The ABC Financial Group origins date back to the early 1970’s. In the early days the business focused on traditional accounting and business advisory. After the introduction of compulsory Superannuation in the 1990’s, ABC expanded its services to include retirement planning and superannuation advice.
In 2001, following the creation of the Corporations Act and the laws governing the future of financial advice, ABC Financial Planning Pty Ltd was established. Since that date, ABC has held an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL no. 226470).
Move forward to today, ABC provides advice to approximately 1,000 clients from all over Australia. Our staff specialise in retirement planning, SMSFs, investment management, Superannuation, lending, and insurance advice.
We deliver these services via three specialised entities.
Our Advisers
Mark Small
- Managing Director, SMSF Specialist Adviser and Investment Manager
Mark Small is an ex-investment banker with over 30 years’ experience at the coal face of the financial markets in Australia focused primarily on the creation of financial products tailored to the superannuation market. Mark’s investment banking career spanned 22 years working in the dealing rooms of Bankers Trust, Macquarie Bank, UBS and Merrill Lynch. During that time Mark was responsible for the creation of innovative wealth creation and risk management products for both the retail and wholesale markets including self-managed super funds.
Mark holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree, a Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment, Derivatives Accreditation (Level 2), and a Diploma of Finance and Mortgage Broking Management. When he’s not focused on the investment markets, Mark enjoys spending time with his wife and 5 children as well as a wide range of sporting interests including golf, cycling, rugby, cricket and AFL.
Gavin Conyers
- Victorian State Manager and SMSF Specialist Adviser
Gavin is a senior SMSF professional with more than 20 years’ experience in Banking & Finance, Financial Services, SMSF Software and IT solutions. Gavins passion as an SMSF Specialist Adviser is to help people prepare for retirement and tax minimisation. Gavins understanding of all aspects of the SMSF sector including accounting, audit, administration, data integration, portfolio management, outsourcing, and software solutions make him an asset to the ABC Financial Group and our clients.
Gavin began his career in SMSF software before moving into the advice sector. Prior to joining the ABC Group, Gavin worked in senior management roles at Deloitte and NAB in developing some of Australia’s leading SMSF administration and accounting solutions.
Gavin is CPA qualified and holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) and is an accredited Financial Adviser. During his spare time Gavin enjoys keeping fit by training to climb mountains and enjoys flying.
Chris Arnold
- SMSF Specialist Adviser
Chris is an SMSF Association Specialist SSA® which is independently recognised for SMSF expertise and knowledge, an industry leading designation, which sets him apart as an industry leader. Licenced Financial Planner (since 1993) and ATO Registered Tax Agent for SMSF’s, Chris has over 40 years’ experience in the financial services industry.
Chris commenced his career with the ANZ Bank in 1979, prior to establishing his own self-managed superannuation business in 1996, with the then establishment of ABC Financial Planning Pty Ltd (as co-founder) in 2001.
With strong focus on client relationships, Chris provides holistic and individualised financial advice to professionals, self-funded retirees and small business owners, with a broad range of skills for delivering advice that is tailored to clients’ needs. It is this strategic approach combined with a knowledge of investments, superannuation, retirement strategies, family wealth protection and self-managed superannuation funds that make him a trusted adviser.
The ABC Investment Committee
With a specific focus on direct investments, our investment committee have decades experience in portfolio management, share market research, and risk management.
The role of the investment committee is to optimise returns having consideration to client’s risk profiles.
The investment committee meets on a regular basis to review all constituents of the portfolio having consideration to the macro and micro economic climate and the ever-changing investment landscape. The investment committee follow the ABC four pillar philosophy as the foundation of their decisions.
Contact us and speak to one of the team today – they would be delighted to answer any questions you may have.