What Broadleaf Financial Group does

Broadleaf Financial Group is a Perth-based private investment firm, founded in 2018 by Dean Gilkison and Richard Hernan, that acquires minority or majority equity stakes in small, high-quality independent financial advisory practices (typically 1-4 advisers) to deliver customised succession outcomes. The core product is a multi-stakeholder succession service that allows incumbent owners to choose a tailored pathway, including continued ownership, mentoring, consulting, directorship, or a complete exit, with the explicit intent to preserve firm legacy, values, and client relationships that are typically lost in bank or dealer-group aggregations. Underlying delivery is operational rather than technological: a hub-and-sub-acquisition model in which 10 hub practices support around 40 sub-acquisitions, supported by educational resources such as the Business Resilience Assessment and Mapping Your Succession Path questionnaires, and now back-office infrastructure via Solifi's Portfolio Management platform implemented with JDR Solutions.

The revenue model combines equity investment returns from portfolio companies with management and service economics from acquired advisory practices; pricing is deal-specific rather than tiered, and contracts are structured as multi-year partnerships rather than subscriptions. Go-to-market is sales-led and direct, targeting Australian financial advisory firm owners through founder networks, industry events (e.g., XY Adviser), and earned media. The firm is registered in Western Australia, headquartered in Subiaco (Unit 5A, 335 Hay Street), and has raised approximately AUD 5 million across two equity rounds (2019) from more than 20 investors, with a planned AUD 15 million five-year equity programme paired with Macquarie Bank debt leverage. Reported scale metrics include AUD 6.5 billion+ in funds under management across the network and 6,500+ client families served, alongside a stated objective to expand from Western Australia to a national footprint.

Name

Broadleaf Financial Group

Legal name

Broadleaf Financial Group

Website

https://broadleafgroup.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Broadleaf Financial Group is a Perth-based private investment firm that acquires small independent Australian financial advisory practices, offering customised succession pathways that preserve firm legacy, values, and client relationships for retiring owners and next-generation leaders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Advisory Investment & Succession Services

NAICS

Management of Companies and Enterprises (551)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) Wealth Management (FSAEABAA)

Keywords

• Succession planning
• Financial advisory investment
• Practice acquisition
• Wealth advisory succession
• Aggregator investment

Headquarters

HQ city

South Perth

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Investment Returns: Broadleaf generates returns through acquiring minority/majority stakes in high-quality financial advisory firms. The model involves equity investment with long-term focus, leveraging debt financing from Macquarie Bank to support acquisitions. Returns generated through portfolio growth, sub-acquisitions, and eventual exits from invested practices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Broadleaf Financial Group is a private investment company that acquires equity stakes in small, high-quality financial advisory firms (1-4 advisers) in Australia and partners with them for the long term. It provides customized succession planning services for advisory business owners, enabling exits, ownership transitions, and development of next-generation leaders while preserving firm values and client relationships. It supplements this with educational resources such as the Business Resilience Assessment and Mapping Your Succession Path.

Product overview

Broadleaf Financial Group operates as a single unified offering focused on succession planning and investment services for financial advisory businesses. The core service is a customized succession planning model that allows financial advisory firm owners to exit their businesses while preserving their legacy, values, and client relationships. Supporting this core offering are tools including the Business Resilience Assessment and Mapping your Succession Path resources, which help business owners evaluate their current state and plan their succession journey. The Broadleaf Process outlines their multi-stage approach to partnership and transition management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully executed multiple investments and sub-acquisitions in Western Australian community

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• JDR SolutionscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJDR Solutions partnered with Broadleaf Financial Group and Solifi to support the expansion of Broadleaf's equipment leasing operations and portfolio management capabilities. JDR Solutions led the implementation process for Solifi's Portfolio Management platform, working closely with both companies on configuration, business rules, and process optimization.
• SolificoreTechnology or IntegrationSolifi partnered with Broadleaf Financial Group to implement their Portfolio Management platform to enhance leasing operations and portfolio management capabilities. The platform aims to improve operational accuracy and workflow efficiency as part of Broadleaf's growth strategy.
• Winston Capital PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWinston Capital Partners, a third-party marketing firm, assists Broadleaf with its equity fund raise by helping source investors for the investment rounds.
• Meridian Global FoundationminorOthersBroadleaf Financial Group is a proud supporter of Meridian Global Foundation, which has been helping everyday people become everyday philanthropists since 2005.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sequoia Financial Group: Australian-listed financial advice and wealth management aggregator that acquires and consolidates small advisory practices. Most directly comparable to Broadleaf's hub-and-sub acquisition model and target customer (small, independent financial advisory firms).
• Count Limited: Australian financial advisory and accounting services network that aggregates small advice practices through licensing, support and succession solutions. Operates a similar aggregator model targeting small advisory firms seeking ownership transition.
• AZN Financial Group: Australian advice aggregator targeting small financial advisory practices for acquisition and succession support. Closely overlaps with Broadleaf's customer segment and hub-and-spoke acquisition approach.
• Capstone Financial Group: Australian financial advisory aggregator focused on acquiring equity stakes in small-to-mid advice practices and supporting succession. Closely comparable in customer profile (small, owner-operated advisory firms) and buy-and-partner approach.
• Diverger: Australian financial services aggregator that builds and acquires stakes in advice, accounting and SMSF businesses. Comparable through its vertical of acquiring and consolidating small professional-services firms with succession-led deal thesis.

Broad incumbents

• Insignia Financial (formerly IOOF Holdings): Large Australian wealth management group operating advice, superannuation and asset management businesses. Competes as a broader incumbent acquirer of advisory practices but with a more standardized, scale-driven model than Broadleaf's bespoke succession offering.
• Centrepoint Alliance: Australian financial services aggregator providing licensing, support and acquisition infrastructure to small advisory and accounting practices. Comparable target market and aggregator model, though broader in scope.
• Pacific Current Group: Australian-listed investment company that acquires minority/majority stakes in boutique asset managers and financial services firms. Comparable through its permanent-capital model of holding equity stakes in financial-services businesses, though oriented to asset managers rather than advice practices.
• AMP Limited: One of Australia's largest incumbent wealth managers with an extensive advice network. Represents the type of large, standardized acquirer that Broadleaf explicitly differentiates against, but is the dominant alternative exit path for owner-advisors.

Others

• Magellan Financial Group: Australian-listed investment management firm. While not a direct aggregator of advice practices, it is a comparable Australian financial-services investment and serves as a benchmark for institutional ownership structures in the sector.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/broadleaf-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Broadleaf Financial Group