In 2009 Paul was honoured by AXA as the winner of its national annual Advisers award, the Gerald Lippman Perpetual Trophy. AXA Financial Advice Network General Manager Andrew Waddell, said the award considers a number of aspects of the Adviser’s contribution to the AXA Financial Advice Network.
“Each year we assess professional and practice development, feedback from colleagues and the contribution made by the individual to their local and wider community, as well as the industry. For these reasons, the award is the highest honour AXA Financial Advice Network can bestow on one of its Advisers,” he said.
Mr Waddell said Paul has continually exceeded all of these criteria.
Paul joined AXA 16 years ago as a paraplanner in one of AXA’s leading businesses in Newcastle, until becoming a salaried planner two years later.
He then branched out into his own business and built a strong referral network with other AXA Advisers. Three years later these Advisers joined forces to create Crest Financial Services and Paul has since become a major shareholder and managing director.
After commencing the new practice, Paul undertook a massive re-engineering program, he implemented a succession planning process and invested in the business to increase resources.
Crest Financial Services is now AXA’s largest practice in the Hunter Region, providing employment for 23 people in the Newcastle office.
While Paul is extremely busy with the practice, he also speaks at a number of peer sessions and industry seminars. He is an active member of the local Financial Planning Association, is an active participant in events and workshops and contributes heavily to a number of charity events including Ronald McDonald House, Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and Newcastle’s Hunter Orthopaedic School.