Sam - Partner Firm 2

Sam leads the wealth division of an extensive accounting, business advisory, and wealth management firm located in Mildura, Victoria. The firm services a diverse client base: farmers, including multi-generational farming families, regional industries, medical professionals, SMEs, and high-net-worth individuals.

Sam is driving the expansion of the firm’s wealth advice division. He focuses on operational efficiency, client service, and scalable growth.

Before joining Akambo, this firm was licensed through a Melbourne-based AFSL. However, the team agreed there was a disconnect from their regional needs due to internal instability, including a lack of consistency, multiple contacts providing conflicting advice, outdated software, excessive documentation creating unnecessary bottlenecks, and extended turnaround times.

This presented an opportunity to seek a licensing partner with the expertise and experience to meet the firm’s ambitions to scale the advice service, implement high-functioning operational systems, support the business in attracting new advisers, and provide a smooth transition to maintain momentum with existing clients.

A recommendation from a similar firm was the catalyst for them to begin talks with Akambo. It became clear that Akambo offered more than just licensing; it provided a full-service suite with high-level support and products, which offered Sam and his team a positive and long-term solution. They chose Akambo for its:

• Streamlined systems and workflows, centralised through Xplan.
• Clear and consistent compliance guidance.
• The collaborative support model is where Akambo is an extension of the advisory team.

“A significant value add for us was the access to a proactive investment team. The Akambo investment team will attend client meetings and converse with clients about their investment strategy. This brings our clients a welcome layer of security and reinforces the transparency we value highly at our firm,” says Sam

Transitioning will come with a few challenges; however, by working collaboratively, the process is fast and with minimal disruption to daily operations. Once the transition was complete, the relationship provided their partners with the foundation to shift from stabilising their operations to strategically growing the client base.

Key elements of the experience included:

• Professional and timely support across advice, admin, and compliance functions.
• Clear responses to requests, with actionable feedback.
• Healthy personal relationships with the Akambo team, who Sam described as being on the “same page” and invested in mutual success.
• A simplified tech stack, reducing duplication and freeing up time.

“Akambo works like a well-oiled machine without feeling like a production line. You know that when you lodge a SOA, Statement of Advice, it will be actioned quickly and accurately”.

The partnership with Akambo has allowed Sam and his team to focus on growing their wealth division. While the regional location creates recruitment challenges, the operational backbone Akambo provides has made growth feasible, and the cultural alignment where both parties work toward shared success strengthens the communication and client outcomes.

“The investment team is very open and approachable, unlike others we’ve dealt with before. The partnership provides a ‘big city’ solution while maintaining our grassroots, trusted relationships.”

Akambo offers finance advisers, advice firms, and accounting practices tailored licensing and investment solutions that remove the administrative and compliance burden while enabling the business to maintain its autonomy. We nurture long-term partner relationships focused on success and transparency.

Contact us today and get back to doing what you do best.