Advisers
Adam Smith
Succession Adviser
Managing Director & Responsible Manager
With a background as an insurance specialist, Adam has been advising clients since 1990. He has built a strong reputation for professional advice and a genuine care to understand what is important to clients so they achieve the best possible outcome.
Adam is focused on helping individuals and business owners with insurance funding solutions, estate planning, business succession & farming succession and claims advocacy. He is just as content to address the simple issues as well as complex business structures as he understands that getting the funding and estate plans right is critically important no matter what stage you are in life. He also believes in being there when it matters most at claim time.
Adam is passionate about sharing his knowledge and he offers clients informed and empowered strategies to help them feel they can make sound decisions about their future.
Adam continues to invest in his growth as a professional and has been actively involved in the industry:
- Adviser of the Year Award 2008, based on best practice and contribution to the industry and community
- AFA Board
- Insurer Boards
He has strong links to the Disability community providing estate planning for families who have a child with a disability and is a former Board Director for Nulsen Disability Services and a current sponsor of As We Are.
When Adam is not working he enjoys spending time keeping active with his family and dog, Harley, fishing and boating at Rottnest and enjoys watching AFL, Rugby and Cricket.
Michael Sayer
Succession Adviser
Chairman
Mike joined the Financial Services industry in 1981 and subsequently took the (then) unusual step of specialising in insurance risk protection.
In the early 1990’s he formed The Corporate Will Company specialising in Business Succession and Continuity Planning and later developed processes to assist clients to achieve their legacy objectives through personal and business Estate Planning.
In 2006 he co-founded Willpower Legal, a specialist law firm providing Estate and Succession Planning services to advisers, business owners and families.
The fusion of legal services and risk management provided innovative solutions for business and individuals and, later, for the disability community where Mike has a passion for facilitating a safe and secure future for people with special needs.
He is a Graduate of the University of WA in Business Studies, has a Diploma in Financial Services and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management. He was a founding member of the Family Business Association and is a member of the Resolution Institute and the National Insurance Broker’s Association. Since its inception he has been a member of the Board of Cam Can Inc., an organisation providing individualised support to people who are vulnerable and involving some 600 families.
He is a passionate Rugby Union follower (and very ex-player) and loves sailing, skiing and Pinot Noir.
He is married to Kate with two adult children.
Luke Towers
Succession Adviser
Luke has been in the financial planning industry since he graduated in 2011, finding early on in his career he was drawn towards helping others on the matters that could have the biggest impact on their lives.
After witnessing the benefits that appropriate planning can have in the realm of ‘succession’, Luke has naturally specialised in helping families and businesses put together strategies for what would happen if the unexpected was to occur.
Luke loves to understand what is important to clients and to build long term relationships with them – being there to help them as they progress through the ‘ages and stages’ of their life. Most of all, he prides himself on being there for them when it matters the most.
As a Certified Financial Planner® Luke has achieved the highest financial planning designation worldwide to go along with his Masters of Financial Planning and Bachelor of Commerce degrees. However, it’s not his qualifications or professionalism which set him apart, it is his genuine warmth and empathy which are on display every day.
A family man, Luke enjoys spending his time outside of work with his wife Molly and 2 year old son Charlie. Luke remains involved in cricket which is both a passion and former career of his (Luke previously represented Western Australia on 16 occasions). Luke also has links to the disability community with many varied roles in this sector – a contribution which he is looking to continue to build on in the years ahead.
Client Services
Keran Sjoland
Operations Manager
Estate Services Manager
Having worked in the financial planning industry for more than 10 years in administration and office management Keran brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our estate facilitation team.
One of the biggest drivers for Keran is to make things work better and as she is exceptionally good at juggling priorities it makes her a vital asset to the team. Keran is our go to project specialist and is constantly on the look out to refine our internal processes to make sure our business runs smoothly behind the scenes.
Outside of work Keran enjoys keeping fit at boot camp sessions and running around after her 3 young children.
Denise Naughton
Client Services Manager
Claims Manager
Denise joined Succession Matters at the beginning of 2019, as our Client Services Manager. She has been involved in many areas of the financial planning industry, having worked in large insurance companies as well as smaller boutique financial planning businesses and has experienced the changes and challenges over this time.
Denise is passionate about providing the best possible experience for our clients and strives to ensure our processes will deliver this outcome.
Denise is a keen traveller and loves exploring new places and having adventures. Her weekends are often spent camping around our beautiful state, enjoying a local wine. She also enjoys hiking, walking and attends Zumba classes twice a week.
Chelcie Groves
Client Services
Advice Construction
Chelcie has been working in the Financial Services industry for just under 5 years. She has worked in various administrative and client service roles covering many aspects of Financial Planning including Superannuation, Investments, Estate Planning and Insurance.
She has a strong passion for providing the best possible client service and ensuring that everything runs smoothly in the background. When she isn’t in the office, Chelcie often spends her time along the beautiful coast lines that Perth has to offer with a coffee in hand and energetic pup by her side.
Coralie Prattley
Client Services
Coralie has three years experience in the financial services industry, working in small financial planning practices. She has a wealth of knowledge around insurance and understands the importance of how insurance can benefit every person in their time of need. Coralie is passionate in providing the best service she can to all clients.
Coralie enjoys spending time with family and friends on the weekends and is a keen gamer with many hours spent on her computer playing online games with her friends.
Karen Ellis
Client Services
Together with Keran, Karen manages our estate facilitation service. People are often time-poor and Karen understands that dealing with meetings and completing paperwork is often a low priority in people’s lives. Her passion is to efficiently liaise with clients, lawyers and other professionals to keep things progressing and help people get their estate documentation completed in a timely manner – not always an easy task!
With experience in financial services spanning 25 years and varied roles in investment administration, customer service, events management and adviser training, Karen is used to dealing with many different people. This experience is critical to help us keep moving things forward so we can deliver the very best in advice in our estate facilitation service.
Karen’s focus in life is to work on trying not to sweat the small stuff. Something she says is not easy but very necessary! A few years ago when she and her son took up guitar lessons and he very quickly became better than her, what was Karen’s next step? The story she is sticking to is that she decided not to sweat it and she and her husband now enjoy relaxing and listening to her son’s beautiful music.