I began my career in the financial advice industry in 2003. As my knowledge and understanding increased I found myself getting more and more frustrated with the focus of the industry. The vast majority of the industry was focused on selling products not advice. This never made sense to me as from my experience as an adviser most people never came in and asked for a product. What they wanted was advice on how to solve their problems and achieve the outcomes that were important to them. I decided to setup Stephen & Partners Wealth Management in order to advise clients exactly how I would want to be advised. The sole focus of my company was to help my clients achieve the financial outcomes that were important to them. This meant focusing on their agenda not mine. Along the way I realised that my preferred clients were entrepreneurial small business owners who were focused on growing their businesses. This was because they were the clients that I knew I could add the most value to. Importantly I ran a small entrepreneurial business just like them and shared many of the same problems they had. As a result I developed a unique advice process which was aimed at solving their most pressing business and financial problems. In 2022, I joined forces with Aintree Group - an advisory firm in Melbourne with a focus on providing business owners and professionals with long-term support and advice in all areas of their lives. I am currently the Director of the financial planning business unit, Aintree Group Wealth. The Big PictureI believe that small businesses are responsible for most of the positive changes in our world. They add enormous value to society ranging from employing the majority of people to innovating the way that we live our lives. However to make this happen small business owners have to make a significant investment in their business - both personally and financially. My core goal is to help small business owners maximise the probability that this significant personal investment pays off for them and their family.Specialties: My speciality is working with owners of entrepreneurial small businesses helping them grow, protect and exit their businesses.