Our Guiding Principles welcome you as you enter our office, but these statements aren’t just for show. They are the veins that guide our decisions, assist in our thinking, and are emulated by every team member. As founding members of the Global Association of Independent Advisers (GAIA), we know that independent, holistic advice will consistently deliver dividends in helping you live your best life. As we enter a new year, we want to take the time to reiterate what our GAIA status means and why it matters.
What is GAIA?
GAIA is an international network of advisery firms that share a commitment to working in their client’s best interests. Together, we believe that your interests and priorities should be at the centre of every decision. Our commitment to GAIA standards encompasses all aspects of our relationship with you and your family, from implementation to support and guidance. Every certified firm shares the same evidence-based investment philosophy, which means speculative activity is avoided in favour of an evidence-based approach. Thanks to this network, our clients can expect the highest standards of fiduciary excellence.
Why we pushed for independence
Our Founder, David Andrew, along with the leadership team pushed for independence because it’s the right thing to do, the best way to operate, and resonates deeply with our core values. Any payment received for recommending a product or platform can be perceived as influencing the advice we provide, which did not feel right. Our founding team recognised that not enough financial practices were independent and felt a connection to break the mould.
Shifting focus away from product, price, and performance means families receive genuine advice without hidden agendas. Our independent status is a nod to peace of mind that you receive unbiased advice based on your goals. It means you don’t have to worry about affiliations with product providers like banks and large institutions, and it’s the certainty that individualised advice and support are the expectation. As a Capital Partners client, our independent status means your goals and how we can help you best achieve them are our driving motivators.
What does our GAIA relationship mean for you?
Our GAIA relationship means every decision is made with your best interests in mind. Less obvious but extraordinarily valuable is our affiliation with a network of like-minded global firms that can collaborate and share ideas with access to some of the world’s brightest investment minds. This sharing of insight and support would be impossible without the GAIA network. This relationship also ensures you have certainty that our firm and advisers are held to a higher standard. Each GAIA firm must maintain the Centre of Fiduciary Excellence (CEFEX) Certification, which ensures our team complies with the highest fiduciary standards, held accountable with annual audits. Capital Partners is the only CEFEX Certified firm in Western Australia, and we’re immensely proud of that.
Our commitment to being a world-class firm is a never-ending quest! Thanks to GAIA and CEFEX, you can be assured that our actions will always speak louder than our words as we remain steadfast in dedication to doing the right thing. From the development of your financial and investment plans and written investment policy statements to our review and evaluation of your investment portfolios, at every stage, our team advocates for your success story.
