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“No matter how many clients I have, I make sure to call each one personally every quarter. It’s a chance to not only update them on their portfolio, but also check on how they’re doing personally”
Kelvin Rampersad,
Carte Wealth Management
As the inaugural country manager for the Finance and Mortgage Advisers Association of New Zealand (FAMNZ) since January 2024, Leigh Hodgetts has dedicated this year to establishing the firm’s brand and underscoring their value to the finance and mortgage advisory market.
FAMNZ is the sister organisation of the Finance Brokers Association of Australiasia (FBAA), which expanded across the Tasman Sea in 2024. The managing director of FBAA and FAMNZ, Peter J. White, AM, is a fellow Global 100 – Mortgage 2024 winner.
FAMNZ is a professional association focused on providing advocacy, education and representation for mortgage and finance advisers. Its mission is to support advisers and expand its market share nationwide.
In her career, Hodgetts has supported advisers and financial advice providers (FAPs) in preparing for New Zealand’s evolving licensing regime, bringing a depth of experience in compliance and training. Her background includes roles such as compliance and training consultant, senior positions with the FMA, prominent New Zealand banks, and as the professional development, standards and policy manager for Financial Advice New Zealand.
With a deep commitment to raising professional standards, Hodgetts she draws on her experience as a former financial planner in Australia, where she managed her own practice, to help advisers in New Zealand navigate regulatory changes and achieve business growth.
Upon graduating from Deakin University in Geelong, Victoria, with a diploma in financial planning, she began working at a regional bank in Queensland, where she became a lending specialist and branch manager, before seizing the chance to become a financial adviser.
She says, “Supporting clients in achieving their wider financial goals quickly became a passion, shaping my career path from that point forward.”
Hodgetts’ strongest professional quality is her ability to build lasting relationships and networks based on trust, professionalism, and a commitment to supporting others in the industry.
“I am deeply invested in helping others succeed, and I am driven to elevate the professionalism of our sector, making it an attractive and viable career choice for new advisers entering this dynamic sector,” she says.
Establishing a new professional association specifically for mortgage and finance advisers has been fulfilling yet challenging for Hodgetts. As membership in a professional association is not mandatory in New Zealand, FAMNZ faces the challenge of demonstrating clear value and a compelling reason for advisers to join its organisation. To meet this challenge, the organisation is focused on creating a supportive and impactful association where advisers can connect, grow and contribute to positive change within the sector.
Hodgetts’ experience of being a financial adviser in Australia allowed her to take a unique career path in New Zealand.
She says, “Working in a mature, highly regulated environment provided valuable insights that have been instrumental in supporting sector changes here in New Zealand. Advising on the new licensing regime and collaborating with mortgage advisers over recent years has been especially rewarding.”
Outside of her work, she has volunteered with professional associations across both countries working to support financial advisers through regulatory education, networking events and mentorship for women new to the industry.
One of Hodgetts’ proudest contributions was serving on the committee for Women in Finance in Brisbane – a passion she carried with her when I moved to New Zealand over a decade ago.
“With the successful establishment of FAMNZ, I aim to grow a trusted professional association that empowers mortgage and finance advisers nationwide,” she says. “My legacy vision is to see this sector flourish, enabling advisers to thrive in their businesses while consistently delivering positive outcomes for New Zealanders.”
Office 23, Level 8, 139 Quay Street, Auckland
022 536 8835
lhodgetts@famnz.co.nz
linkedin.com/in/leigh-hodgetts-90640251
famnz.co.nz
Leigh Hodgetts
Country Manager
Finance and Mortgage Advisers Association New Zealand (FAMNZ)
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“I strongly believe in working smarter, not harder. I think it’s one of the keys to living a great life, and I want to share that with as many people as possible”
Kelvin Rampersad,
Carte Wealth Management
1996–2017
2017
2019
2024
2024
1996: Financial Planner (Australia): held various roles, including managing own business
1997–2017: Member of the FPA (Financial Planning Association in Australia)
2002: Achieved Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification in Australia
2012: Moved to New Zealand; Manager, Retail Operations at Financial Markets Authority – New Zealand
1996–
2017
Compliance and Training Manager
2017
Professional Development and Compliance Consultant
2019
Country Manager at FAMNZ
2024
Country Manager at FAMNZ
2024
Milestones
Milestones
ELITE WOMEN 2024 JUDGE