One expanding brokerage has announced plans to consolidate six businesses, move into larger premises and change names.
Cairns Home Loans will relocate in the next three months to a larger office next door, according to director John Watts.
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Mr Watts told The Adviser that the move would be part of a rebrand that would also involve adopting the name of the firm’s aggregator, Astute Financial.
The rebrand will consolidate his other five businesses: Cairns Car Loans, Cairns Wealth & Insurance, Port Home Loans, Atherton Home Loans and Hobbs Financial Services.
They will remain in their existing premises but will also come under the Astute brand, he said.
“We’re just in a position at the moment where we’re growing our businesses, and the market has matured enough to go away from the single brands,” Mr Watts said.
“It just makes sense to have the one brand that’s recognisable. And obviously it gives us a national service as well,” said Mr Watts.
Astute director Brad Wood said that he was pleased to welcome Cairns Home Loans and Mr Watts into the fold.
“John has a very successful business now. He’s grown from a one-man operation to having six or seven offices across far north Queensland,” Mr Wood told The Adviser.
“For him it’s quite a big step but I’m confident that through all the work he’s done and all the work we’re doing to help him transition, it should be quite successful.”
Cairns Home Loans will be the 13th business to take on the Astute name, Mr Wood said.
[Related: Cairns house prices surge]