Getting to Know: Tim Fairbrother

Who are you and what do you do?

I run a holistic financial advice business with a great team of 16 others in the sunny Wairarapa. We help clients across New Zealand to become financially successful providing comprehensive advice in with risk, investment, KiwiSaver, general, and lending. Although we are based in the Wairarapa, around half our clients are outside nationwide. I have been a Certified Financial Planner since 2010 and have recently been elected to chair the Investment Member Advisory Committee within the newly established Financial Advice New Zealand.

How did you get into the industry? 

When I bought my first computer at aged 14, I found excel and set up a mock portfolio from the paper with a mock $1000. My grandad taught me about PE ratios and corporate earnings and I was hooked. Grant Piercy then hired me into my first job from university working for TOWER Managed Funds in Wellington. Here I worked with some great role models and mentors – Fred Dodds, Stephanie McGreevy, Ralph Stewart, Barry Read, Bryan Hooper, Aaron Klee, Jeff Page, Graeme Edwards, Pete Conroy, Adrian Cronin, Mike Maloney, I could go on all day. So many people that have gone on to have a great impact on the financial advice industry.

If there is one thing you would like to change about the financial advice industry, what would it be?  

The perception that all financial advisers are trying to push products. Most of the industry is focussed on people and their needs, not product-pushing. It is a small number that let us down by being focused on themselves, and this is a short-term view.

What’s the best advice you have ever received?

My dad and mum taught me that ‘the harder I work, the luckier I seem to get, and more doors seem to open.’