Testimonial – David Lane

Reference from David Lane, CEO of Count Financial Ltd

5 August 2014

To whom it may concern

It is with great pleasure and pride that I recommend Helga Baxter for AFA’s Female Excellence in Advice Award.

Helga is one of Count Financial’s most senior wealth advisers.  She is a Board Member of Crosby Dalwood, a diversified financial services firm based in Adelaide, where she is responsible (as an Authorised Representative of Count) for the financial planning area including estate planning, aged care advice, lending and general financial planning services.  Helga’s team manages in excess of 400 active review clients, making Crosby Dalwood one of Count’s five largest financial advisory businesses.  Helga won Count’s inaugural Female Adviser of the Year Award in 2009.

Helga began her financial services career as a 16 year old in a data entry role for a predecessor firm of IOOF.  In 1995 she moved to Crosby Dalwood as the first full time member of Crosby Dalwood’s newly established financial advice business.  Over the next several years, Helga embarked on furthering her education accreditations and today holds a Diploma of Financial Advising, a Diploma of Finance & Mortgage Broking Management, and is an FPA Certified Financial Planner.  She is also an affiliate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a member of SPAA.

In 1997, Helga became an Authorised Representative of Count, and through dedication and hard work has become a leader within both Count and the financial advice industry.  She is passionate about sharing her experiences and knowledge to develop others and enhance the financial advice industry.  Helga is not only a caring leader and mentor to her 11 person team at Crosby Dalwood, but she has also assisted the broader Count community through her work as a founding member of Count’s Women in Advice Committee, which is dedicated to enhancing the relationship and career prospects of women joining the industry.  Among other things, this committee develops advice specifically tailored to women and assists in the development of professional networks for women in this sector.

Helga has also successfully juggled the demands of having a young family whilst her career and business progressed, she became a Director of Crosby Dalwood on the day she returned from maternity leave after having her second child.  She is keen to see more females succeed in the role of Senior Financial Adviser and increase the participation of women on company boards within the Financial Services profession and with this aim, she happily provides advice to females with career and family aspirations.  Helga also generously gives of her time to provide advice and direction to accountancy practices around the country which are embarking on financial planning for the first time.

Helga is passionate about helping making a difference to the lives of her clients through her advice.  In an industry which is striving to be recognised for its professionalism, Helga’s absolute focus on the best interest of her clients, her ability to manage a large and multi-dimensional business and her commitment to enhancing the industry make her a role model in every sense of the word.  It is therefore with great please that I provide her reference.  Helga’s attitude and overwhelmeing desire to help fellow professionals and clients are a credit to Count and our industry.

Best

David Lane

Chief Executive Officer

Count Financial Limited