Human Resources
HR Consultant providing wholistic HR support to financial planning and related practices.
Expert Insight
All great businesses comprise of great people. At the same time, employees represent one of the greatest challenges to business owners, leaders and managers. Whether you are looking to create a successful and sustainable business for the long term, preparing your business for sale or merging practices together, it’s critical that you acquire, retain and develop the right talent for your practice. This means ensuring that you are not only compliant with your legislative HR requirements, but that you create an engaging environment that supports the team’s growth. Failure to do so can result in costly and time consuming people issues that impact on your brand, productivity and realisation of your long-term vision.
How can we help?
People Focused is a HR consultancy that specialises in providing HR support to the financial planning and related practices. With over 10 years’ experience working exclusively in the wealth management sector, we understand the challenges faced by practices navigating the changing landscape. We provide a suite of HR services to businesses that understand the value of HR, but don’t require a permanent resource. These include:
- Recruitment
- Performance management concerns
- Workcover matters
- HR policies and processes
- Development and succession planning (including Professional Year programs)
- Mergers and acquisitions
Whether you are seeking support for a one-off project or establishing a retainer relationship, People Focused strives to help you create the team and culture necessary to realise your vision.
Christine Bau
Christine is the founder and Principal of People Focused, a HR Consulting firm specialising in the financial planning sector. A highly experienced HR practitioner and accredited coach, Christine has spent over 15 years working across all facets of HR, predominately with boutique financial planning practices. Her extensive experience working within the sector means that she has a strong appreciation of the changing landscape and the impact on employers and employees, along with the needs and expectations of both parties. Christine is an experienced public speaker, having presented at conferences both here and overseas. Most recently she was involved in the opening workshop for the FPA Congress 2019. She is also a regular contributor of several online publications. Prior to establishing People Focused Christine worked as a senior HR leader with various mid-tier accounting firms, legal organisations and independent financial planning practices. She holds a Bachelor in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations, Cert IV in Training and Assessment and Diploma in Workplace Coaching. Christine is the mother of two children – Isaac and Sophia and has a lagotto named Luna. When she isn’t working, attending kids sporting events or walking the dog, she enjoys exercising and cooking for family and friends.
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Our Success Stories
Hear what companies have to say about
their experience using Forte
Gary Wills
Wills Financial Planning
Business sale
I had heard Steve talk at a seminar about the sale of FP practices. I had kept the information on Steve in a file and made contact with him when I was ready to sell. I found Steve to be very professional, ethical and diligent. After providing him with the detailed information he requested, he then proceeded with the sale process. I was expecting this to take 18 month to 2 years. Within a few weeks Steve had a number of ASX listed companies and advisers whom were interested in purchasing my asset. The Sale documents were signed on 6 months later
Mark Euvrard
Libertas
Business Sale
Forte’s focus at all time is on the client outcomes or in my case the advisers we looked after. The decision making is a large part on culture and then on the commercial aspects of the transaction. It is not easy to sell your business but it gives great comfort to work with professionals who have networks, processes and understand the marketplace intimately.
Dan Walsh
Tailored Wealth
Business sale
Ultimately it was a very positive experience working with the team at Forte. Steve was committed from day 1 to finding the right fit for my business & clients. A sale of any business has its challenges but Steve's processes, experience & communication ensured a smooth journey and positive outcome for all parties. If I were to do it all over again, I would certainly engage Forte Asset Solutions.... because if you are going to do something, do it right.
Jim Taggart
The Taggart Group
Business sale
I can never thank Steve Prendeville and the Forte team for making such an important decision, seamless enriching and undertaken at a level that was so professional and diligent. Steve is an incredible person, highly intelligent, extremely commercial, sympathetic,and respectful of how businesses are to be bought,sold or merged with the right culture and people. If you are considering any of these particular transactions in your business Steve Prendeville, his staff and business is the organisation to deal with. I cannot recommend them highly enough and I say publicly thank you, thank you, thank you for what you did for me, our business and family.
Andy Gowers
Time Advice
Business sale
Having never sold a business before, we were understandably nervous but we received invaluable guidance, support and advice through a lengthy but ultimately worthwhile process. Forte's experienced, steady views on things were fantastic. We have now successfully merged our business with a firm that is an ideal place for our clients and our staff - mission accomplished!
Anuj Shangle
Time Advice
Business sale
It was fantastic to deal with Steve and his team. We are so happy with the outcome they have managed to accomplish for us.Client care and cultural alignment were the two crucial factors for us. I believe we have not only achieved that but achieved a complete win-win for all the stakeholders involved. It was only made possible with Forte’s ongoing help, patience, systematic approach, professional guidance, and extensive network.I am truly grateful for all the hard work that the Forte team put in to assist us with the transaction and would be very happy to recommend their services to my peers in the industry.