Steve Sloane - Financial Adviser

04/06/2026

There is usually a fair bit you can learn over lunch, especially when the conversation is with people who have been around advice long enough to see the patterns.

Martin and I caught up with Matthew Scholten, CEO of SCM Financial Group and Director of Prime Super.

I’ve known Matthew for several years and have always appreciated how humble he is.

Since starting in financial services in 1987, he has built a successful advice business and continued to contribute across the industry and his community through all its highs and lows.

We also covered a fair bit about the changes in advice, and the challenges advisers are working through on the ground.

More importantly, we spoke about where things can improve and what good firms can keep doing to move in the right direction.

It was a great lunch and a pleasure catching up.

Thanks Matthew.

27/05/2026

A few days in Singapore has left me with plenty to think about.

The pace of change in the advice industry is easy to talk about from a distance, but it feels very different when you are sitting across the table from people who are actively shaping it.

I spent time with Jessica Lee and Sam Ye from Franklin Templeton, speaking about wealth distribution, the IFA space, and how advisers are being supported across the region. It was a great insight into the role global investment managers can play in giving advice businesses access to broader thinking and stronger support for clients.

I also caught up with Leong Kun from Synergy Financial Advisers. They have built their own end-to-end tech stack to support growth, adviser efficiency and a better client experience, which sparked some really interesting conversations around what future collaboration could look like.

That was one of the biggest takeaways from the trip.

Clients may not always see the work happening behind the scenes, but they absolutely feel the impact of it.

Better systems make the experience smoother. Better partnerships bring more ideas to the table. Better thinking helps advice businesses keep improving the way they support people through every stage of life.

That is what I’m bringing home from Singapore.

A lot to learn, a lot to build on, and some exciting conversations to continue.

25/05/2026

How far can a journey really go when it starts with just a small team and a big vision?

From 2019 to 2026, what a journey it’s been.

Looking back at these photos, it’s hard not to feel grateful for how far we’ve come.

What started with a small team has now grown into 100 Leverians strong.

Kris, Kariz, and Sarrah have been with us since the early days, and seeing them still here today makes the journey even more meaningful.

But what really stands out isn’t just the growth in numbers, it’s the people behind it.

Every single person who joined along the way has helped shape our culture, supported our clients, and made Levera feel like more than just a workplace.

Reaching this milestone is something to celebrate, but it’s just the beginning.

Here’s to the next 100, to more growth, more memories together, and more wins ahead!

23/05/2026

Cost of living, housing affordability, job security and retirement stress are the big worries right now.

The hard truth is this. The government is not going to fix your personal finances for you. If you can save even a small amount, getting that money invested over time can help build extra income streams and take pressure off your main wage.

It is not easy when cash flow is tight, but starting small is better than staying stuck.

P.S. If you want help working out where to start with investing, send me a DM and let’s chat.

21/05/2026

Spent some time on the ground in the Philippines with part of the Levera Solutions team, looking through potential locations for a future office space.

A lot of good conversations, planning and ideas shared throughout the day as we continue building for the future.

Growth means looking beyond what is needed today, thinking bigger about what is possible, and then doing the work to bring it to life.

Also squeezed in a quick lunch together along the way.

Still early stages, but very exciting to see things slowly coming together.

04/05/2026

Getting super reform right matters

Super is too important to get wrong. When reform is needed, it should protect everyday Australians without punishing the advisers and businesses doing the right thing.

I recently shared some thoughts with Capital Brief on why stronger penalties for misconduct make sense, but only if they’re targeted properly. Good advisers should not be left funding the failures of bad actors.

There’s broad agreement that consumer protection needs to improve. The challenge is making sure reform actually solves the problem, instead of creating more friction, more cost and more unintended consequences.

Appreciate Capital Brief for covering an important issue that will shape the future of advice and super.

📖 Read the full article here:
https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0PZ-70

Superannuation factions have traded blows over moral hazard and ‘anti-competitive’ measures.

02/05/2026

Family trusts are not just for the wealthy.

They can make sense for families who may not have a lot now but are likely to build assets over time. The real benefit is flexibility. A trust can help hold investments and distribute income more tax effectively across the family group as wealth grows.

They are not for everyone, but they are definitely not only for rich people.

P.S. If you are building wealth and want to know whether a family trust could make sense for you, send me a DM and let’s chat.

18/04/2026

If you’re 58, 59 or 60, now is the time to look at your super before EOFY.

Concessional contributions can give you one of the biggest tax deductions available, but you need to know how much has already gone into your fund and how much room you have left before 30 June. The mistake is leaving it too late and missing the window.

P.S. If you want help working out how much you can contribute before EOFY, send me a DM and let’s chat.

05/04/2026

The power of social media for advisers is very real.

We don’t use it to push products. We use it to educate, build trust and stay front of mind. And when you keep showing up with useful content, people notice. Sometimes in ways you don’t expect.

That’s the real value. Build your brand, grow your audience, and let people get to know what you stand for before they ever need you.

P.S. If you’re an adviser and want help building your brand properly online, send me a DM and let’s chat.