Financial Advisers

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Aaron started his career in Financial Services in 2018. After completing his undergraduate degrees in Commerce (Finance Major) and Laws he undertook a Master of Financial Planning and became an authorised Financial Adviser.

Aaron prides himself on his ability to take complex financial matters and distil them into a series of simple decisions for clients.

Certified Financial Planner®
Diploma of Financial Services (Financial Planning)
Advanced Diploma of Financial Services (Financial Planning)
Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology)
Bachelor of Business.

“My focus is working together with clients to help them construct their own personalised financial plan.”

Adam’s extensive experience in financial planning means he can help his clients achieve their goals by growing their investments, protecting their wealth, and managing their financial futures.

With over 10 years’ experience, Adam is one of the First Financial success stories…a graduate of the unique adviser training program they have become known for.

Master of Business (Banking and Finance)

“I truly enjoy the client contact at First Financial, and I take pride in delivering a compelling customer experience to clients.”

Adela began her career in risk advice and private banking, when she graduated.

She was then approached to join another firm as an adviser, where she acquired experience in stockbroking and private wealth management. She loves the culture at First Financial and the opportunities working at the firm can bring.

“It feels like a family … everyone will stop to have a chat throughout out the day. We have the scale of a serious operation without the burden of bureaucracy.”

After completing his undergraduate studies in Finance, Adrian gained knowledge and experience with some of Australia’s largest wealth management firms.

With an abundance of drive and dedication, Adrian is committed to providing tailor made and holistic financial advice to his clients to ensure that their expectations are not only met but far exceeded.

Certified Financial Planner®
Advanced Diploma of Financial Services (Financial Planning)
Bachelor of Applied Science

“I have a genuine enjoyment for what I do. Each day is another opportunity to help someone new.”

Senior Adviser Anthony Dhillon works directly with his clients to provide ongoing, strategic investment advice to assist them to achieve their lifestyle and financial goals both now and in the future.

He specialises in retirement and pre-retirement strategies, SMSFs, investment and personal insurance advice. The office jokester, he values working in an office where the culture is great, and there are always plenty of jokes and stories to share.

Certified Financial Planner®
Advanced Diploma of Financial Planning
Bachelor of Finance

“I enjoy working with my clients. I don’t feel like I work for them, I feel like I work with them. And the culture here at First Financial is so positive … and one where everyone is encouraged to try new things. Failure is not looked down upon. If you don’t succeed you can evaluate and look forward and keep moving.”

Brendan Smith is a loyal family man. After work experience at the firm while at university, he worked two days a week during his final year. So you could say his future looked bright from early on.

The training he’s received from the advisory team at the firm has been incredible, and he’s loved almost every minute.

David thrives on the challenge of helping clients capture what is important to them to build a long-term financial plan that can adapt to changing needs, and one which is aimed at bringing them lasting financial security. David has almost 30 years’ experience in the financial services industry and as an experienced Financial Adviser, David has spent the past 17 years providing holistic financial advice to a broad range of clients. David’s experience is also complemented by having previous roles in investment, marketing, and product teams within the investment management industry in the earlier part of his career.

Certified Financial Planner®
Diploma of Financial Planning
Bachelor of Business (Accountancy)

David specialises in providing strategic investment advice to a wide variety of working and retirement clients. He has extensive experience in the financial services industry, and his advice covers everything from planning for accumulation and preservation of wealth, to the provision of tax effective retirement income streams.

Duncan is a firm believer that quality financial advice empowers people to make great decisions, giving them the confidence to spend more time doing the things they love. Duncan has been a financial planner since 2010 and has extensive experience working with clients from a range of different occupations and backgrounds. He is passionate about developing and maintaining long term relationships with his clients and seeks to make complex strategies easy to understand.

Certified Financial Planner®
Bachelor of Commerce (Business Information Systems & Financial Planning)

As childhoods go, Gavin Colosimo’s was tougher than most. Losing his father as a teenager put a mountain of stress on the family, so as the years progressed, Gavin made decisions directly related to those experiences.

He focused on a double degree in commerce, and decided to go into finance and financial planning for one main reason: to help others mitigate risk.

“I’ve experienced first hand the ramifications of not having proper plans in place. Now it’s my job to help steer people in the right direction. My role is not to dictate to people – it’s to help educate and advise them on their journey. Ultimately they will make their own decisions … I just guide them.”

Certified Financial Planner®
Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance (Financial Planning)
Bachelor of Commerce

There are many of things that make James Wrigley smile throughout the day … but what brings the biggest smile to his face is the appreciation his clients show.

James has been with the core group at First Financial for over 10 years,

and has worked his way through the planner training system from Client Service Manager, through to Associate Adviser, to Senior Adviser. James has recently been made a Principal.

“I’m given a lot of flexibility to try different things, things that could be good for my clients and the clients of the whole firm.” 

Bachelor of Economics and Finance

“I find it really satisfying when I’m able to help a client with something that is causing them stress or anxiety. This is something that gives me real job satisfaction… it’s really rewarding.”

Job satisfaction is extremely important and is one of the main reasons that Joel Gleeson decided to join the First Financial team.

Jon is a dedicated Financial Adviser with a blend of analytical expertise and a passion for building meaningful relationships, utilizing his background in Engineering and small business in Australia and Germany.

Having entered the Financial Services industry in 2018, Jon quickly discovered his affinity for the analytical side of financial planning and finds satisfaction leveraging his skills to help clients navigate complex financial landscapes and assist in making informed decisions to ultimately reduce Clients’ stress and help build confidence.

Josh is a relationship-focused adviser with a desire to achieve the best possible outcome for clients, being the driving force behind his energetic and passionate approach to financial planning.

He is dedicated to developing and maintaining long term relationships with his clients, having worked in financial advice and wealth management since 2011.

Luke has been in the financial services industry since 1998. He has worked in a various administration and management roles across numerous large Australian Superannuation Funds. He has worked as a Financial Planner since 2006 and thoroughly enjoys helping his clients meet their goals and objectives. His goal is to provide holistic advice to his clients ensuring that they receive the most appropriate strategies and solutions.

Bachelor of Commerce (Financial Planning)

“My dad instilled the idea of being good with money into me when I was a kid. I had a saver account for the money I made when I did odd jobs, and that helped me learn about the power of savings and compounding. Having these little lessons about money from an early age got me interested in finance… I wanted to understand about making it work and finding the opportunities that are out there.”

Matthew is focused on becoming a financial planner and he is certainly on the right path.

Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Economics
Diploma of Financial Planning

“Growing up, I was always interested in money and numbers… and I’ve always been very frugal in terms of saving my money. I enjoy the progress and watching my wealth build.

Of course, it was on a much smaller scale than our clients, but I like the idea of assessing where you are now and looking at the tools you have available and then determining the best way to use them – what you can put in place today so that you can get where you want to be in the future. This is where financial planning helps a lot.”

Certified Financial Planner®
Bachelor in Finance
Bachelor in Accounting

“I was initially doing a degree in accounting and finance … and when I got to the financial planning unit I realised I could help people using the tools and skills I had and see some real results … really see people achieve their goals.”

If you think you’re seeing double in the office, you’re not imaging things. Nicole Gullone shares a passion for financial planning with identical twin sister Stefanie.

Nicole got her start at First Financial when she was still at university. She took a vacation work placement … and was offered a graduate position in their training programme when she finished her degree.

Bachelor of Banking and Finance
Bachelor of Accounting

“Ever since I had my first job as a teenager… earning just $50 a week, I’ve been interested in finding out how to make your money work for you… I studied both finance and accounting but definitely found my interest in lay in financial planning.”

Nick Donato decided early on that he wanted to work in the finance industry. Completing both a Bachelor of Banking and Finance and Bachelor of Accounting at Monash University set him on his career path. And joining the team at First Financial as an Associate Adviser was the next step in his progression.

Certified Financial Planner®
Bachelor of Commerce (Finance, Financial Planning and Sports Management)

“It’s not just their money … it’s their whole life you’re helping plan.”

For footy mad financial adviser Nick Thomas, the best part of his job is the relationships formed with clients.

“Meeting clients, discussing plans, and making sure they’re on track and happy … that’s what gives me great satisfaction.

Over time, client relationships deepen and long-standing friendships are developed. Not with everyone of course, but there are many clients I am now proud to call my friends.”

Nigel has over 10 years’ experience in banking and financial services and has been a financial planner since 2007. Nigel’s main areas of expertise and related fields of strategic advice are Superannuation (including Self-Managed), Retirement Income Streams, Centrelink, Wealth Creation and Protection. Nigel is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and holds a Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning from the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (Finsia) and a Commerce/Arts degree from the University of Melbourne.

Pablo joined in 2015, working with pre and post retires to enhance their wealth protection and wealth creation. Pablo enjoys spending time with his clients, ensuring they achieve the best outcomes from their financial situation through a complete understanding of their individual needs.

Pablo holds an Advanced Diploma Financial Planning, Diploma Financial Planning and Diploma of Life Insurance he also holds accreditations in Margin Lending and Self-Managed Super Funds.

Bachelor of Commerce (Finance and Financial Planning)

“I’ve always liked working with numbers… but I wanted to be able to connect with people and have client interaction.

That’s why financial planning is perfect for me… it’s a combination of putting together strategy and number work, but I also get to spend time with clients every day and help them achieve their goals. It really is the perfect mix!”

Relationships are important to Paul. Building trust and rapport with people is central to being a successful financial adviser and that is what he truly enjoys about his role.

Peter has an unwavering passion to enhance the financial journey of his clients, to support them in living their life on their own terms as much as possible.

Peter started his career in 2005, working in the financial planning division of a mid‐tier Melbourne accounting firm. Building on this initial experience as a paraplanner, he expanded into an associate adviser position across separate boutique and national financial planning practices, that ultimately lead to becoming a financial adviser in 2013.

Certified Financial Planner®
Bachelor of Business Administration

Part of Roel Burghouwt’s degree was writing a strategic marketing plan for a Dutch bank.

It was good, very good, and it solidified his decision to change his career path from a zoo keeper to a financial planner. So he said goodbye to his five-year-old-self’s dreams for good.

It was a good decision.With an expertise in pre-retirement planning, financial adviser Roel is part of a bigger picture at First Financial – a phenomenal adviser training program and a unique investment strategy. And that’s just the way he likes it.

Bachelor of Business – Entrepreneurship
Bachelor of Business – Financial Planning

Ryan commits fully to everything he does. Whether he’s assisting his First Financial clients with achieving their financial objectives and dreams or barracking for his beloved Richmond Football Club, you can be certain he’s putting in 100%.

“Helping clients achieve their goals and aspirations is what drives me. I love seeing clients who go beyond what they thought was possible with what they have.”

With his drive, enthusiasm and commitment to professional development, Ryan is a valuable asset to our team.

Certified Financial Planner®
Bachelor of Accounting
Bachelor of Finance

“I’ve built great friendships here so it makes it easy to come to work every day.”

Stefanie Falleti entered the graduate programme in 2011, starting in the client services team, moving through paraplanning and into an associate adviser position alongside Ben Rossi in 2014.

Stef specialises in superannuation and retirement planning … and she loves working with people helping them achieve their goals – and she loves to see people happy and smiling!

Shaun is a big believer in helping people have clarity in their financial situation to meet their lifestyle and financial objectives.

Since 2013 Shaun has worked in a range of different roles, sharpening his skills to be able to provide complex holistic financial advice for all life stages.