Mark Smith

Like most financial advisers, I didn’t grow up dreaming of working with investments and superannuation and managing people’s money. As a child I battled with chronic asthma, and decided that I wanted to become a nurse, inspired by the health care professionals that helped and cared for me. However, as fate would have it, what was intended to be a short-term Bank role, proved to be a significant chapter of my life, one which taught me the passion of helping clients through financial advice.

Arriving in Perth in 2013 required me to adapt to a whole new way of working. Not only did I need to get my head around the Australian tax, superannuation and investment landscape, but I had to become familiar with what was important to a whole new demographic of client to what I’d worked with in the UK. Working for two of Australia’s largest banks, I specialised in helping rural clients protect their farms, plan for their retirement and build up their wealth using complex and engaging strategies.

Although very grateful for the experience gained within the banking world, eventually I felt that my desire to provide tailored, strategic advice and had outgrown the rigidity of the institutional advice model, which is what led me to Empire Financial Group. At Empire the unique strategy first approach provides me the platform and support to provide true holistic financial advice to clients, helping them build up their wealth for stronger future outcomes and to protect the most important things in their life.

Today I have over 15 years of experience working in the financial industry and a strong passion for helping client with financial needs, with a proven record of success and skill. My philosophy of always being a ‘trusted adviser’ has no doubt been the driving factor of my achievement in helping so many clients with their financial needs.

As for the nurse within me, I continue to strive towards this goal, with the expectation of finishing my degree within the next 12 months. Although financial planning will always be my occupation, I plan to nurse at least one day a week, likely within the mental health setting. I have a strong belief that people not only have financial needs, but also health, spiritual and well-being needs, which is key to a successful and fruitful life. It's my goal as a future health care professional, to work, support and care for people, so that we can reduce the incidence of suicide in Australia. Through balancing my occupation as a Financial Adviser and some nursing, I’m truly able to find contentment in life.