Michele Blake appointed head of distribution at Kōura Wealth

Michele Blake has been appointed as the Head of Distribution at Kōura Wealth to lead the company's advisor channel, which serves a wide network of financial advisors across New Zealand. This appointment comes amidst the company's ongoing rapid growth.

Blake brings over 15 years of experience in the financial advisory sector, having previously worked at AIA in senior relationship management and retention roles.

Most recently, she served at Advice First, where she led teams in Wealth, KiwiSaver, and Risk advice. Her extensive experience is anticipated to aid in educating financial advisors on leveraging KiwiSaver to enhance client relationships and build stronger businesses.

"Michele brings a unique perspective; having held both relationship management and advisor management roles, she understands advisors and how to help them succeed," stated Rupert Carlyon, Founder and Managing Director of Kōura Wealth.

"Her experience will make her a valuable resource for financial advisors who are currently navigating the challenging regulatory and economic environments."

Kōura Wealth's financial advisor network, referred to within the company as 'Facilitators,' has grown significantly. The company attributes this growth to its Facilitator Model, which simplifies the process for mortgage and risk advisors to help their clients maximise their KiwiSaver accounts without needing to attain Level 5 Investment qualifications. Since the introduction of the Facilitator Model, over 500 advisors have been onboarded, assisting thousands of clients in optimising their KiwiSaver accounts.

Blake emphasises the importance of KiwiSaver for both clients and advisors and is enthusiastic about integrating it further into advisory businesses. "KiwiSaver is the largest investment account most Kiwis will ever have, yet many clients don't know who to turn to for help and as a result, they just leave it alone," she noted.

"Kōura Wealth's unique model allows all financial advisors to help their clients with KiwiSaver; meaning more Kiwis have access to advice and can make better decisions about how their KiwiSaver should be invested."

Kōura Wealth has reported a 150% increase in Assets Under Management (AUM) over the past 12 months. The company's growth has been driven by its distinctive funds, low fees, strong returns, and exceptional advisor experience. The firm has also doubled its headcount in the same period as part of its ongoing investment in team capability to maintain high service levels. Carlyon added, "Michele joining is another example of us continuing to invest in capability to allow us to deliver amazing service levels for all stakeholders."

Blake expressed her excitement about joining Kōura Wealth, a company she believes stands out in the KiwiSaver market.

"Kōura Wealth doesn't look, sound or think like other KiwiSaver providers. I look forward to playing a key role in the growth of this fast-growing challenger brand as it continues to redefine the KiwiSaver landscape for its staff, customers, and advisors," she concluded.