee are also passions, so working in Bulimba on Oxford Street is certainly advantageous.

Tanya Dun

Client Services

Prior to moving to the Northern Territory, I lived and worked in sunny Queensland where I spent 10 years as a Real Estate Office Manager. After visiting Darwin on holidays in 2006, I fell in love with the weather, relaxed lifestyle and most of all the fishing – after landing a 96cm barramundi on a local charter.

In 2008 I made the move and now call Darwin home. When first arriving I commenced employment with a leading bank, first as a Customer Service Manager and later Assistant Manager/ Lending Officer.

After more than eight years, I decided it was time for a change and in 2016 joined the Praescius Client Services team. The most enjoyable part of my role is interacting with the clients; assisting and supporting them as they take the Praescius journey is very rewarding.

My love for the outdoors and adventure means I spend most weekends exploring this unique part of the world with my partner and forever on the look out to catch that one metre barramundi!

Nikki Champness

Client Services

My journey within the Financial Services sector commenced when I took on a role with St George Bank in their customer contact centre. From there, I moved into a branch position as a Lending Assistant. A move to Camden, saw me join the Praescius Team as an Implementations Administrator, charged with the task of assisting our Lending Specialists.

I enjoy supporting both the Praescius team and our clients in achieving their end goal of securing the best home loan and making that journey as smooth as possible. I hold a Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking, as well as a Diploma in Event Management (which often comes in handy both professionally and personally).

I enjoy working with the Praescius team in Narellan – they are hardworking, customer focused and a fun-loving bunch.

Sigmone Bennion

Client Services

For me, financial planning is about helping clients to identify those factors that may have influenced their financial decisions in the past – particularly emotional drivers – so they can move forward with awareness and confidence. Assisting them through this journey continues to motivate me each and every day and is why I love working in this industry.

I continue to live by the belief that financial planning should be based on the client first and foremost and that comes down to understanding their individual circumstances and what’s driving their goals. Taking the time to ascertain what their big picture looks like and clearly explaining the intricacies of their individual situation, is paramount to placing them on the right pathway.

My journey as a Financial Planner commenced in 1995, with a boutique style practice. I then moved into the larger corporate world of Permanent Trustees and spent some time with NAB in their Financial Planning division, before joining the Praescius team. I hold a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics and Finance), Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning and am a member of the Financial Planning Association of Australia.

Sharyn Parker

Client Services

After working in client services for 25 years, I joined the Praescius Hervey Bay team in 2016 and have felt right at home ever since, with my role continuing to provide new and exciting challenges.

I pride myself on being patient, polite and a strong communicator; to me great service comes down to listening and being able to carefully understand a client’s individual needs.

The most rewarding part of my role is ensuring the experience is a positive one for each of our clients as they journey towards achieving their personal goals. I continue to live by the mantra of ‘treat people as you would like to be treated’.

Mia Rickards

Client Services

It has been an exciting journey for me in the industry so far.

After completing a Bachelor of Business, I crossed paths professionally with a Financial Adviser who approached me for a Client Services position.

Although I never imagined a career in Financial Planning, I dived into the role and haven’t looked back.

The experience led me to where I am today. I could not be happier working with such supportive, articulate and intelligent people.

After many years of debate since leaving high school, I have found my career passion. It’s something I want to remain a part of until retirement.

When I’m not helping clients at work, I enjoy spending time with my partner and our Mini Dachshund, watching movies and my hobby of make-up artistry.

Andrew Zorzetto

Client Services

After meeting a Financial Adviser, now a good friend and mentor, I was inspired towards a career in Financial Services. The industry is always growing and evolving, which has fascinated me from an early age.

In my eyes, my role is to help people. The compassion instilled in me from my parents has shaped what I do today. I meet and help people from all walks of life. This means every day is different, and that’s both fulfilling and rewarding.

Being methodical and driven is an essential part of my role, as is passion. I’m passionate about helping people to grow financially. It’s extremely satisfying when I can analyse the growth of a client’s portfolio and see the positive impact it has on their livelihood.

I live by the motto “start as you mean to go on.” This means developing a strong foundation to build on, which will evolve into an enduring finished product. Most importantly, we are entrusted to make sure our clients’ needs and expectations are consistently met. It’s great to be part of a team with an unwavering work ethic in this area.

I am currently finishing a Diploma of Financial Planning and will then work towards achieving an Advanced Diploma of Financial Planning to build on this knowledge.

Katrina Turner

Client Services

While I started my career in the rural finance sector, the last 15 years has seen me work in a range of roles from mortgage lending and commercial finance through to customer service and management.

Regardless of the position, it’s assisting clients and working with a team of advisers that I enjoy most. I’ve always been a people person and feel a great sense of achievement when a client, advisor or colleague is happy with an outcome I’ve helped to facilitate or implement.

Ensuring our clients are provided with peace of mind and professional service also sits at the core of my philosophy and informs my approach each and every day.

Marian George

Client Services and Implementations

Having worked in the Financial Services sector for 15 years, with a strong focus on funds management, my roles have ranged from Senior Research Analyst to Relationship Manager. This experience, combined with my passion for investing, is what led me to join Praescius.

I enjoy assisting clients in achieving their goals and believe in making the process both easy and enjoyable. Working in the Implementations team has enabled me to draw on my strengths in these areas.

I hold a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (Finance) and throughout my career have held positions with a number of national and global companies including Standard & Poor’s, St George Bank, ANZ Bank, ING and MLC.

I grew up in South Australia where I completed my school studies before travelling for three months and upon returning home began pursuing a career in banking.

I spent several years working for Westpac in various branch positions yet in search of a greater challenge took on a secondment with subsidiary company, Westpac Financial Consultants. As Branch Liaison and Client Conservation Manager I was afforded the opportunity to work with a variety of Financial Planners and their clients. It was extremely diversified and a demanding role, and brought with it both challenge and great reward. Most importantly however, it provided me with an insight into the role of an Adviser and how they assisted people to achieve their lifestyle goals.

I continued to work with Westpac’s Financial Planning team for several years with a focus on fostering strong relationships between its advisers, staff and clients. I also became an insurance trainer before deciding to do something completely left field – I moved to Darwin.

Having holidayed in the Northern Territory several times, I always thought it was a fabulous place so I took the plunge and relocated. That was some 23 years ago – so I like to think I can now call myself a local. Not long after arriving I secured a position with a small Financial Planning firm where I worked in administration and assisted with insurance client reviews. I then went on to work for another firm and became a licensed Financial Adviser, specialising in wealth protection.

I joined Praescius in January 2011 initially as their Specialist Risk Adviser, but have since put the rest of my knowledge and training to work and now provide holistic financial advice. Whilst I enjoy delivering advice around how clients can best protect themselves in times of challenge – be it individuals, family or business owners – being able to assist my clients with all of their needs at each stage of life, is both fulfilling and rewarding.

I am a member of the Association of Financial Advisers, have a Diploma in Financial Planning and am currently completing my Advanced Diploma.

I love to spend my ‘down time’ with family and friends and have a passion for cooking and love to travel – with many places still on my bucket list!

Brad Mulley

Associate Financial Planner

I commenced work in the Financial Services sector in a client support role in 2005. With a passion for helping people and providing great service, the experience soon unearthed a keen interest in finance, superannuation and financial planning; so my decision to complete a Diploma in Financial Planning was an easy one to make.

Prior to joining the Praescius team, I spent 10 years with the BT Financial Group, which gave me a great insight into the investment, administration and management of client funds. I continue to draw on these experiences today. I am passionate about helping our clients to understand the complex rules and regulations in our industry and how the plan we put in place aligns with the goals they seek to achieve.

I work collaboratively with my clients to identify their short, medium and long-term goals and see my role as one of providing ‘objective’ eyes, focused on looking ahead and bringing to life the big picture.

Julian Coleman

Financial Planner

What started as a keen interest in investing, understanding markets and actively managing my own personal finances, led me to where I find myself today – helping others to achieve both their financial and lifestyle goals.

I see my role as one of simply ‘being there’ for my clients. For me, this means listening to each of them, taking the time to understand their individual circumstances and producing an outcome that adds significant value to their life. In doing this I’ve been able to build strong relationships with my clients over the years and find this to be an incredibly rewarding part of the work I do.

Most importantly, I seek to provide my clients with peace of mind, by equipping them with the strategies they’ll need to achieve their goals and ensuring they stay on track, so that long-term they are provided with the freedom of choice.

I hold an Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning, Self-Managed Superannuation Fund Certificate, Diploma in Real Estate (Dip RE, Licenced), Certificate IV Mortgage Broking, Certificate IV Business Management and am a member of the Financial Planning Association of Australia.

Sarah MacRae

NSW Business Manager

Born and raised in Camden, I always had this vision of what I would do post HSC, yet as the time neared I found myself second guessing everything and ended up taking an administration position at a local Real Estate Agent. Whilst it was a huge shift from my original life plan, I put my all into the role and quickly moved my way up through the company while obtaining my real estate certificate and settling in Property Management.

Whilst I was enjoying the industry, an opportunity arose mid-2004 for a career change into Financial Services and I can say with absolute certainty that I have never looked back.

Being new, I found myself returning to an entry level client services position. Yet assisting the client through the settlement process was never enough, I wanted to understand how all the pieces fitted together to get the desired result. I was fortunate enough that management quickly identified this potential and I worked my way up through various roles, securing a sound knowledge of that ‘end to end’ process.

In 2008 I was approached by a Private Wealth Manager to take on a position managing their North Shore office. In need of a new challenge, I made the move and spent the next six years building the administrative team, fine-tuning their processes, obtaining my Certificate IV in Finance and Broking and eventually assisting in the re-location and set-up of a Yellow Brick Road office in the ACT.

It was this experience that led me to meet Matthew and whilst it wasn’t the quickest of moves, I was fortunate enough to be offered the position of NSW Business Manager for Praescius, which I commenced in March 2015.

Today, I continue to find joy and challenge in my role and love how passionate everyone is about the work they do as we collectively strive to provide the best outcomes for those who matter most – our clients.

Peter Bennet

Lending Specialist

Leaving school in 1979, I began a career with one of the ‘big four’ banks where I quickly moved up the ranks into the challenging and rewarding arena of lending.

I took on my next challenge in 1985 following in my brother’s footsteps and joined the Queensland Police Service, which saw me move about the state from city to country before settling in Hervey Bay in 1999. I can honestly say over those 29 years, I had the privilege of experiencing some of the most rewarding experiences of my life, whilst working to serve and protect the people and communities of Queensland.

In February 2014, I retired from the Police to take on my next challenge as a lending specialist with Praescius. Helping and serving was the continued theme and I am rewarded on a daily basis by assisting my clients to achieve their financial goals and dreams. The favourite part of my role is helping young families realise that dream of home ownership and being part of their successful financial journey through providing quality lending solutions.

I am fortunate to have six beautiful children and five beautiful grandchildren and love living in Hervey Bay where I enjoy the lifestyle, and my favourite pastimes the area provides from fishing through to sport and camping. I have a Certificate IV in Mortgage Broking and had an early career highlight as the winner of the Yellow Brick Road Regional Award for Queensland and NT in 2015.

John Kosmidis

Financial Planner

An interest in finance from an early age led me to study Commerce at Macquarie University. Following the completion of my degree, I commenced work at an international bank in their superannuation division. It was during this time I completed a Diploma in Financial Planning. I have since become a Certified Financial Planner and am a member of the Financial Planning Association of Australia.

As a Financial Planner I believe my role is to simplify complex financial matters and to provide my clients with peace of mind. Yet the thing I cherish most about the work I do is the trust my clients place in me. It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly.

One of my favourite quotes that you’ll often hear me reference comes from the great Warren Buffet, CEO Berkshire Hathaway, who said, ‘Risk comes from not knowing what you are doing.’ For me it highlights the important role we have to play in educating our clients and in empowering them to make informed decisions; those all important decisions that will help them to achieve their goals.

Tanya Zahra

Hervey Bay Business Manager

I moved to beautiful Hervey Bay in 2013 and commenced work with Praescius in December the same year. Having worked in banking, finance and administration for more than 20 years, I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with a diverse group of people – spanning across a range of industry settings – and this experience continues to inform my work today.

I find my role as Business Manager very rewarding. No two days are the same and I enjoy both the diversity of the role and equally how it continues to inspire and challenge me to constantly improve our practices.

The best part of the job is working with great people. I am lucky to be part of a supportive team who foster a wonderful family spirit and who have instilled a culture within our business that resonates with those we assist. Providing our clients and team members with the highest level of customer service, a friendly face and a positive attitude is really what it’s about for me.

On a personal note, family is the most important thing in my life and nothing makes me happier than to be surrounded by them – eating, laughing and making fun of each other. I enjoy staying fit and while I often frequent the gym my favourite exercise is simply walking along the esplanade or our beautiful beaches.

I have completed a Diploma in Banking and Finance, Fundamentals of Financial Planning along with various other accounting and administration courses. My motto for life is ‘Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success’. I believe this mindset enables me to be the best person I can be both personally and professionally.

Geoff Bishop

Lending Specialist

I moved into Financing Broking after an opportunity presented itself with Praescius and enjoy the flexibility and scope the role provides in terms of being able to offer tailored solutions for our clients.

With access to a wide range of financiers, I’m able to source competitively priced products, suited to specific needs. This diversity provides real value for our clients. Everyones requirements will be different and this approach enables us to find a solution that responds to each clients current and future needs.

With qualifications in Financial Planning, Mortgage Brokering and more than 30 years industry experience which saw me hold the position of Corporate Manager for a major Australian bank, finding the right solution for each of my clients – whether it’s commercial finance, property finance, home loans, leasing, equipment finance, personal loans, working capital or cashflow lending – is core to the work I do.

In addition to my role, I’ve also held the position of Independent Member on the Roper Gulf Regional Council Finance and Audit Committee for seven years. I find this role, which encompasses the financial management of Council, incredibly rewarding knowing that the decisions I help make are capable of positively impacting those living in Northern Territory communities.

Nerida Sparkes

Group Operations Manager

Upon reflection you could say that my journey to Praescius was nine years in the making. After completing a management traineeship with retailer David Jones, I worked with Matthew (who joined Gareth at Praescius in late 2005) for nine years at Standards Australia / SAI Global in a variety of different roles; we often laugh at the fact that during this time I was always his superior. We of course kept in contact over the years and in early 2014 he called me to say Praescius was looking for a Group Operations Manager and here we are.

While moving to Financial Services represented somewhat of a change in terms of industry, I haven’t looked back. It’s an amazing feeling being part of a team that works so actively towards helping its clients to achieve their goals. At times my work can be invisible to staff and it’s almost always invisible to clients – and really that’s how it should be. My role is focused on ensuring our business practices continue to support and empower our advisers to deliver the best experience possible and I love being the person that people come to for help – for almost every aspect of the business.

Beyond a Diploma in Human Resources I also hold a Certificate IV in Business. Having worked in client services for more than 20 years, I continue to be guided by the simple motto of ‘be better’ and enjoy coaching and working alongside the Praescius team to produce outstanding results.

Gareth Jakeman

Managing Director + Chairman

Praescius was founded on 4 May 2004, when I left the mid-tier chartered accounting firm, Bentleys MRI and decided to develop my own proposition for clients. At that time, I had three clients, who are still with me today and to whom I am eternally grateful for their trust in my ability. Today, Praescius services clients spanning across the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales and beyond, which I believe speaks to our continued and strong focus on people.

I grew up in what was a little town called Camden in NSW, which could now be considered essentially a suburb of Sydney. At a small pre-school, I met my best mate at the age of three – Matthew Harrington – who is now my business partner and co-Director of Praescius. Upon leaving school and then tertiary education at the University of Wollongong, I joined the Accounting profession and received the benefit of the experience of some of the best practitioners in the Accounting and Financial Planning sectors.

Currently, I am undergoing the ’50-year apprenticeship’ that allows one to call themselves a ‘Territorian’. As well as being a proud resident of the NT I have two hilarious children who I am extremely proud of, and am a passionate Rugby Union supporter player with the Casuarina Cougars and Stray Cats Rugby Union Clubs.

One of the best things about what I do is the rapport I have been fortunate to build with those we work in partnership with-our clients. They are fantastic people, who love what we do, because of the value we place on relationships. This makes it really easy to go to the office each day and I continue to genuinely enjoy the work I do and the service the entire Praescius team works so diligently to provide.

I’ve always held an interest in finance. In fact when I was seven, I started to do my ‘books’ every night to track how much pocket money I had received and spent each week. In hindsight, a career in Financial Services seems particularly fitting.

Commencing in superannuation, I experienced firsthand the limitations of working in ‘generalist’ advice. It never felt like enough and always at odds with what people were truly seeking holistic and tailored advice geared to their personal goals. Moving into Financial Planning represented both a clear choice and natural progression.

For me, good advice is about taking the time to understand what a client seeks to achieve and in doing so identify roadblocks that have been present in the past. Knowing what questions to ask is crucially important to revealing what matters most and it will be different for every client.

The financial landscape has become increasingly complex and challenging and for this reason, I see my role as one of both coach and counsel, as I help my clients to navigate and understand this environment. I believe putting a clear and deliberate strategy in place – a plan that empowers them to make smart decisions as they look to grow and protect their wealth – is the key to improving long-term financial outcomes.

With so many options and varied opinion, overwhelm and inaction is often the by-product, so I love that moment where a client feels they have reached clarity and a sense of calmness comes over them – knowing they’re putting their ‘financial house’ in order. Being a part of this equation and watching their plan come to fruition as we track their progress is incredibly rewarding.

I currently hold a Bachelor of Business (Management), Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning a CFP certification – the highest financial planning designation worldwide, was awarded Self Managed Super Fund Specialist, Life Risk Specialist, am a Justice of the Peace and am a member of the Financial Planning Association of Australia. In 2012 and 2013 I was also named in Australia’s Top 50 Financial Advisers by the Australian Financial Review.

Bernie Small

Associate Financial Planner

I was born and raised in a large family in Ireland and while I miss them every day, the allure of the Darwin lifestyle continues to keep my feet planted firmly in the Northern Territory for now.

My love for maths during my school days saw me go on to complete a Business, Finance and Investment Degree at the University of Ulster Coleraine in Northern Ireland. After completing my studies, I opted to take some time out and travel to Australia in 2010 to visit my two brothers, who were living in Canberra at the time. Little did I know I would meet the love of my life (ironically an Irish man), get my Australian citizenship and meet so many incredible people who have become life-long friends.

I continued my studies in finance while in Australia and went on to complete my Diploma in Financial Planning. I am passionate about ensuring all clients are happy and confident in the service we provide. I love getting into the nitty gritty of a financial plan knowing that it can change someone’s life for the better.

I love to spend my ‘down time’ with family and friends, whether it be entertaining, camping, exercising or just taking it easy by the pool.

Jeff Heap

Financial Planner

Having joined the State Bank of Victoria, now the Commonwealth Bank, at a young age, at 21 I found myself travelling to the UK to work at one of its London branches.

Beyond gaining invaluable international experience, the trip also revealed a love for golf and a highlight during that time was playing at the Royal and Ancient St Andrews Golf course where I parred the course with 72. Golf continues to remain one of my passions in life today.

Choosing to travel for a further nine months, I returned to my home state, Victoria, where I worked as an Accountant for the bank in Melbourne. Soon after I made the move to sunny Queensland, which saw me take on a completely different role within the construction industry and travel north working in the Gold Coast and Biloela. It was during this time that I met my wife, Lyn, and I became a Financial Planner in 1987.

I spent the next 18 years in Biloela raising two great children, Zana 29 and Cali 27. In 2002 we made the move to Darwin where we brought a house on the golf course, naturally, and 50 percent of Bill Passmore and Associates, Financial Planning. Since its acquisition by Praescius in 2010 I have stayed on looking after my valued clients. Seeing them achieve their goals and objectives continues to motivate me each and every day and ensuring they can ‘live’ in retirement and not just ‘survive’ it is incredibly important to me.

I believe in honesty (even if it’s not always what you want to hear) and trying to better everyone’s position. I have been a member of the Financial Planning Association of Australia for more than 21 years and am a qualified Justice of the Peace.

Ruth Gerke

Financial Planner

I have worked in the finance industry for much of my life. Twenty years ago I had the opportunity to study to become a Financial Planner, an opportunity I grabbed with both hands and one which has seen me work with Praescius for more than a decade.

I’ve been a planner for long enough now that I’ve seen many of my clients get to where they need to be financially and this is what I find most fulfilling about the work I do.

Empowering my clients with knowledge is incredibly important to me and I will always take the time to explain complex concepts in easy to understand terms.

While I specialise in providing advice on Commonwealth superannuation funds I provide ‘holistic’ advice that spans superannuation (including SMSF), non-super investments, insurance and more.

I hold a Diploma of Financial Planning through the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA), have completed the Cavendish and ICFS Specialist SMSF Course, was awarded the designation Certified Financial Strategist by the Association of Independently Owned Financial Professionals (AIOFP) and am an affiliated member of the FPA.

Sharon Campbell

Lending Specialist

Commencing my career at ANZ in 1986, I’ve since held various positions in the Financial Services sector including Home Finance Manager for a local Westpac branch for seven years, prior to joining the Praescius team in 2016.

As a Lending Specialist, I draw on knowledge acquired over many years and listen intently to my clients to ascertain their needs, to source the best solution. I love being able to help clients realise their dreams of owning their own home or investing to build their wealth portfolio.

I hold a Certification in Finance and Broking and am an Accredited Member of the Finance Brokers Association of Australia.

Elisha Cowan

Client Services and Implementations

My love for financial services was instilled by my father, who worked as a financial adviser and provided me with the opportunity to work for his company at an early age. I haven’t left the industry since.

Prior to my current position, I spent a significant amount of time working for a wrap administrator as a training and quality officer for the client services team.

Today, I find there’s no such thing as a standard day in Client Services and Implementations and our work is always varied. One task is never the same as the next and I enjoy sourcing solutions, particularly for those unusual requests that come through every now and then.

Put simply I like helping people, it’s in my nature, so in hindsight my decision to follow the client services pathway feels fitting. My work continues to be guided by three simple but fundamental values – honesty, trust and respect. All are so important, particularly within our industry. For this reason, establishing a strong rapport with both my colleagues and clients – built on these values – remains incredibly important to the work I do.

I enjoy and value greatly the people I work with – they are honest, down-to-earth and have a fantastic sense of humour – and for me this makes all the difference.

Radika Govind

Client Services and Implementations

After working in a Financial Services administration role for six months, I soon found myself taking a greater interest in the industry, which saw me join the Praescius team in 2011 in a client services capacity.

I’m passionate about assisting our clients with all of their queries in a positive and timely manner and believe the client services team have a critical role to play in the implementation of advice.

I am currently in the process of completing my Diploma in Financial Services and look forward to continuing to extend my knowledge in this area.

Michael Toohey

Financial Planner

I was born and raised on a sheep and wheat property near Forbes in the central west of New South Wales. After completing my Commerce Degree in 1992 I worked in rural banking and agribusiness until 2000. An opportunity presented itself to change direction with an Accounting Firm as a Financial Planner in my home town in 2000 and I’ve continued to stay in this space since.

No one day is the same in our industry thanks to constant change combined with the opportunity to meet new people from all walks of life, and in my eyes it’s these factors that make for a very rewarding career.

The favourite part of my role is establishing strong relationships with my clients and working with them to maximise their financial position. My strength lies in making the complicated simple so they can feel comfortable knowing they understand the advice they receive. Most importantly, I believe every client regardless of their means deserves advice that is straight forward and relevant to their circumstance.

My formal qualifications include a Degree in Business, Advanced Diploma of Financial Services (Financial Planning), Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking and a SMSF Specialist Advisor. I am also a member of the Financial Planning of Australia Association.

My wife Donna and I and our three children Annika, Max and Meg made the huge decision to relocate to Hervey Bay in 2009 – much to our parent’s disgust! We have enjoyed our nine years in this beautiful part of the world and look forward to enjoying many more.

Matthew Harrington

Director + Praescius Board

I was born at Camden Hospital in 1978, eight weeks early which doesn’t surprise me at all as I’ve always been a little too impatient when it comes to myself. I met Gareth Jakeman (Managing Director of Praescius) when I was four years old at the local ‘Chug-a-long’ preschool and we’ve been best mates for the 35 odd years since.

I attended the local primary school which was a 10 minute walk from home, but it was during my high school years I started to develop an interest in the subject of business and economics. Upon leaving school I went straight into working for a compliance, audit and training business where I progressed through the management ranks and gained invaluable experience in managing large teams of people and everything that comes with this type of position.

After much discussion and some years of considering the idea, I joined Praescius in late 2005 and so far it’s been the journey of a lifetime and something I will always wish I’d done sooner. I love the challenges of the financial services and accounting sectors as they’re always evolving and I have the great pleasure of working to help clients from all walks of life, from all backgrounds, all across this great country of ours.

I am a father of three beautiful children whom I completely adore, who always make me laugh and remind me about the best things in life. I enjoy any kind of fitness, playing golf (or watching it more so these days) and playing the guitar, every day if possible.

I can honestly say I love my job, and being a part of Praescius, and the opportunities it has provided over the years to work with a diverse range of people.