We are all very proud and excited about Jenny’s achievement so we asked her a few questions to give us a greater understanding of what this means to her.

What was it like when you heard your name called as the 2013 AFA Adviser of the Year?

Totally amazed and overwhelmed! I’d hoped that it was my year especially with all the work that myself and the JBS team had put in over the past 12 months. It was probably the most surreal experience of my life.

What will the award mean for JBS in the coming 12 months?

It will provide us with a huge opportunity for growth in the future as well as exposure to further potential clients. We see the award as not only recognition of the hard work we have previously put in but also as a motivator for the future. We are constantly striving for improvement and want to ensure that our clients are always well informed, educated and feel loved and valued by us.

The award process examined every aspect of our business,  including financials, business processes, succession planning, client satisfaction and team engagement.  The feedback we have been able to obtain through this is fantastic and will allow us to continually improve in all areas.  As we did last year where I was a finalist, we again plan to examine the results from these survey’s and then look at what we can do to improve on what we do.

What did you do to achieve this award?

A lot of hard work but it wasn’t just me. The JBS team are fantastic support. We all work hard but also have a lot of fun along the way. My aim was to create a work environment that promotes a balance of professionalism, hard work and career progression with a good level of fun to provide a workplace that everyone wants to come to work.

My wonderful clients also had a hand in this award as without them, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do. They are the driving force of why we are here and we never forget that. We aim to provide the highest level of service to our clients and the survey’s completed reflect that we are achieving this.

Would you like to say anything further?

I want to thank both AFA and Zurich for holding the award. The process is extremely involved and is at a caliber that ensures all chosen finalists are at the highest level within the industry . The award promotes quality advise to all Australians which is something I am  very passionate about myself.

Jenny’s done it! It’s her year!

We are so excited to announce that Jenny Brown was announced 2013 AFA Adviser of the Year. This award recognises all the hard work and dedication that Jenny and the JBS team have shown over the past 12 months to provide the highest level of service for our clients.

Jenny’s aim for the coming 12 months is to build on the success and further improve and innovate the way in which we interact with our clients. In addition, she aims to elevate the level of professionalism within the financial planning industry.

JBS Financial Strategists is taking team building to a whole new level; we’ve registered for the March 2014 Tough Mudder!  And we need your help!

We considered doing a marathon but let’s face it, marathons are boring and we wanted to do something a little more challenging!  And there’s no better way to challenge our camaraderie than to run, jump, crawl and fall through 20km of mud, fire, ice-water, and 10,000 volts of electricity!!  So how can you help?  You can clasp your hands together and sing “Star Light Star bright, the first star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight”….I wish for JBS to complete the Tough Mudder challenge!

Well not really, because everyone in the JBS Team is quite capable of completing the obstacle riddled challenge designed by the British Special Forces….or so we think.  But for a lot of young Australians, battling a life threatening illness is their challenge and that’s why the JBS team has partnered up with ‘Make A Wish Australia’ to help make real wishes come true.  Since the 80’s, Make A Wish has granted over 7000 wishes great and small; from visiting the Gold Coast Theme Parks to meeting Jackie Chan, and even becoming an honorary Police Officer.

Your generous donations will not only help light the fires we need to complete Tough Mudder, but the funds will go to a worthy cause – Make A Wish Australia. Click here to donate!

You may have noticed from a recent post on our facebook page that we now have a Foosball table in our office.

We’ve had a ball with comps running in lunch breaks and after work. We’ve always been a fun team that likes hanging out together, but the table has just given us something to play with and break up our day. We all work hard so having a short break just keeps us refreshed and motivated.

So our office is now home to:

• 1 Foosball table
• 3 Nerf guns
• 1 Mad hatter (besides Brodie)
• 2 minions that giggle
• 1 magic 8 ball

What fun things do you have at your workplace to break your day up?

JBS Financial Strategists are excited to announce that we have chosen Make-A-Wish^® as our charity of choice.

Our first donation has already contributed to a child’s wish coming true like Cooper’s wish to go to the theme parks on the Gold Coast.  We look forward to helping many more children like Copper achieve their goals and have some fun along the way.

Cooper’s Story

Cooper was only five years old when he was diagnosed with Wilms’ tumour.  It was the first day of his first school holidays, when he told his mum, Jacqui, that he had a tummy ache.  The very next day the family received the shocking news that Cooper had cancer.

It was during Cooper’s chemotherapy treatment that a hospital social worker told Jacqui about Make-A-Wish^®.

After several discussions it was clear that Cooper wanted to go to the Gold Coast theme parks more than anything else.

The Make-A-Wish team planned Cooper’s wish perfectly, right down to the finest detail.  Finally when he was well enough it was time for his wish to be granted.

Whilst on the Gold Coast Jacqui recalls that the family ate Cooper’s favourite – Chinese food – almost every night! “Cooper got to make all the decisions whilst we were away because we told him it was his wish!”

The family visited Australia Zoo and Movie World, where Cooper got to meet Batman, all as part of the wish. Jacqui said, “These came an equal first in Cooper’s highlights.”

Today Cooper is doing really well.  He is in Year One and the time he missed from school during his treatment has not hampered his progress at all.

To the people who made this all possible Jacqui says, “We are very grateful!  The wish gave us, and more importantly Cooper, a positive ending to a difficult time and he often brings up memories from the trip.”

The aim of Make-A-Wish^® is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

So if you’re looking for a charity to support, we hope that you too consider Make-A-Wish^®

Once we tick into May I will have been at JBS for 5 years.  My current role is to automate and improve the systems we use on the SMSF side of the business.  We are well underway with the project and are looking to utilise all the technology and software available to ensure the SMSF client experience is unlike any other while encompassing the values of transparency, efficiency and accuracy.

Once the work day ends you can find me on the golf course, boarding the slopes, reading a book or playing my guitar. Some say I also have a mild travel addiction, they are not wrong. In my 24 years on planet earth I have had the pleasure of exploring 25 different countries, all amazing and beautiful in their own right. My goal is to continually stay at least 1 country ahead of my age.  What attracts me to travelling so much is that it opens your eyes beyond any form of written education. It also gives you invaluable perspective and memories that stay with you for life.

Some of the countries I have visited include; Poland, Croatia, India, Switzerland, Belgium, Thailand, UAE, Israel and New Zealand.  I am always planning my next trip as it gives me something to work that extra bit harder towards. South America for the soccer world cup is currently topping my list. Hopefully the Aussies qualify!

Below are a few snaps from my global escapades. From the top left; Paris, Budapest, Agra, Breckenridge, Berlin & Venice.

We are so excited to announce that JBS Financial Strategists has won the Engaging through Innovation and Quality Award at the recent Professional Investment Services Conference in Hawaii.  While the award is a mouthful to say, we gracefully accept it with pride.

The award recognises an innovative engagement strategy delivered by a practice within the PIS network.  The Engaging through Innovation and Quality Award is assessed using the following criteria:

• Has a noble purpose anchored to generating positive awareness of the role of the financial adviser
• Increases financial literacy and understanding in the community
• Offers innovative strategies to engage new and/or existing clients in a repeatable and sustainable fashion
• Had clear strategic intent in its design, execution and expected outcomes and delivered on those objectives
• Demonstrated how the practice delivers quality service for their customers and/or develops new business through targeted networking and referrals
• Received feedback to endorse that it was well organised and delivered
• Involved referral partners and used them strategically to generate new business
• Employs effective marketing practices to differentiate themselves from their competitors.

Well done team and thank you for all the support and positive feedback from all our clients and colleagues over the past year.

I’ve been a part of the JBS team for over 2 years now and deal with all things Super and Investment related.  My job involves me assisting clients reach their financial goals by reviewing their current and future financial positions via performance figures, statements and fund research.  I also help to write that huge document that all your recommendations come in.

One thing most people don’t know about me is I’m a car enthusiast!  I started saving for my first car at the age of 16 and by age 18 purchased my dream car, a’99 S15 in white.  The insurance premiums alone nearly sent me broke paying the equivalent to the cost of a new car over the period of 3 years.  But I’ve always thought it was money well spent.  Today, I still have my white beast and still love a good cruise from time to time.

Aside from my love of cars, I compete in Soccer and actively attend the gym, up to 5 times per week!  I believe it’s important to keep active, especially spending an average of 9 hours per day on my backside.

Having been with JBS since November 2006 it is not unreasonable to cop a little from the younger crew for being a senior member, although water off a duck’s back really.  In short and in layman’s terms, my position @ JBS is to help people get what they want.  I’m here to get clients thinking of their future and to throw a few tips their way to help ensure their dreams are met.  I’m here to educate, and clients love learning ways to improve their lives.  As such, it’s not unreasonable to spend my nights increasing my own knowledge all things financial planning over a drink or two.  It’s what I love doing!

Outside of work nothing gets the blood pumping more than sport.  Whilst participating in competitive sport has become non-existent in recent years, getting involved in games emotionally is still a massive part of my weekends.

My passion is AFL and the Western Bulldogs my team of choice.  Having witnessed first hand 8 heart breaking losing preliminary finals you would forgive me for having thrown in the towel, however as we know sport is a magical world and it wont be long before I see the Bulldogs holding the cup high.  Sport, you rule!

Hi Readers!  So you’re interested in yours truly?

For starters, I’ve been with the JBS Team for 2 and a half years bringing my total experience in the Financial Services industry to just over 6.

My role within JBS is Risk Client Services and I take care of all things relating to Life Insurance, by helping our clients protect what’s important to them; their Families, Assets and Income.

How do I protect all of that you ask?  I’m a superhero disguised as a Risk Client Services Officer!  Just kidding!  I simply complete a complex analysis of the aforementioned using techniques bestowed upon me from great minds.

Have to keep it vague or everyone will be doing it!

So what makes ME tick you ask?

Like most I enjoy traveling, playing/watching sports, training in mixed martial arts and I recently got hitched in Las Vegas!  So maybe not quite like most.  I’d blog about my wedding but my Wife prefers to keep it out of the public eye.  Oooo, you’re intrigued now?! Too bad!

Something a lot of people may or may not know about me is I love all things photography – Places, Selfies, People, Food, Pets, Abstract…etc etc.

I’ve done a bit of traveling over the years and took thousands of pictures, after reviewing them I realised that 99% were rubbish or inadequate depictions of my memories.  So I said to myself, “It’s time to turn that 99% rubbish into 99% AWESOME!”…verbatim, aloud.   How you may ask?  I simply learnt how to use my camera…properly.  I studied a little, attended a few workshops and now I shoot around 60% awesomely, well at least I think so.

Here’s a snapshot of my work for you to enjoy, which can also be viewed on my Instagram – http://www.instagram.com/itookdispic