Engine Room Podcast #92 - Chris Smith

This week, Rocksy is joined by Chris Smith, Founder and Principal Planner at SMI Financial Solutions. They discuss his path into advice, lessons from the GFC and cancer, how he built SMI Financial Solutions and its Age Pension Help service, and plans to grow the team and open a Northern Beaches office while preserving a people-focused culture. Chris Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-smith-at-smi/ SMI Website: https://www.smifinancialsolutions.com.au/ General Disclaimer – https://www.ensombl.com/disclaimer/

In this episode, Ben is joined by Brett Wright, Founder and CEO at LifeBid, Matt Brown, CEO at Fortnum, and Vanessa Dobson, Co-founder at Insurtech Australia. They explore LifeBid’s launch and its goal of improving life insurance advice through accurate, direct insurer data integrations, streamlined servicing and new-business workflows, responsible use of AI, industry challenges, security needs, and its complementary relationship with Entireti’s Era platform. Brett Wright LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-wright-a9461430/ LifeBid Website: https://lifebid.com.au/ Matt Brown LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-brown-84177b63/ Entireti Website: https://entireti.com.au/ Vanessa Dobson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-dobson/ Insurtech Australia Website: https://insurtechaustralia.org/ Visit The Adviser Portal and partner with Zurich and OnePath today: https://advisers.zurich.com.au/resources/adviser-portal General Disclaimer – https://www.ensombl.com/disclaimer/

In this episode, Andrew Rocks speaks with George Collie from Panorama Wealth about his journey into advice, building a lean and highly efficient practice, and developing his own CRM software using AI to streamline advice production, reduce costs and challenge traditional financial planning technology. George Collie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgecollie/ Panorama Wealth Website: https://www.panoramawealth.com.au/ Unladen CRM: https://www.unladencrm.com.au/ General Disclaimer – https://www.ensombl.com/disclaimer/

In this episode, Ben speaks with Christine Cupitt, CEO at the Council of Australian Life Insurers (CALI). They discuss CALI's role and the Life Insurance Code review, focusing on mental-health cover and claims, customer support, product sustainability, and improving access to life-insurance advice. Christine Cupitt LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-cupitt-5b687322/ CALI Website: https://cali.org.au/ Visit The Adviser Portal and partner with Zurich and OnePath today: https://advisers.zurich.com.au/resources/adviser-portal General Disclaimer – https://www.ensombl.com/disclaimer/

In this episode, Rocksy is joined by Phillip Alexander, Founder at Gill & Co. He discusses his journey from financial adviser to founding Gill & Co Advisory, and how the licensee supports practice profitability, flexible technology choices, advisor development, and succession planning. Phillip Alexander LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-n-alexander-1b85714/ Explore the road less travelled at https://www.pmcapital.com.au/ General Disclaimer – https://www.ensombl.com/disclaimer/

In this episode, Rocksy speaks with Josh Cratchley, CEO & Founding Partner at Walker Lane. Josh explains how they support and grows advice practices through shared services, a flexible licensee model, and a focus on efficiency and specialization. Josh Cratchley LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-cratchley-cfp-16189246/ Walker Lane Website: https://www.walkerlane.com.au/ Explore the road less travelled at https://www.pmcapital.com.au/ General Disclaimer – https://www.ensombl.com/disclaimer/

Managed accounts are often sold on efficiency, but their impact can run much deeper than streamlining portfolio administration. In this episode, host Ben Nash is joined by Lance Rowlands from Wealth Directions and David Hutchison from AMP to explore how managed accounts are reshaping the advice model itself. Drawing on Lance’s experience implementing managed portfolios across his practice, the discussion looks at how greater efficiency, stronger governance and more consistent portfolio implementation can free advisers to spend more time on strategy, client goals and the parts of advice that matter most. From client engagement and fee models to customisation, performance measurement and implementation challenges, the episode offers a practical look at what changes when managed accounts become embedded in the way an advice business operates. David Hutchison LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidkhutchison/ Lance Rowlands LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lance-rowlands-a0879b8/ Grown with North: https://lnkd.in/gwczfBKK General Disclaimer – https://www.ensombl.com/disclaimer/ Important Information The information has been provided by NMMT Limited ABN 42 058 835 573, AFSL 234653 (NMMT). It contains general advice only, does not take account of your personal objectives, financial situation or needs, and you should consider whether this information is appropriate for you before making any decisions. It’s important you consider your circumstances and read the relevant product disclosure statement and target market determination, available from northonline.com.au or by contacting the North Service Centre on 1800 667 841, before deciding what’s right for you. You can read the Financial Services Guide online for more information, including the fees and benefits that companies related to NMMT, N.M. Superannuation Proprietary Limited ABN 31 008 428 322, AFSL 234654 (N.M. Super) and their representatives may receive in relation to products and services provided. MyNorth Lifetime is a part of MyNorth Super and Pension which is issued by NM Super, as trustee of the Wealth Personal Superannuation and Pension Fund ABN 92 381 911 598. Past performance is no guarantee of future performance. The views and opinions of the advisers in this podcast are theirs and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of NMMT. The adviser has not been paid to provide their view or opinion in this podcast. North and MyNorth are trademarks registered to NMMT

In this episode, Ben is joined by Yvonne Chu, Head of Technical and Paraplanning at Entireti. They discuss how advisers can deliver stronger and more defensible life insurance advice by developing a clear insurance philosophy, applying consistent needs analysis, documenting client conversations, managing replacement advice and pre-assessments, and clearly explaining premiums, policy terms and trade-offs to clients. Yvonne Chu LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonne-chu-8b2b9a51/ Entireti Website: https://entireti.com.au/ Visit The Adviser Portal and partner with Zurich and OnePath today: https://advisers.zurich.com.au/resources/adviser-portal General Disclaimer – https://www.ensombl.com/disclaimer/

Global markets may be dominated by the US, but that doesn’t mean the best opportunities are. In this episode, host Andrew Rocks is joined by Kevin Bertoli from PM Capital to explore how long-term, flexible investing can uncover genuine market anomalies around the world. From European banks and global decoupling to inflation, AI and commodity cycles, Kevin explains why they're looking beyond index weights and short-term market narratives to back a small number of high-conviction themes. With valuations stretched in parts of the US and Australian markets, the discussion highlights why flexibility, patience and a truly global opportunity set may matter more than ever. Kevin Bertoli LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinbertoli/ Explore global market opportunities with PM Capital’s Global Companies Fund: https://www.pmcapital.com.au/ General Disclaimer – https://www.ensombl.com/disclaimer/

When markets become captivated by the next big theme, some of the best opportunities can emerge in the places investors have stopped looking. In this episode, host Ben Nash is joined by Allan Gray senior investment specialist Chris Hestelow to explore how a contrarian, bottom-up approach is finding value beneath the market headlines. From AI and semiconductor beneficiaries to healthcare, property, energy and overlooked industrial businesses, Chris explains why a great story doesn’t always make a great investment—and why price still matters. The pair also unpack recent reporting-season volatility, rising index concentration and the case for looking beyond today’s market leaders to build genuinely diversified portfolios. Our distinctive take on investing means that each of our Funds brings something different to portfolios. To learn more, reach out to our team or visit https://www.allangray.com.au/ Chris Hestelow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hestelow-cfa-97264812a/ Ben Nash LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminjnash/ General Disclaimer – https://www.ensombl.com/disclaimer/