Mike & Chris Carney

Getting someone to look after your savings and help you achieve a financial plan with a long term view of your life and how you want to live it, can seem quite daunting! Well it is very daunting, particularly when you have got to where you are by yourself. 

It requires a lot of trust to pass your financial future to someone else. To have someone that you will be confident with, that will work with you to come up with the strategies that will suit your life plan is not easy. 

Well, over ten years ago, I was introduced to Brad Stewart and I have not looked back since. 

Brad, after knowing what I wanted, came up with strategy that we both agreed on. We meet quite often to review my plan and make the necessary adjustments. There has been quite a few changes in that 10 year period, I survived the Global Financial Crisis, maybe with some minor bruises, but I am well and truly in front now. Times keep changing, but with Brad’s advice we change too. 

So if you are looking for a man who will advise you with your financial planning, give Brad a call. He takes care of my money as he would his own and I am confident he would with yours. 

The Late Mike Carney
Mike Carney Toyota

Brad and the team at Evolution Financial have ensured the transition from one generation to the next occurred seamlessly working closely with myself since Mikes passing in 2017.

They have the breadth of investment and financial knowledge to provide outstanding guidance and foresight to manage the finances and to ensure the entities carry on as was intended whilst being mindful of potential future opportunities.

Chris Carney
Mike Carney Toyota

Barry and Maree Tognola

I have known Brad for over 15 years. As the CEO of the firm, then known as WHK-TCM Smith, I was responsible for employing him to manage the Firms Financial Planning Division. During the next 9 years, at which time I retired from the firm, I worked closely with him and it was through his efforts a significant Financial Planning practice was developed. Brad was well accepted by the clients he dealt with. He provided financial advice to a wide range of clients on a variety of products over those years and there was seldom any adverse comments on his style and advice.

Maree was also a part of the Banking system for twelve years and felt many Financial Planners spoke their "own language" rather than in simple layman's terms. She too met Brad 11 years ago and has referred clients to him because of his down to earth approach and his ability to always relate the facts in an easy to understand way. Maree and I have kept in close contact with Brad since my retirement and we recently made a decision to use him to advise us on our Financial Planning needs in our retirement years. Brad has considerable experience in the industry and we feel very comfortable with his conservative and well reasoned approach. He is consistently courteous, respectful and obliging.

I know from my experience with him over the years he will serve our interests well.

Barry and Maree Tognola
Retirees

Bob Jones

Managing your own financial future can be challenging, difficult and one full of pitfalls. I remember somebody once said, using yourself for professional advice, "that you have a fool as a client". This is very true.

That's why I'm using Brad to take up the challenge of my financial future. Choosing between investment options, identifying trends, advising, identifying and planning ways to improve my financial position going forward.

Brad has been invaluable to me giving me the financial options available, the path I should take with these options, but more importantly the reasons for taking this path. This advice in turn has and will continue to improve my financial position.

I personally feel very comfortable in taking Brad's advice. I know the advice is sound and very thoroughly researched. I have appreciated his frankness and leadership on all matters I have raised with him.

I certainly have no hesitation in recommending Brad and I look forward to working with him for many years to come. I also wish him and the team at Evolution every success.

Bob Jones
Chairman 1300 Smiles

Tony and Vicki Briggs

Fortunately over coffee with a friend (also a client of Brad’s) and lamenting our situation, it was suggested we should make contact with Brad. 

At our first meeting we found Brad to be very professional and we felt that he was someone we could trust. He listened to what we had to say, asked questions about what we were hoping to achieve and communicated in a language we could understand.  Together we came up with a portfolio structure which ticked all our boxes. 

It is still only early days for us but since the establishment of our portfolio we have been happy with its performance and particularly the relationship we are developing with Brad and his team.  Long term we are very confident we can work with Brad and his team to achieve our financial goals. 

Tony and Vicki Briggs

Former Coral Princess Cruises Owners and now Happy and Contented Retirees

Paul Rissman

I met Brad Stewart over 15 years ago from his time in the Burdekin following my relocation to Ayr to purchase the McDonald's Restaurant in 2002.

Brad has been my key business and financial planner since, as he has overseen my growth from one restaurant to now 6 restaurants in Townsville, Ayr and Charters Towers.

I have found Brad and his team first class in ensuring my growth and strategic planning aligned with my personal financial life plan. Brad's experience in the industry and his integral knowledge of me as a client has ensured a balanced and successful growth strategy that has delivered strong financial results and helped me achieve my set goals over the past decade. 

Through his time with WHK prior, and now leading his own business I have found Brad to be very thorough in his processes, always delivers on his promise and has a strong understanding of my plan and what I’m wanting to achieve. He has added holistic feedback and value along every step of my financial journey.  

He understands the financial services industry inside out, can gather the multitude financial commentaries from various research houses and put in laymen terms for me to understand and develop the right financial strategies for long term success.

He has recruited, developed and retained an excellent team who are always polite, accommodating and diligent in their work. I am very pleased I have Brad Stewart as part of my key stakeholder group that continues to drive growth in my business and wealth creation strategies and provide protection where needed.

I would recommend Brad to anyone looking to grow their wealth, consolidate their position or plan for retirement as he will tailor a plan that will deliver you the best possible result for you and your family.

Paul Rissman
Owner McDonalds + Chairman Ronald McDonald House Charity

John and Jenny Denning

We congratulate Brad for going it alone with Evolution Financial. 

We are retired and had a SMSF established in March 2008 (just in time for the GFC) under Brad’s guidance. We liquidated other investments and increased our superannuation savings as we recognised the benefits of doing so. 

This was a potentially life changing decision in which Brad’s advice was pivotal and proved good. We have never had difficulty managing our affairs however we are novices in the management of retirement. 

We do not expect miracles and recognise our need for modern, well informed arms-length guidance. 

We want our affairs kept as simple as possible. As we get older this becomes even more important. 

We regularly use the electronic reporting that is available to us on demand. 

We require a happy stable working relationship with an adviser who knows us and who utilises those benefits available to us and who helps protect our fund and keeps us up to date. We are confident we have this with Brad (and Jess).

John and Jenny Denning
Past business owners and now retirees

Neil Weekes

I am a retired Brigadier who served in the Australian Army for approximately 31 years. I then worked at James Cook University, Townsville, as the Executive Officer to the Vice-Chancellor for 10 years. I have sought the professional advice of a number of Financial Advisers and Planners in several States and cities around Australia during that time and since I retired from the work force. 

I first met Mr Brad Stewart while I was serving in Townsville 10 years ago. At that time Brad was the Principal – Financial Planning in WHK TCM Smith (to then become Crowe Horwath). Brad remained with the Company until he started up his own financial planning business: “Evolution Financial”. I had absolutely no hesitation in contacting Brad to arrange the transfer of my portfolio to him. In typical style, Brad declined to accept my request until his restraint/non-compete agreement with Crowe Horwath had expired. 

Brad Stewart is the best and the most professional financial adviser/planner I have ever met since I became involved in investments, the stock-market and superannuation. He is the only financial planner whom I can understand everything he says. He does not draw elaborate graphs, nor does he talk a strange financial language with acronyms, nor does he embellish facts. Brad has a unique way in explaining the market so that I understand everything he says. There is no need for elaborate explanations. 

Brad has a very quiet, but confident and competent approach. You know what he is talking about. He is honest and he offers very sound advice. He is a professional in that, having provided advice, with which I inevitably accept, he gets on implementing the decisions without any unnecessary paperwork or delay. When the stock-market experiences some falls, you know that Brad will contact you if he believes you need to take some action or be informed. Brad is always acutely aware of market trends and he is always looking at better investment opportunities for his clients. He does not just let your portfolio stagnate. In fact this is one of Brad Stewart’s best strengths. He is progressive but he does not provide advice which is outside your portfolio agreement. 

When my wife passed away in February 2008, Brad assisted me in closing her portfolio and transferring the residual amount to my account. He did this with a great deal of sympathy and empathy, and most expeditiously. Brad takes a personal interest in his clients. I have encountered other various personal issues and setbacks over the years, which ultimately have affected my financial situation as well. Brad has always been quick to take an interest and to provide excellent advice and even better and faster service on how to best deal with the problem at hand to relieve me of stress and to put me in the best position possible moving forward.

The Late Neil Weekes
Former Brigadier Australian Army - AM + MC

Ege and Lorelle Webber

We met Brad many years ago and have formed a very rewarding, long term relationship that is built on trust, respect and understanding. We feel totally relaxed and at ease with Brad looking after our finances and our whole retirement situation. He always provides us with the best possible advice and does so in a manner that is easy to understand. 

Since retiring from a cattle station in the Gulf to retire at the Sunshine Coast, Brad visits regularly to keep us updated and informed. We look forward to his visits as he has become a fond member of our family. We look forward to continuing this relationship with Brad and the Evolution Financial team for many years to come. 

Ege and Lorelle Webber
Ex Nardoo Station owners + now Sunshine Coast retirees

John and Di Roddom

We have known Brad Stewart as our financial adviser for over 10 years. Over this time we have found Brad to possess the qualities we felt confident about to manage and plan our financial affairs from our working lives, to our transition to retirement, then in retirement and in the future for our children. 

He is trustworthy, will listen to our queries and wishes and explain to us if we are unsure of some of the complexities of the many investment opportunities out there available to us and our situation. 

We have found him to be very responsible, diligent and of high integrity and given the critical role he has to play it’s comforting to know we have someone we can trust. 

John and Di Roddom
Past business owners and now retirees

Do you want Brad to help with your retirement planning?

Graham and Glenda Brasch

Having commenced my business life as a professional Accountant, my business interests and career expanded widely and encompassed becoming a Fellow of both the Chartered Accountants Aust & New Zealand and the Taxation Institute of Australia; a Senior Partner in Hall Chadwick & Co; co-owning and developing a major cattle pastoral interest in the Gulf; 9 years as a local Government Councillor; 17 years of honorary work as the Deputy Chairman of Cairns Regional Group Training; financial controller/ board member of an International Shipping company - and all the while successfully running our family’s outdoor power products business before finding a suitable successor to purchase and continue the brand and legacy.

At an early stage of my Accounting career, I became involved in consulting and implementing retirement superannuation funds for my own clients in the heady days of 60% marginal tax rates.  It became obvious that as many clients became successful super savers, our own family’s affairs would also benefit from pursuing this strategy amongst others.

Ian Byrne was introduced to us over 12 years ago and it became immediately obvious that he was more than “on the money” and we engaged him immediately.  I also introduced him to my business partner of 42 years without hesitation. Both of us were at the stage where we wanted to begin strategising for our own retirement, seeking sound investment advice, extracting ourselves from our varied business interests and entities, and also simplifying our lives.

You expect professional people to be masters of their craft.  Ian certainly is.  But his main attribute is his strategic approach to his clients’ affairs.  In our case not only has his advice on managing our investment portfolio and superannuation investments been very helpful, his advice has enabled us to simplify the scaling down of our business arrangements including directly negotiating with an international (US) pension fund portfolio manager when selling our cattle station.

Glenda and I have four successful daughters, all having obtained a Bachelor Commerce.  Each now consult with Ian and his inclusiveness and overall approach was a great help in the drafting - of hopefully - our last Wills.

In 2013, we initiated a Private Ancillary Fund or Charitable Trust. It ensures our family legacy will live on through the generations and is a vehicle we use to educate the younger family members on financial and business matters and social responsibility. I initially became the Chairman with my 4 daughters and a son-in-law as board members. I now have passed the Chairman role onto my eldest daughter with grandchildren now actively involved. From the onset, Ian graciously consented to accept a directorship on our family’s private ancillary fund and acts as an advisor to the board on a pro bono basis. A more fitting endorsement of his qualities and approach to his business cannot be surpassed.

Graham & Glenda Brasch
Retirees – ex-Business Owners, Chartered Accountant & City Councillor

I needed someone I could really trust with my finances and interviewed several people and firms for that role. After much deliberation, I chose Ian and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Now my finances are better than ever.

I love Ian’s style; he listens, interprets and then acts and keeps me well informed along the way. That’s the absolute beauty of dealing with Ian and his team, they have the knowledge and the expertise for whatever financial decisions or path your investments need to take.

He interpreted my lifestyle and tailored my investments to suit it – that equals confidence. One less thing to worry about – the most important thing really! I now have total peace of mind that someone I can trust is taking care of my future.

Life sometimes throws you lemons as they say, and a divorce after 25 years of marriage was one of them.  I didn’t get lemonade out of a lemon - I got champagne. Would I recommend Ian and his group if asked – I don’t wait to be asked, I tell everyone to go and see them!

Marilyn Marsh-Booth
Former Business Owner & now Active Semi-retiree

After meeting with Ian Byrne twice, we decided that what Ian proposed would allow us to still control the investments, but with management and constant review being done by Ian and his very professional team.

We are very happy with the outcome. The investment fund chosen allows us total transparency with regards fees, distributions, interest earned, etc. That is, we can actually see what we've earned, what the fees are, and derive the movement in share value as a result.

Ian is very well attuned to our risk profile. We never get bombarded with correspondence claiming this company, or that company, would be a good investment, as I know clients do from other Financial Advisors. As well, Ian's support staff are extremely efficient and have an 'eye for detail', which is critical when dealing with other clients' investments.

Kaye L. Steinert
B.Bus (Prof Acctg), CPA

Do you want Ian to help with your retirement planning?

Thomas Troncone

I first met Zak, while he was working with NAB Financial Planning. Initially our relationship was professional, with Zak providing exceptional service to the clients in which I referred. Through the 25 years that I have been working in the Financial Services Industry I have met a number of Financial Planners, none of which have the client centric approach, trustworthiness and professionalism that Zak embodies.

It was when Zak left NAB Financial Planning that I personally become a client and firsthand got to experience the level of service, care and quality advice that Zak has been providing to my clients over the last 5 years. Zak is honest, informative and ensures that you understand complex information by explaining things in simple and easy to understand language. He has become a true partner in my long-term financial future.

I have great respect for Zak and feel that he is an asset to Evolution Financial. Zak shows initiative and his “can do” approach to his role and his clients is something that I admire. In every interaction that I have had with Zak it goes without saying that his attention to detail is remarkable.

If you are seeking a Financial Adviser that is easy to talk to, approachable, will provide you with the most appropriate advice and genuinely has your best interests at heart than Zak is the adviser for you.

Thomas Troncone
NAB Atherton Branch Manager

Doris Cuda

In all my dealings with Zak, I have found his professional, ethical, and caring manner creates and inspires confidence and respect and I gladly recommend his services.  His ability to balance the personal and professional roles of his position with such sincerity is something truly unique and consequently, I intuitively knew that I could trust him to grow and assist me with my life’s savings and other financial matters.   

Zak, I am absolutely delighted with your service. It is really refreshing to work with a financial adviser who is truly interested in my present and future needs, circumstances, and preferences.  May you be blessed with a long life of good health, wealth and happiness. 

Doris Cuda
Middle Leader RE & SEL at Catholic Education

Sonya Rawlings and Chris Gambin

Do you want Zak to help with your retirement planning or investment advice?

Alvin Leach

In my role I work and liaise with financial planners and planning businesses from all over the country, helping with strategic investment decisions, investment research, product placement and general investment product advice. I’ve worked with Brad over the past 10 years in his roles as a financial planner, on a national investment committee for a previous employer, and more recently his role as owner of Evolution Financial in Townsville. 

The investment philosophy Brad subscribes to at Evolution Financial is one of the most robust investment frameworks I’ve seen in the marketplace. It’s been created on sound investment fundamentals and ideals to ensure the right investment decisions are made for all clients of the business, yet is adaptable and tailored to meet the individual needs and requirements of each and every client in its own way. The necessary research inputs, organisations and overlays, and the necessary systems and processes required behind this philosophy, are all there, working to ensure investment portfolios remain true to label and can serve the client’s needs and goals as required. 

Alvin Leach
Investment professional
National Investments Manager + Top 20 Fund Manager

Karen Quagliata

I have known Brad since my childhood, and have worked alongside him for many years. We both started our careers in commerce around the same time, Brad branching off into the financial services industry, and myself into public practice accounting. Whilst being competitive at school in years gone, both striving to be the best in the class, in recent years that healthy competitiveness has turned into mutual appreciation, admiration and respect of each other’s success in our careers. Although we are now both running our own separate businesses we share a mutual goal, together as adviser and accountant, to achieve positive financial outcomes for our clients.

Having someone like Brad to refer clients to for financial advice is very important to me. His knowledge, skill set, experience and communication are all top quality. On top of this I wanted someone that was not only professionally qualified (CFP), but Bachelor Degree qualified (BCom). I wanted someone who is a member of a professional association (FPA) and someone who had extensive experience with investments. The fact that Brad has a background in accounting is an added bonus to both myself and our clients.

Honesty and integrity though is my number one priority, as I wanted someone who was knowledgeable, ethical, transparent and not interested in only making as much money for themselves as they could.

The Evolution Financial team satisfies all of the above criteria but above all, there is an established trust between them and their clients that is hard to come by. Brad is trustworthy, and in this day and age, trust is the most important quality in any financial relationship. I am also confident to say that Brad has created a solid business, based on solid fundamentals, and will be around for the long-term for his clients. This is because he ensures client needs come first, at all times.

I have no doubt in recommending Brad to my clients, friends, colleagues and family and I look forward to the future, working with Evolution Financial, and assisting our clients achieve their financial goals safely.

Karen Quagliata
Accounting industry
Accounting & Super (Qld) Pty Ltd

Do you want help with your retirement planning?