Astute makes bold move in Victoria

ASTUTE Financial Management has continued its expansion into the Victorian mortgage market through an agreement with Alliance Financial Group.

Alliance Financial Group is headed by Craig Dres, a former AXA executive; Ashley Playsted, formerly of Mortgage National (which merged with Alliance in 2007); and Greg Hocking, co-founder of Victorian real estate empire Hocking Stuart.

Astute’s director Brad Wood said this was an exciting phase of development for the business as it continues its national expansion.

“We are pleased to have formalised our agreement with Alliance Financial Group as part of our Victorian expansion,” Wood said. “There are strong synergies between the two organisations with both operating under the same philosophies,”

Under the agreement Alliance Financial Group will be responsible for training, development, compliance, and recruitment for Astute in the Victorian market.

Hocking, who sold out of his leading real estate franchise Hocking Stuart last year, said the partnership with Astute allowed Alliance Financial Group to ramp up its presence in the mortgage market.

“This strategic partnership is geared towards meeting the needs of a rapidly changing mortgage market,” Hocking said. “We focus on working with real estate agents to allow them to provide valuable financial solutions to their clients,”

Astute now operates nationally with representation in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia.

Australian Property Journal