December 8, 2024 • 25 mins
Join us in this week’s episode as we sit down with Peter Vlachos, Senior Distribution Manager at Elston Asset Management. Peter takes us through his journey from studying financial planning to becoming a key player in the funds management industry. He shares valuable insights into the challenges of building relationships, the importance of resilience in the face of adversity, and how consistent effort drives long-term success. Beyond finance, Vlachos offers our listeners advice on discipline, mindset, and achieving personal and professional goals.
Love what you heard? Follow Finance Friends with Fabian for more inspiring stories and advice from industry leaders. Got a topic or question for future episodes? Reach out to us via Instagram DM @financefriendspodcast
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
Welcome to Finance Friends with Fabian, where we
give our listeners anopportunity to be a part of our
conversation with financialservices industry leaders, hear
their stories, the challengesthey've overcome and the
invaluable advice they have foranyone interested in the
financial world.
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(00:27):
Welcome to Finance Friends withFabian.
And today we have the wonderfulPeter Vlarkos.
Peter, tell me a bit aboutyourself.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Hi, fabian, thanks for having me.
What do you want to know,fabian?
What do you want to know?
Well, I know you've got threekids.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
is that right?
Yes, with a relatively newborn.
How old's the youngest one?
What do you want to know?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
baby.
What do you want to know?
Well, I know you've got threekids, is that right?
Yes, yes, with a relativelynewborn.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
How old's the youngest one?
Speaker 2 (00:48):
She's one.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
She's one and the two boys.
How old are they?
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Eight and six.
So yeah, my household is quitechaotic, Chaotic and recently
finished renovations as well.
Yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
So full-time job, young, young family, keeping
busy.
How do you do it?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Don't know, mate, I just never give up, mate, never
give up Resilience, yeah it'sresilience, no doubt, and I have
a great wife, there's no doubtabout that.
She keeps the householdtogether.
That's important, absolutely.
Yeah, it was a difficult year.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
I'll tell you that, though, having a newborn going
through renovation, moving inthree kids, but we got there,
yeah, awesome, and tell us aboutyour career.
So maybe let's start with whatdid you study at university?
Did you go to university?
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Yeah, I did.
I went to RMIT and what did youstudy?
I studied Bachelor of Businessin Financial Planning.
So initially, actually, I wasdoing economics and finance
initially in the first year, andthen I thought what's economics
and finance going to get meinto?
And then I decided, you know,let's do financial planning.
And so, yeah, I ended up doingfinancial planning, thinking the
(01:52):
career path of becoming aplanner.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Yeah, so I want to touch on from there.
What did you do, like?
Where did you go?
Because getting your first jobout of university is quite
challenging.
A lot of people I see that willstudy finance, financial
planning and never end up in thefield.
So what did you?
What was your first job out ofuniversity?
First professional job?
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Yeah, it started actually, so I'll run it back so
during the university, thethird year of my degree was a
co-op year, so you had to go outand work.
And, lucky enough, I had agreat relationship with one of
my lecturers, maggie Stephan.
He's actually got two sons inthe industry.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
And he referred me to a practice called Strategic
Financial Solutions down inAlbert Park with Kay Ahrens.
And so I did a year there.
I did so well.
She gave me a job.
That's how I got in.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Yeah, so I was a year there.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I did so well, she gave me a job.
That's how I got in, yeah, so Iwas a power planner at the
start, then slowly, slowlybecame a financial planner, and
then it's led me into a seniordistribution manager today.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Yeah, so talk about your current role.
So you work at Alston.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Asset Management.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Asset Management.
So they're an asset managementfirm based out of Brisbane but
have a national presence.
So they're an asset managementfirm based out of Brisbane but
have a national presence.
So maybe let's just make it abit simple what's your title and
what do you actually do?
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Yeah, so I'm a Senior Distribution Manager for Elston
Asset Management.
Like you mentioned, they'rebased in Brisbane.
I'm predominantly based here inMelbourne.
I look after Victoria andTasmania, so my main duty is to
distribute the investments andfunds that we have on offer to
financial planners.
That's my main duty.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Yeah, fantastic, and that is across all asset classes
, or do you specialise in aspecific asset class?
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Yeah, so we are Aussie equity specialists, so we
have a large cap strategy, asmall cap strategy, and then
probably what we're renowned foris our multi-asset strategy,
where we do the whole portfoliofor clients from a risk-based
profile.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Yeah, fantastic.
And how long have you been inthis current role with Elston?
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Probably, I think it's just over two years.
Just over two years, but itfeels like I've been there a
long time.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Well, you've had some exceptional results and helped
grow the business.
Yes yes, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Especially here.
When I first started inVictoria, not many people knew
who Elston was.
Yeah, Today it's more of ahousehold name, I'd like to say,
in the financial servicesindustry.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
now, yeah, you've done a great job to help build a
brand and promote the business.
So what does your day-to-daylook like in a senior
distribution manager role forElston Asset Management?
What do you do in a day-to-daybasis?
Talk me through your typicalday, if there was such a thing
in your role.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
No day is the same.
I would have to say no day isthe same, but I actually do that
intentionally.
I actually control my diary,which is fantastic.
I'm a bit of a lone wolf aswell.
I'm here on my own.
However, day to day, a Mondaywould be based like a team's
meeting, an investment update.
Then I'd be getting ready forthe week ahead.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Also looking at the past as well.
Make sure I did all myfollow-ups in the previous week.
Yeah, I'd also be looking atbooking appointments for the
following week.
Then probably Tuesday to Fridaywill be a mixture.
It will be some prospectmeetings, some new opportunities
.
I might even have a PM here, aportfolio manager or an
(05:18):
investment specialist.
And that might mean doing aone-to-many session over a lunch
or a peer group session.
There'll also be a peer-to-peernetworking.
I might even do catch up overcoffee.
So, look, no day is the same orno week is the same, and that's
probably one of the things thatI love about my job Fantastic.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
And what would be your?
What would you attribute toyour success?
What are the key skills tobeing a successful distribution
manager in funds management?
What are the key skillsrequired?
Speaker 2 (05:53):
I'd have to say communication skills is probably
the biggest key.
Communication networking isreally important getting to know
a lot of people in thefinancial services industry.
So, ability to buildrelationships, absolutely,
absolutely.
And, like you know, I've builtsome great relationships over
the years.
You know, I've even got some Iconsider friends.
(06:15):
You know our kids play together, some financial advisors and my
kids and their kids.
So, yeah, look, it iscommunication skills, being able
to build and maintainrelationships and being reliable
and honest.
Yeah, especially, just look, itdepends what field you're in, I
reckon more so, like,especially, like you always got
(06:36):
to be reliable and honest, nodoubt.
But, like you know, being aplatform bdm or an insurance bdm
, you need to be reliablebecause sometimes there's a lot
of time critical stuff involvedthere.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Yeah, so be available and be relied upon, where you
can provide the service that yousaid you were going to provide,
absolutely.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Otherwise, word spreads fast in the industry.
Yeah, so yeah, yourreputation's on the line.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
So definitely, and you're nothing without a good
reputation.
Correct, no, that's really good.
And what do you most enjoyabout your job?
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Meeting.
Look, I'm always meeting newpeople and I love that Meeting
new people and, like I mentionedearlier, no day is the same.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
No day is the same, and the other great thing about
our industry is financialmarkets.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
They're constantly changing.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Yeah, that's, true so you're always talking about
something new all the time, andhistory doesn't always repeat
itself too.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
No, it doesn't.
It doesn't at all.
Yeah, otherwise Liberians wouldbe the best fund managers and
obviously you're very successfulin your career.
So you went from working infinance planning to you worked
at A&P for a little bit.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Yes, Well, not a little bit for an extended
period of time?
Yeah, I did so.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Talk to me about your time because I want to work out
, how does someone, if someonewants to be working as a senior
distribution person or asalesperson or relationship
manager for a fund managerinvestment fund manager how do
you get there?
So you started at RMIT studying, did financial planning, then
you moved into, did work for afinancial planning firm yeah,
Then you went to to talk to meabout how you went from working
(08:08):
a financial planning firm tobeing in a funds management
sales or what did you do inbetween?
What were the steps to get towhere you are?
Speaker 2 (08:14):
yeah, look, I've had a few roles along my uh few
decades now it feels like.
But um, yeah, I went to rmrt um, got a job as a para planner
during that co-op year andcontinued, ended up becoming a
financial planner doinglate-night appointments and yeah
, met a lot of BDMs during thattime as well.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Yeah, so BDM is a business development manager,
which is similar to adistribution manager.
Yes, correct, correct.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Yeah, and I ended up at AXA as a phone-based BDM.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Yeah, okay.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
And that's when I wanted to become a face-to-face
BDM.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
So when you say a phone-based BDM, what were you
selling and who were you?
Speaker 2 (08:53):
selling to.
Yeah, so actually I was basedin Melbourne and I was looking
after advisors in Sydney, so Iwas like a second BDM to the
face-to-face BDM in New SouthWales.
Yeah, so they'll look after theA's and B advisors and I'll
look after the C's and D's.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
So when you say, say season days, maybe the lower
sort of revenue generatingadvisors Correct.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Well, the ones that had lower funds under management
with us or premiums in force.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
So were you selling?
What were you selling Back then?
I was insurance funds andplatform.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
So holistic BDMs, which you don't really see so
much these days.
No, so the cycle has changed.
It's more specialist rolesthese days.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Yeah, so you went from being a phone-based BDM to
how long were you in that rolefor?
I?
Speaker 2 (09:36):
can't remember, probably about three to four
years.
Oh, wow, yeah, three, fouryears, underwinning like BDM of
the year, phone-based BDM of theyear.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Congratulations.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
And then I got promoted to a face-to-face BDM
after a few restructures thatoccurred in A&P Because A&P
acquired AXA.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
is that right?
Yeah, correct.
Just for a bit of transparency,yeah correct.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
So I initially worked for AXA and then A&P took over.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Yeah, so I had a long career in A&P, just over a
decade.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
So you went then to an in-person BDM still selling
insurance platform funds Correct, correct, yeah, and funds
correct, yeah.
And then from there you movedto to Alston as a manager yeah,
so probably.
Just before I left um, justbefore I left A&P, I was a BDM
taking care of the northplatform yeah, and then managed
pot fires, which are known asseparate managed accounts yeah,
(10:27):
which is a lot of what you focuson at the moment is that right
at?
Alston providing a multi-assetsolution for financial advisors
to provide to their clients.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Correct.
Spot on, fabian.
The great thing about Elston,though, as well, is we don't
just have one or one trick pony,so we'd have that multi-asset,
which is probably where 90% ofthe flows go.
But we have a large cap, smallcap strategy.
We have full of profit servicesas well which is you know,
structured giving, which isbecoming, you know, more and
more popular within, yeah,within our industry, which is
(10:57):
great to see.
Yeah, um, yeah.
So that, yeah, it's not a.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
You know, there's a lot of tools in the, in the
toolkit yeah, you, you have alot of offerings for for
advisors that you speak to, andthey're ultimately who look
after their clients and servicetheir clients, correct?
So what advice would you giveto anyone that wants to become a
salesperson for an investmentfirm or a distribution?
Speaker 3 (11:22):
person Sales in this country is not always perceived
well.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Unlike the USA, where it's all about selling.
Yeah, exactly, abc.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Well, definitely, it's not like Puffer Force
Street.
My day-to-day I can tell youthat.
However, look to be, look, Ithink, communication skills I
mentioned earlier.
But network Get to know as manypeople as possible in the
industry.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
And that way you have a larger network.
Get to know people.
Probably.
Another thing I'd say is youknow, once you get your foot in
the door is don't take thingspersonally, yeah.
A good manager of mine atBucket OMP actually I'll mention
him Mark Pildage.
He taught me early don't takethings personally, and I think
that is a key in our role,because you need to be resilient
(12:14):
.
You're going to have doors shuton you yeah so you've got to be
ready for that.
And the other thing I'd say isactivity, activity, activity.
Yeah, you're going to have atarget.
Yeah, I know some people won'tbelieve this, but I actually try
my best not to look at mytarget.
I don't.
I try my best not to see howI'm tracking.
I just focus on the activityand everything else will fall in
(12:36):
place.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Focus on the input, not the output.
Correct Focus on the input, notthe result.
Yeah, correct.
And I always tell people likeknow who your target sales 101.
Know who your target market is.
Activity times by target marketwill get you results.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Absolutely.
And look, and in fairness,you're going to have a year
where it's going to be rough,but focus on the activity and
the following year that will paydividends.
Yeah, don't be short-sighted.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Yeah, not everything gets an ROI return on investment
from every meeting, absolutely.
And you talk about networkingand that's really important
because that's ultimately my jobis to meet people is to connect
people.
My job, yeah, it's to meetpeople is to connect people.
Now, one thing that I've reallysort of frustrates me when I
(13:20):
meet people that want to be afunds management bdm and they're
in a maybe an associate levelrole now and I say, okay, what
networking events do you go to?
Or you know who, who have youproactively met with?
Or that's not my job.
Yeah, well, okay, it's not yourjob now, but isn't, if that's
what you want, start acting thejob you're in before you're in
that job.
But also, if it's not your jobnow, don't you want to do that?
Yeah, exactly, clearly youdon't want to do that.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
I say Well, mate, if you're going to set yourself
some goals, you've got toachieve it.
You've got to do the activity,yeah, late at night, and you go
to a dealer group event.
You're going to meet a lot ofpeople.
It's funny enough, I actuallywent to one last week and I met
some associates that were therewho I didn't know.
So it was good to see that it'sthe next generation stepping up
(14:02):
.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
And that's what we do , and I'll talk a little bit
about myself and I haven'ttouched on this in the podcast
yet.
With the FAAA, financial AdviceAssociation of Australia, I'm a
committee member for theMelbourne chapter Fantastic and
focus on Gen Next community.
So you know Generation Nextthat can go into advice and
organising these events forpeople to come to and learn from
other professionals and tonetwork with your peer group.
(14:23):
And it's amazing like theseevents that are super cheap,
normally well-funded or, youknow, sponsored by partners of
the industry, and yet trying toget people to these events is
like pulling teeth out.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
You reckon yeah the grand final event.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
That was the launch.
That was huge.
Well, that's different becausethat's targeted to more your
senior people.
I'm talking these eventsspecifically for junior people
in the industry, for networkingand learning, and there's just a
mindset around well, that's notmy job today, so why would I do
that?
Speaker 2 (14:52):
They should definitely.
If you want to get into yourfuture role, you've got to be
doing that Exactly right.
There's no doubt.
Who knows, you might even meetyour next gig.
You might meet someone.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Exactly, you might meet me.
Stay away.
No, I'm joking.
No, that's really insightful.
So what's been the biggest?
So you've had a very successfulcareer to date.
Right, you're still obviously avery young guy, but you've had
a successful career and drivingsome really exceptional results
with your current firm, yourcurrent role.
So what setbacks have you hadin your career?
(15:22):
You talk about like the skillsrequired and, I guess,
understanding, like key skillsto what you know to be
successful and not, you know,not take things personally, as
you said.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Yeah, you've got to be successful and not take
things personally, as you said.
Yeah, you've got to beresilient, Resilient right.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
So talk to me about any setbacks you've had where
you've had to be resilient.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Look, I've had a few setbacks, but the most difficult
time was when I was at a BDM,at AMP, no doubt during the
Royal Commission.
I don't think you'll find amore resilient PDM than an AMP
PDM during that time.
There is no doubt it wasdifficult with the constant
headlines explaining what wasgoing on to your clients.
(16:04):
Then there were sexualharassment cases in the
headlines and shortly after AMPadvisors lost their valuations
or decreased yeah.
So it was a very difficult time, I'd have to say, but it built
resilience and you know fromthat I got stronger
relationships, you know, withinmy network and also with my
clients.
(16:24):
So yeah definitely, that wasdefinitely the toughest time for
me, yeah, and look, it wasreally good as well because I
actually had a good network ofso each AMPBDM including Dario.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
So Dario is Sienna's dad, who Sienna helps run the
podcast.
Sienna Bartolomeo and DarioBartolomeo who's?
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Yeah, he was still at AMP, but we used to speak on a
daily basis.
Yeah, just what's going on, howyou're feeling.
It was like a mental healthcheck on a daily basis.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Yeah, yeah.
So credit to him.
He helped me through that stageand I'm sure I helped him as
well.
But yeah, look, it was a toughtime, but it was also one for me
where I didn't want to give upyou know, I'm not a person that
will give up when things gettough, so I wanted to, you know,
go through that situation.
(17:14):
You know some other people mayhave found it difficult and, you
know, want to move on veryquickly.
But, yeah, I was one of thosethat you know what I'm going to
stick through this.
There's light at the end of thetunnel and yeah, and there was.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
There was light in the tunnel.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
But you know I know it's still lurking around, but
you know, I found anotheropportunity and I took that
afterwards no, fantastic.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
It's like my foot footy coach used to say when I
was a kid when the going getstough, the tough get going.
No, thank you for sharing that.
So obviously we've spoken a lotabout your business, talking a
lot about your role.
Maybe share something thatother listeners might, or people
that you know might not knowabout you, something a bit more
person.
Who's you?
What do you do in your sparetime?
Who do you follow in the footy?
Well, yeah, foot footy, let'snot go there.
(18:05):
Um, I go for the bombers, thebombers yeah, are they still on
the afl?
Speaker 2 (18:09):
yeah, they are.
Um, yeah, it hasn't been greatever since that the drug saga.
But um, yeah, look, probablyone thing a lot of people
wouldn't know is in my early 20sI was actually a natural
bodybuilder.
I got involved in that, becamea one-mister of Victoria, came
third in Australia and yeah, Iknow it's hard to believe when
you look at me now.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
Oh no, you still are.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
But yeah, that's obviously something that a lot
of people don't know.
But yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
How did you get to a point where you say you know
what I'm going to be sodetermined to be the most ripped
person in Victoria and comethird in national championships.
How did you come there?
Who was the biggest influencein your life that maybe drove
that in you, that determination?
Now, from my understanding, youcome from a Greek background,
(18:56):
so I don't know if that'srelevant, but also how resilient
you are today.
Who's the biggest influence inyour life?
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Look from a career and life.
There's many people.
I've had some great managersover the years, there's no doubt
.
But the biggest influence in mylife and I reckon the person
wouldn't know because ourrelationship has changed over
the years would be my father.
Yeah, yeah, definitely my dad,there's no doubt about it.
(19:24):
He actually he got me involvedin investments a little bit as
well.
Yeah, exactly, so, my dad.
I'll tell you actually, I couldtell you.
I could talk about it all day.
Actually, yeah, he started ashare portfolio for me when I
was in high school, yeah, andyou know I even spoke to his
broker from time to time.
So, yeah, he got my interestinvolved in investments, there's
(19:45):
no doubt, from an early age.
He also funny, probably not sodiversified he had a few stocks.
I think he bought CBA when itwas $10.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
Yeah, hope he still holds it.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Yeah, I'm pretty sure he's sold them now he's in
retirement.
He's about 85.
But actually what helped him inretirement was he worked for a
company called Solar Turbines,okay, and he was owned by
Caterpillar, the earth workers,whichever it is, yeah.
Back in the 90s he was offeredbuy two shares, get one free.
Okay, and like a guy that hadno education, like in
(20:22):
investments or background.
He decided to salary sacrificeinto it.
Yeah, he just thought it was agreat deal.
Yeah of course, and those stocksin the 90s were just going up
and up.
They even split it, so thatreally funded his retirement.
But my dad had a.
I think my resilience and youknow the concept of mindset not
giving up, probably stems fromhim.
(20:42):
Yeah, my dad, he was actuallyborn in Egypt.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Oh really.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
I didn't know that.
So he was born in Egypt, inAlexandra.
Yeah, and unfortunately he hada.
Really he had a tough childhood.
His father died when he wasabout seven.
Oh wow, he fell through.
He fell down a set of stairsmarble stairs that had been
polished.
Yeah, and my dad was right nextto him, he was holding his hand.
(21:10):
So fortunately my father saw mygranddad pass away, like in his
arms.
Yeah, but he grew up prettyquickly.
So you know, I think he wasabout seven or eight years old
when that happened.
He had a younger brother,younger sister at the time who
later passed away at a youngerage as well, but he became the
father figure of the family.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Very quickly.
He had an uncle, uncle Michael,who taught him how to fish, and
Alexandra is very close to thebeach.
They lived like literally onthe beach.
Michael taught him how to fishand Alexandra is very close to
the beach.
I lived, like literally on thebeach and, yeah, his Uncle
Michael taught him how to catchoctopus, squid and fish and,
before you knew it, my dad wasfeeding the family from the sea.
So, yeah, just hearing how mydad went through all that, in
(21:52):
his early life he met my mum inCairo.
They got married in Cairo.
My older sister was born inCairo.
Then they moved to Australia.
Yeah, but yeah, just knowingwhat my dad went through really
has stemmed in my mindset.
Is you just don't give up, nomatter how tough it gets.
Yeah, and I say that to my kidsLike, no matter how tough
(22:13):
things get, just never give up,just keep pushing.
Absolutely, yeah, yeah.
So I think that's where myresilience and you know, like
perseverance to achieve my goalssteps are on, there's no doubt.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
Wow, that's, yeah, very touching.
I come from, my parents areboth migrants and my grandfather
, who you know, love lategrandfather, I should say he was
, you know, moved.
He lost his father when he was10 years old and started working
from the age of 10 to helpsupport the family.
And, you know, when they movedto Australia, he would work, you
(22:49):
know, 18 hours on the buildingthe rail lines out in country
Victoria and sleep in a tentjust so he could save money,
rather than, you know, sleep ina tent for six hours just so he
could save money, rather than,you know, sleep in a tent for
six hours just so he could savemoney and give it back to the
family, rather than staying in ahotel room.
So, you know, there's that realresilience and you know there's
a lot of talk around whetherthis generation has resilience
(23:10):
because everything's been givento them.
But I think resilience is askill that you know.
It's something that we look forwhen we, you know, hire people.
Do you have the resilience whenyou know it gets tough?
Can you keep pushing or willyou actually, you know, just
give up and go for the next bestoption?
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
I think it's an important aspect to have.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Yeah, and, like you said, like the generation today
is a lot different to ourparents' generation.
You know, like talking about myfather, when he did come to
Australia he was living with hisbrother, their two wives, their
kids, all in a one-bedroomapartment.
Yeah, like you don't hear thathappening much today.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
No, not at all.
No, thank you.
It was really good to have youin the studio today.
Pleasure Peter, thank you.
We've known each other for afew years now and become really
good friends and you know youshared really good insight
around.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
You know your current role and how you got to where
you are today, and also Well,truthfully, I wouldn't have got
the role without you, actually,because you're the one who put
me forward, didn't you?
That is true.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
That is true, no-transcript and resilience
obviously a key topic that we, akey trade or topic that we
discussed and how important thatis.
(24:30):
So you know for our listeners,it's going to get hard at times,
you know.
Just look forward and just keepmoving.
Thank you, peter.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
Thank you for coming in, thanks for having me.
Fabian really appreciate it.
Cheers, cheers, man.
Disclaimer this podcast existsfor informational and
entertainment purposes only.
The personal opinions of thespeaker and guests do not
represent the view of any otherparty.
If this recording containsreference to financial products,
that reference does notconstitute advice nor
recommendations and may not berelied upon.
Welcome to Finance Friends with Fabian, where we
give our listeners anopportunity to be a part of our
conversation with financialservices industry leaders, hear
their stories, the challengesthey've overcome and the
invaluable advice they have foranyone interested in the
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podcast on Instagram and TikTok.
(00:27):
Welcome to Finance Friends withFabian.
And today we have the wonderfulPeter Vlarkos.
Peter, tell me a bit aboutyourself.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Hi, fabian, thanks for having me.
What do you want to know,fabian?
What do you want to know?
Well, I know you've got threekids.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
is that right?
Yes, with a relatively newborn.
How old's the youngest one?
What do you want to know?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
baby.
What do you want to know?
Well, I know you've got threekids, is that right?
Yes, yes, with a relativelynewborn.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
How old's the youngest one?
Speaker 2 (00:48):
She's one.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
She's one and the two boys.
How old are they?
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Eight and six.
So yeah, my household is quitechaotic, Chaotic and recently
finished renovations as well.
Yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
So full-time job, young, young family, keeping
busy.
How do you do it?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Don't know, mate, I just never give up, mate, never
give up Resilience, yeah it'sresilience, no doubt, and I have
a great wife, there's no doubtabout that.
She keeps the householdtogether.
That's important, absolutely.
Yeah, it was a difficult year.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
I'll tell you that, though, having a newborn going
through renovation, moving inthree kids, but we got there,
yeah, awesome, and tell us aboutyour career.
So maybe let's start with whatdid you study at university?
Did you go to university?
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Yeah, I did.
I went to RMIT and what did youstudy?
I studied Bachelor of Businessin Financial Planning.
So initially, actually, I wasdoing economics and finance
initially in the first year, andthen I thought what's economics
and finance going to get meinto?
And then I decided, you know,let's do financial planning.
And so, yeah, I ended up doingfinancial planning, thinking the
(01:52):
career path of becoming aplanner.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Yeah, so I want to touch on from there.
What did you do, like?
Where did you go?
Because getting your first jobout of university is quite
challenging.
A lot of people I see that willstudy finance, financial
planning and never end up in thefield.
So what did you?
What was your first job out ofuniversity?
First professional job?
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Yeah, it started actually, so I'll run it back so
during the university, thethird year of my degree was a
co-op year, so you had to go outand work.
And, lucky enough, I had agreat relationship with one of
my lecturers, maggie Stephan.
He's actually got two sons inthe industry.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
And he referred me to a practice called Strategic
Financial Solutions down inAlbert Park with Kay Ahrens.
And so I did a year there.
I did so well.
She gave me a job.
That's how I got in.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Yeah, so I was a year there.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I did so well, she gave me a job.
That's how I got in, yeah, so Iwas a power planner at the
start, then slowly, slowlybecame a financial planner, and
then it's led me into a seniordistribution manager today.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Yeah, so talk about your current role.
So you work at Alston.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Asset Management.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Asset Management.
So they're an asset managementfirm based out of Brisbane but
have a national presence.
So they're an asset managementfirm based out of Brisbane but
have a national presence.
So maybe let's just make it abit simple what's your title and
what do you actually do?
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Yeah, so I'm a Senior Distribution Manager for Elston
Asset Management.
Like you mentioned, they'rebased in Brisbane.
I'm predominantly based here inMelbourne.
I look after Victoria andTasmania, so my main duty is to
distribute the investments andfunds that we have on offer to
financial planners.
That's my main duty.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Yeah, fantastic, and that is across all asset classes
, or do you specialise in aspecific asset class?
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Yeah, so we are Aussie equity specialists, so we
have a large cap strategy, asmall cap strategy, and then
probably what we're renowned foris our multi-asset strategy,
where we do the whole portfoliofor clients from a risk-based
profile.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Yeah, fantastic.
And how long have you been inthis current role with Elston?
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Probably, I think it's just over two years.
Just over two years, but itfeels like I've been there a
long time.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Well, you've had some exceptional results and helped
grow the business.
Yes yes, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Especially here.
When I first started inVictoria, not many people knew
who Elston was.
Yeah, Today it's more of ahousehold name, I'd like to say,
in the financial servicesindustry.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
now, yeah, you've done a great job to help build a
brand and promote the business.
So what does your day-to-daylook like in a senior
distribution manager role forElston Asset Management?
What do you do in a day-to-daybasis?
Talk me through your typicalday, if there was such a thing
in your role.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
No day is the same.
I would have to say no day isthe same, but I actually do that
intentionally.
I actually control my diary,which is fantastic.
I'm a bit of a lone wolf aswell.
I'm here on my own.
However, day to day, a Mondaywould be based like a team's
meeting, an investment update.
Then I'd be getting ready forthe week ahead.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Also looking at the past as well.
Make sure I did all myfollow-ups in the previous week.
Yeah, I'd also be looking atbooking appointments for the
following week.
Then probably Tuesday to Fridaywill be a mixture.
It will be some prospectmeetings, some new opportunities
.
I might even have a PM here, aportfolio manager or an
(05:18):
investment specialist.
And that might mean doing aone-to-many session over a lunch
or a peer group session.
There'll also be a peer-to-peernetworking.
I might even do catch up overcoffee.
So, look, no day is the same orno week is the same, and that's
probably one of the things thatI love about my job Fantastic.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
And what would be your?
What would you attribute toyour success?
What are the key skills tobeing a successful distribution
manager in funds management?
What are the key skillsrequired?
Speaker 2 (05:53):
I'd have to say communication skills is probably
the biggest key.
Communication networking isreally important getting to know
a lot of people in thefinancial services industry.
So, ability to buildrelationships, absolutely,
absolutely.
And, like you know, I've builtsome great relationships over
the years.
You know, I've even got some Iconsider friends.
(06:15):
You know our kids play together, some financial advisors and my
kids and their kids.
So, yeah, look, it iscommunication skills, being able
to build and maintainrelationships and being reliable
and honest.
Yeah, especially, just look, itdepends what field you're in, I
reckon more so, like,especially, like you always got
(06:36):
to be reliable and honest, nodoubt.
But, like you know, being aplatform bdm or an insurance bdm
, you need to be reliablebecause sometimes there's a lot
of time critical stuff involvedthere.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Yeah, so be available and be relied upon, where you
can provide the service that yousaid you were going to provide,
absolutely.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Otherwise, word spreads fast in the industry.
Yeah, so yeah, yourreputation's on the line.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
So definitely, and you're nothing without a good
reputation.
Correct, no, that's really good.
And what do you most enjoyabout your job?
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Meeting.
Look, I'm always meeting newpeople and I love that Meeting
new people and, like I mentionedearlier, no day is the same.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
No day is the same, and the other great thing about
our industry is financialmarkets.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
They're constantly changing.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Yeah, that's, true so you're always talking about
something new all the time, andhistory doesn't always repeat
itself too.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
No, it doesn't.
It doesn't at all.
Yeah, otherwise Liberians wouldbe the best fund managers and
obviously you're very successfulin your career.
So you went from working infinance planning to you worked
at A&P for a little bit.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Yes, Well, not a little bit for an extended
period of time?
Yeah, I did so.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Talk to me about your time because I want to work out
, how does someone, if someonewants to be working as a senior
distribution person or asalesperson or relationship
manager for a fund managerinvestment fund manager how do
you get there?
So you started at RMIT studying, did financial planning, then
you moved into, did work for afinancial planning firm yeah,
Then you went to to talk to meabout how you went from working
(08:08):
a financial planning firm tobeing in a funds management
sales or what did you do inbetween?
What were the steps to get towhere you are?
Speaker 2 (08:14):
yeah, look, I've had a few roles along my uh few
decades now it feels like.
But um, yeah, I went to rmrt um, got a job as a para planner
during that co-op year andcontinued, ended up becoming a
financial planner doinglate-night appointments and yeah
, met a lot of BDMs during thattime as well.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Yeah, so BDM is a business development manager,
which is similar to adistribution manager.
Yes, correct, correct.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Yeah, and I ended up at AXA as a phone-based BDM.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Yeah, okay.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
And that's when I wanted to become a face-to-face
BDM.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
So when you say a phone-based BDM, what were you
selling and who were you?
Speaker 2 (08:53):
selling to.
Yeah, so actually I was basedin Melbourne and I was looking
after advisors in Sydney, so Iwas like a second BDM to the
face-to-face BDM in New SouthWales.
Yeah, so they'll look after theA's and B advisors and I'll
look after the C's and D's.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
So when you say, say season days, maybe the lower
sort of revenue generatingadvisors Correct.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Well, the ones that had lower funds under management
with us or premiums in force.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
So were you selling?
What were you selling Back then?
I was insurance funds andplatform.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
So holistic BDMs, which you don't really see so
much these days.
No, so the cycle has changed.
It's more specialist rolesthese days.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Yeah, so you went from being a phone-based BDM to
how long were you in that rolefor?
I?
Speaker 2 (09:36):
can't remember, probably about three to four
years.
Oh, wow, yeah, three, fouryears, underwinning like BDM of
the year, phone-based BDM of theyear.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Congratulations.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
And then I got promoted to a face-to-face BDM
after a few restructures thatoccurred in A&P Because A&P
acquired AXA.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
is that right?
Yeah, correct.
Just for a bit of transparency,yeah correct.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
So I initially worked for AXA and then A&P took over.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Yeah, so I had a long career in A&P, just over a
decade.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
So you went then to an in-person BDM still selling
insurance platform funds Correct, correct, yeah, and funds
correct, yeah.
And then from there you movedto to Alston as a manager yeah,
so probably.
Just before I left um, justbefore I left A&P, I was a BDM
taking care of the northplatform yeah, and then managed
pot fires, which are known asseparate managed accounts yeah,
(10:27):
which is a lot of what you focuson at the moment is that right
at?
Alston providing a multi-assetsolution for financial advisors
to provide to their clients.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Correct.
Spot on, fabian.
The great thing about Elston,though, as well, is we don't
just have one or one trick pony,so we'd have that multi-asset,
which is probably where 90% ofthe flows go.
But we have a large cap, smallcap strategy.
We have full of profit servicesas well which is you know,
structured giving, which isbecoming, you know, more and
more popular within, yeah,within our industry, which is
(10:57):
great to see.
Yeah, um, yeah.
So that, yeah, it's not a.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
You know, there's a lot of tools in the, in the
toolkit yeah, you, you have alot of offerings for for
advisors that you speak to, andthey're ultimately who look
after their clients and servicetheir clients, correct?
So what advice would you giveto anyone that wants to become a
salesperson for an investmentfirm or a distribution?
Speaker 3 (11:22):
person Sales in this country is not always perceived
well.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Unlike the USA, where it's all about selling.
Yeah, exactly, abc.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Well, definitely, it's not like Puffer Force
Street.
My day-to-day I can tell youthat.
However, look to be, look, Ithink, communication skills I
mentioned earlier.
But network Get to know as manypeople as possible in the
industry.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
And that way you have a larger network.
Get to know people.
Probably.
Another thing I'd say is youknow, once you get your foot in
the door is don't take thingspersonally, yeah.
A good manager of mine atBucket OMP actually I'll mention
him Mark Pildage.
He taught me early don't takethings personally, and I think
that is a key in our role,because you need to be resilient
(12:14):
.
You're going to have doors shuton you yeah so you've got to be
ready for that.
And the other thing I'd say isactivity, activity, activity.
Yeah, you're going to have atarget.
Yeah, I know some people won'tbelieve this, but I actually try
my best not to look at mytarget.
I don't.
I try my best not to see howI'm tracking.
I just focus on the activityand everything else will fall in
(12:36):
place.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Focus on the input, not the output.
Correct Focus on the input, notthe result.
Yeah, correct.
And I always tell people likeknow who your target sales 101.
Know who your target market is.
Activity times by target marketwill get you results.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Absolutely.
And look, and in fairness,you're going to have a year
where it's going to be rough,but focus on the activity and
the following year that will paydividends.
Yeah, don't be short-sighted.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Yeah, not everything gets an ROI return on investment
from every meeting, absolutely.
And you talk about networkingand that's really important
because that's ultimately my jobis to meet people is to connect
people.
My job, yeah, it's to meetpeople is to connect people.
Now, one thing that I've reallysort of frustrates me when I
(13:20):
meet people that want to be afunds management bdm and they're
in a maybe an associate levelrole now and I say, okay, what
networking events do you go to?
Or you know who, who have youproactively met with?
Or that's not my job.
Yeah, well, okay, it's not yourjob now, but isn't, if that's
what you want, start acting thejob you're in before you're in
that job.
But also, if it's not your jobnow, don't you want to do that?
Yeah, exactly, clearly youdon't want to do that.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
I say Well, mate, if you're going to set yourself
some goals, you've got toachieve it.
You've got to do the activity,yeah, late at night, and you go
to a dealer group event.
You're going to meet a lot ofpeople.
It's funny enough, I actuallywent to one last week and I met
some associates that were therewho I didn't know.
So it was good to see that it'sthe next generation stepping up
(14:02):
.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
And that's what we do , and I'll talk a little bit
about myself and I haven'ttouched on this in the podcast
yet.
With the FAAA, financial AdviceAssociation of Australia, I'm a
committee member for theMelbourne chapter Fantastic and
focus on Gen Next community.
So you know Generation Nextthat can go into advice and
organising these events forpeople to come to and learn from
other professionals and tonetwork with your peer group.
(14:23):
And it's amazing like theseevents that are super cheap,
normally well-funded or, youknow, sponsored by partners of
the industry, and yet trying toget people to these events is
like pulling teeth out.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
You reckon yeah the grand final event.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
That was the launch.
That was huge.
Well, that's different becausethat's targeted to more your
senior people.
I'm talking these eventsspecifically for junior people
in the industry, for networkingand learning, and there's just a
mindset around well, that's notmy job today, so why would I do
that?
Speaker 2 (14:52):
They should definitely.
If you want to get into yourfuture role, you've got to be
doing that Exactly right.
There's no doubt.
Who knows, you might even meetyour next gig.
You might meet someone.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Exactly, you might meet me.
Stay away.
No, I'm joking.
No, that's really insightful.
So what's been the biggest?
So you've had a very successfulcareer to date.
Right, you're still obviously avery young guy, but you've had
a successful career and drivingsome really exceptional results
with your current firm, yourcurrent role.
So what setbacks have you hadin your career?
(15:22):
You talk about like the skillsrequired and, I guess,
understanding, like key skillsto what you know to be
successful and not, you know,not take things personally, as
you said.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Yeah, you've got to be successful and not take
things personally, as you said.
Yeah, you've got to beresilient, Resilient right.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
So talk to me about any setbacks you've had where
you've had to be resilient.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Look, I've had a few setbacks, but the most difficult
time was when I was at a BDM,at AMP, no doubt during the
Royal Commission.
I don't think you'll find amore resilient PDM than an AMP
PDM during that time.
There is no doubt it wasdifficult with the constant
headlines explaining what wasgoing on to your clients.
(16:04):
Then there were sexualharassment cases in the
headlines and shortly after AMPadvisors lost their valuations
or decreased yeah.
So it was a very difficult time, I'd have to say, but it built
resilience and you know fromthat I got stronger
relationships, you know, withinmy network and also with my
clients.
(16:24):
So yeah definitely, that wasdefinitely the toughest time for
me, yeah, and look, it wasreally good as well because I
actually had a good network ofso each AMPBDM including Dario.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
So Dario is Sienna's dad, who Sienna helps run the
podcast.
Sienna Bartolomeo and DarioBartolomeo who's?
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Yeah, he was still at AMP, but we used to speak on a
daily basis.
Yeah, just what's going on, howyou're feeling.
It was like a mental healthcheck on a daily basis.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Yeah, yeah.
So credit to him.
He helped me through that stageand I'm sure I helped him as
well.
But yeah, look, it was a toughtime, but it was also one for me
where I didn't want to give upyou know, I'm not a person that
will give up when things gettough, so I wanted to, you know,
go through that situation.
(17:14):
You know some other people mayhave found it difficult and, you
know, want to move on veryquickly.
But, yeah, I was one of thosethat you know what I'm going to
stick through this.
There's light at the end of thetunnel and yeah, and there was.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
There was light in the tunnel.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
But you know I know it's still lurking around, but
you know, I found anotheropportunity and I took that
afterwards no, fantastic.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
It's like my foot footy coach used to say when I
was a kid when the going getstough, the tough get going.
No, thank you for sharing that.
So obviously we've spoken a lotabout your business, talking a
lot about your role.
Maybe share something thatother listeners might, or people
that you know might not knowabout you, something a bit more
person.
Who's you?
What do you do in your sparetime?
Who do you follow in the footy?
Well, yeah, foot footy, let'snot go there.
(18:05):
Um, I go for the bombers, thebombers yeah, are they still on
the afl?
Speaker 2 (18:09):
yeah, they are.
Um, yeah, it hasn't been greatever since that the drug saga.
But um, yeah, look, probablyone thing a lot of people
wouldn't know is in my early 20sI was actually a natural
bodybuilder.
I got involved in that, becamea one-mister of Victoria, came
third in Australia and yeah, Iknow it's hard to believe when
you look at me now.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
Oh no, you still are.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
But yeah, that's obviously something that a lot
of people don't know.
But yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
How did you get to a point where you say you know
what I'm going to be sodetermined to be the most ripped
person in Victoria and comethird in national championships.
How did you come there?
Who was the biggest influencein your life that maybe drove
that in you, that determination?
Now, from my understanding, youcome from a Greek background,
(18:56):
so I don't know if that'srelevant, but also how resilient
you are today.
Who's the biggest influence inyour life?
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Look from a career and life.
There's many people.
I've had some great managersover the years, there's no doubt
.
But the biggest influence in mylife and I reckon the person
wouldn't know because ourrelationship has changed over
the years would be my father.
Yeah, yeah, definitely my dad,there's no doubt about it.
(19:24):
He actually he got me involvedin investments a little bit as
well.
Yeah, exactly, so, my dad.
I'll tell you actually, I couldtell you.
I could talk about it all day.
Actually, yeah, he started ashare portfolio for me when I
was in high school, yeah, andyou know I even spoke to his
broker from time to time.
So, yeah, he got my interestinvolved in investments, there's
(19:45):
no doubt, from an early age.
He also funny, probably not sodiversified he had a few stocks.
I think he bought CBA when itwas $10.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
Yeah, hope he still holds it.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Yeah, I'm pretty sure he's sold them now he's in
retirement.
He's about 85.
But actually what helped him inretirement was he worked for a
company called Solar Turbines,okay, and he was owned by
Caterpillar, the earth workers,whichever it is, yeah.
Back in the 90s he was offeredbuy two shares, get one free.
Okay, and like a guy that hadno education, like in
(20:22):
investments or background.
He decided to salary sacrificeinto it.
Yeah, he just thought it was agreat deal.
Yeah of course, and those stocksin the 90s were just going up
and up.
They even split it, so thatreally funded his retirement.
But my dad had a.
I think my resilience and youknow the concept of mindset not
giving up, probably stems fromhim.
(20:42):
Yeah, my dad, he was actuallyborn in Egypt.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Oh really.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
I didn't know that.
So he was born in Egypt, inAlexandra.
Yeah, and unfortunately he hada.
Really he had a tough childhood.
His father died when he wasabout seven.
Oh wow, he fell through.
He fell down a set of stairsmarble stairs that had been
polished.
Yeah, and my dad was right nextto him, he was holding his hand.
(21:10):
So fortunately my father saw mygranddad pass away, like in his
arms.
Yeah, but he grew up prettyquickly.
So you know, I think he wasabout seven or eight years old
when that happened.
He had a younger brother,younger sister at the time who
later passed away at a youngerage as well, but he became the
father figure of the family.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Very quickly.
He had an uncle, uncle Michael,who taught him how to fish, and
Alexandra is very close to thebeach.
They lived like literally onthe beach.
Michael taught him how to fishand Alexandra is very close to
the beach.
I lived, like literally on thebeach and, yeah, his Uncle
Michael taught him how to catchoctopus, squid and fish and,
before you knew it, my dad wasfeeding the family from the sea.
So, yeah, just hearing how mydad went through all that, in
(21:52):
his early life he met my mum inCairo.
They got married in Cairo.
My older sister was born inCairo.
Then they moved to Australia.
Yeah, but yeah, just knowingwhat my dad went through really
has stemmed in my mindset.
Is you just don't give up, nomatter how tough it gets.
Yeah, and I say that to my kidsLike, no matter how tough
(22:13):
things get, just never give up,just keep pushing.
Absolutely, yeah, yeah.
So I think that's where myresilience and you know, like
perseverance to achieve my goalssteps are on, there's no doubt.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
Wow, that's, yeah, very touching.
I come from, my parents areboth migrants and my grandfather
, who you know, love lategrandfather, I should say he was
, you know, moved.
He lost his father when he was10 years old and started working
from the age of 10 to helpsupport the family.
And, you know, when they movedto Australia, he would work, you
(22:49):
know, 18 hours on the buildingthe rail lines out in country
Victoria and sleep in a tentjust so he could save money,
rather than, you know, sleep ina tent for six hours just so he
could save money, rather than,you know, sleep in a tent for
six hours just so he could savemoney and give it back to the
family, rather than staying in ahotel room.
So, you know, there's that realresilience and you know there's
a lot of talk around whetherthis generation has resilience
(23:10):
because everything's been givento them.
But I think resilience is askill that you know.
It's something that we look forwhen we, you know, hire people.
Do you have the resilience whenyou know it gets tough?
Can you keep pushing or willyou actually, you know, just
give up and go for the next bestoption?
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
I think it's an important aspect to have.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Yeah, and, like you said, like the generation today
is a lot different to ourparents' generation.
You know, like talking about myfather, when he did come to
Australia he was living with hisbrother, their two wives, their
kids, all in a one-bedroomapartment.
Yeah, like you don't hear thathappening much today.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
No, not at all.
No, thank you.
It was really good to have youin the studio today.
Pleasure Peter, thank you.
We've known each other for afew years now and become really
good friends and you know youshared really good insight
around.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
You know your current role and how you got to where
you are today, and also Well,truthfully, I wouldn't have got
the role without you, actually,because you're the one who put
me forward, didn't you?
That is true.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
That is true, no-transcript and resilience
obviously a key topic that we, akey trade or topic that we
discussed and how important thatis.
(24:30):
So you know for our listeners,it's going to get hard at times,
you know.
Just look forward and just keepmoving.
Thank you, peter.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
Thank you for coming in, thanks for having me.
Fabian really appreciate it.
Cheers, cheers, man.
Disclaimer this podcast existsfor informational and
entertainment purposes only.
The personal opinions of thespeaker and guests do not
represent the view of any otherparty.
If this recording containsreference to financial products,
that reference does notconstitute advice nor
recommendations and may not berelied upon.
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