Leading mid-tier accounting and financial services firm RSM Australia has today announced it has partnered with Aequitas Investment Partners to launch RSM’s new Odyssey Managed Accounts.

RSM Financial Services Australia National Head Rod Edwards said, “It has been an exciting journey. The solution we are launching today is an amazing outcome for RSM and its clients.”

By appointing Aequitas as external asset consultants, RSM is able to provide specialist portfolio development and management to clients. 
The partnership enables both companies to provide clients with a quality service which would normally only be available to the ultra-high net-worth market. 

“We’ve actually ended up with bespoke portfolios at lower than industry funds meaning client fees will be reduced, leaving more money in their pocket,” Rod says.

RSM commenced the project more than two years ago when director Rob Zammit put forward the prospect of using managed accounts as a future client solution.

“In late 2020 Rob came to us with the idea of reducing our back office administrative processes by using a managed account to create efficiencies,” said Rod. "Quality improvements to client portfolio outcomes were an unexpected, but a very welcome additional benefit to the arrangement." Rod noted, “Now that we have completed the journey, we can see the client outcomes are the primary benefit of a managed account solution.”

Aeguitas’ Chief Executive Officer Nino Ramunno and the Aequitas team have thoroughly enjoyed the experience of working with RSM.

“Culture is important to both RSM and Aequitas, the strong alignment of cultures has created a positive working group with a highly ambitious deadline for the build. RSM Financial Services Australia is a large and professional financial services business. They are the type of business that we want to work with, and it’s been pleasing to be able to partner with them in creating their Odyssey solution,” Nino said.

Rod also echoed this sentiment. “Nino and the Aequitas team are a well-balanced business with obvious strength across all their service offering. From their well-researched and efficient portfolio construction process to their solid direct share offering, communications and administration, they really have all bases covered.” 

RSM spent countless hours researching all the managed account players in the market before partnering with Aequitas. Mr Zammit explains, “It was like having to choose your favourite child.  There are some terrific operators out there. Aequitas had the edge because of the balance in their team; it’s a real credit to the Aequitas leadership team to have put together such a formidable group.”

RSM’s new Odyssey Managed Accounts will be offered across two platforms in BT Panorama and Colonial FirstWrap. There are also plans to release on CFS Edge once the platform is released, providing some extra diversification benefits for the RSM group and its clients.

For further information

If you require further information, please reach out to your local RSM office.