Adam Ezerins Advisor spotlight

Adam didn’t set out to become a financial adviser. With a background in biotechnology and science, he describes himself as naturally analytical and curious.

“I’ve always been interested in science. I’m quite analytical and enjoy that aspect of things,” he says. “But I sort of wanted to get into the workforce, and the business side of things started to appeal”.

A role with what was then WHK (through various evolutions to today) set him on a path that’s now spanned 18 years, including a stint working in the UK.

In that time, he’s seen the industry transform. He’s experienced the shift from paper files lining office walls to automation, AI support and increasingly robust compliance frameworks. But while technology has changed the tools, it hasn’t changed what matters most.

“I think it really does come down to simply I just like helping people,” he says.

He explains that many clients arrive unsure of what they actually want from financial advice.

“People often come to us at the start of a journey not even sure what they want out of a financial advice relationship,” he says.

It is through conversation and careful exploration that Adam finds the framework he needs to set his clients up for success.

“You get people suddenly saying, ‘You know what? It would be fantastic to know that work is optional for me. I don’t have to turn up to the office tomorrow if I don’t want to.’”

For Adam, that moment when someone realises they have a choice is powerful.

“I’ve had clients who I presented a plan to, and the week after, they’ve actually pulled the pin on their jobs”, he says. “It is very rewarding when you can present positive choices and life options to clients”

Despite advances in AI and automation, Adam is clear: financial advice is still about people.

“There is a skill in garnishing the information you need to thoroughly understand a client’s potential,” he explains. “It’s not simply about having a booklet of questions to ask, is about asking the right questions”

Each client is different. Each meeting is different.
“The way you run the meeting is going to be very different for one person versus another,” he says. “Each client is on a different journey, and their circumstances are different; it is really important to understand that financial advice is not a one-size-fits-all solution nor is it a transactional relationship. It is about real people with real goals and real challenges”

Adam often conducts home visits, something he genuinely enjoys. Being invited into a client’s personal space quickly builds a connection.

“You start to see the pictures of the family and the holidays, you can gain a holistic understanding of what is important to your client and what they value. This tends to wrap around the goals we’ve been discussing. In many ways, this interaction helps solidify the relationship and the financial plan. I feel pretty good knowing I am contributing to a client’s long-term financial stability”

He sees his role as more than just running numbers. Yes, the modelling and projections matter, but they’re only as good as the information behind them. Health, family dynamics, lifestyle goals, risk appetite, all of it shapes the strategy.

“As a financial planner, I have a big influence on people’s lives,” Adam says. “I take that responsibility very seriously.”

By nature, he describes himself as risk-averse, a trait that flows into the advice he provides.

“I’m naturally very risk averse myself, so I do tend to apply that to my clients, probably even more so,” he says.

There’s an emotional side to advice that often goes unseen.

“It’s hard work, and there’s a lot of emotional energy that goes into it,” Adam says

But it’s also what makes the job meaningful. Clients don’t just share financial details, they share hopes, family complexities and future goals.

For Adam, that’s the true difference between transactional advice and long-term partnership.

It’s about understanding the person behind the portfolio. It’s about asking better questions. It’s about helping clients articulate goals they may not even have voiced before.

And sometimes, it’s about showing someone they can finally make work optional, and then celebrating when they do.

Off the clock, Adam’s navigating junior golf swings (one right-handed, one left-handed), cheering on Collingwood, and squeezing in the occasional round himself. But whether he’s on the fairway or across the table from a client, the philosophy is the same: play the long game, know your angles, and never lose sight of the bigger picture.

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