Headquarters:
29 Sale St, Auckland 1010
Year founded:
2015
Number of employees:
23
Phone:
0800 798 815
Email:
info@everbright.co.nz
Website:
everbright.co.nz
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/everbright-finance
“We target wealth managers and RIAs that are looking for ways to differentiate in their offering and cater to a growing number of high-net-worth individuals looking for alternative investment vehicles such as private equity investment”
Kevin Collins
CEO and Founder
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EVERBRIGHT FINANCE
Frank Cui
Founder and Managing Director
Francine Kwok
General Manager
Edward Lai
Head of Insurance
Leadership
Frank Cui is the founder and managing director of EverBright Finance. With 14 years of experience across two major New Zealand banks, he held several senior leadership positions, including head of the migrant and Asian banking division. He also serves on the board of the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) in New Zealand. Passionate about supporting local businesses and communities, Cui combines extensive banking expertise with strong leadership credentials, holding a master’s degree in advanced leadership practice from Massey University and a finance degree from the University of Auckland. Outside of work, he enjoys basketball, acoustic guitar, and spending time with his family.
Founder and Managing Director
Frank Cui
Francine Kwok is the general manager of EverBright Finance and an accredited mortgage adviser with more than 20 years of banking experience. Before joining the firm, she held leadership roles at BNZ, where she developed expertise in credit, risk management, people leadership and business growth. As regional manager, she led the SME business acquisition team to top-performing results nationwide. Kwok now oversees EverBright Finance’s adviser team, focusing on strategy, operational excellence and client service. Known for her practical leadership style and results-driven mindset, she is committed to supporting adviser development and delivering tailored financial solutions for clients.
General Manager
Francine Kwok
Edward Lai is the head of insurance at EverBright Finance, recognised for his client-first approach and commitment to delivering personalised, professional advice. He works closely with clients to understand their individual circumstances and develop tailored insurance solutions that provide long-term confidence and protection. Lai specialises in life and risk insurance, including life, trauma, disability income protection, total and permanent disability (TPD) and medical cover. Clients value his honest, approachable and detail-oriented nature, as well as his genuine passion for helping people protect what matters most. He is dedicated to delivering exceptional service and guiding clients through every stage of their insurance journey.
Head of Insurance
Edward Lai
SPECIAL REPORT
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Bio
Tim Bowen
Chief Financial Officer
Tim Bowen is chief financial officer at Squirrel, bringing more than 15 years of management and consulting experience across the insurance sector and other industries. A former New Zealand representative swimmer, he is recognised for his strong work ethic, leadership and broad commercial expertise. Bowen plays an important role in supporting Squirrel’s growth and financial performance. Outside work, he enjoys staying active, sharing dad jokes and unwinding over a classic dinner of steak and mash with family and friends.
Chief Financial Officer
Tim Bowen
Abi Cooke
Chief Marketing Officer
Abi Cooke is chief marketing officer at Squirrel, bringing extensive experience across marketing, digital strategy and financial services. Her career has spanned both London and New Zealand, working with major brands including UBS, ASB, ANZ, Westpac, Generate and Fisher Funds through leading agencies such as Affinity ID, Colenso and Krunch. With postgraduate qualifications in business and marketing, Cooke combines strategic thinking with strong industry expertise. She is recognised for her energy, creativity and leadership within the business. Outside work, she enjoys travelling, exploring new restaurants, staying active and spending time with her children, Josh and Siena.
Chief Marketing Officer
Abi Cooke
Founded in 2015 by a group of highly experienced former bankers, EverBright Finance was established with a clear vision: to provide New Zealanders with sensible, straightforward and effective financial solutions to support their long-term goals and future success.
Since its inception, the firm has earned widespread industry recognition for its consistent performance and client-focused approach. EverBright Finance was ranked the top brokerage nationally by Link Financial Group for five consecutive years and was named one of NZ Adviser’s Top Brokerages from 2023 to 2026. It also received the Brokerage of the Year – Excellence Award at the New Zealand Mortgage Awards from 2023 to 2025 and was proudly named Brokerage of the Year (6+ Staff) in 2026.
Today, EverBright operates from its Auckland head office and is supported by a team of 17 financial advisers, alongside a growing support staff. The firm’s expertise spans personal and business lending, property finance and insurance advice, allowing it to provide comprehensive solutions tailored to a wide range of client needs.
Over the years, EverBright has helped thousands of clients achieve their financial goals. The firm is accredited with all major New Zealand banks, as well as an extensive network of non-bank lenders. Through strong lender relationships and a highly professional approach, the team is able to match each client with solutions that best suit their individual circumstances and aspirations.
“[Automation] has resulted in productivity gains far greater than 80 percent and allowed our customers to grow their business by handling a greater number of clients, client portfolios, and assets under management”
Kevin Collins
CEO and Founder
Callan Wayne-Bowles
Group Head of Advisory
Colin Gardyne
Chief Technology Officer
Steven Sun
Financial Adviser
Sarah M Stewart
Associate Vice President,
Leasing and Call Centre Operations
Callan Wayne-Bowles is group head of advisory at Squirrel, bringing more than two decades of experience within the finance industry. He holds degrees in accountancy and commercial law from Victoria University and spent over ten years working for major banks before joining Squirrel. Known for his deep industry knowledge and trusted advice, Wayne-Bowles has built a strong reputation as a leading mortgage adviser in Wellington, reflected in his many repeat clients and referrals. Outside work, he enjoys fishing, snowboarding and playing golf whenever time allows. He is also recognised within the team as its most successful poker player.
Group Head of Advisory
Callan Wayne-Bowles
Colin Gardyne leads Squirrel’s growing team of developers as chief technology officer and is constantly focused on building innovative technology solutions for the business. After a busy day of coding and problem-solving, he enjoys relaxing by watching Liverpool matches or playing PlayStation with a Tuatara beer in hand after work.
Chief Technology Officer
Colin Gardyne
Steven Sun is an experienced financial adviser at Plaxo Mortgages, with over six years of expertise in delivering tailored lending solutions across a wide range of client needs. He brings a strong foundation in banking, having previously spent five years with ASB and Westpac, where he specialised in lending and team management. This dual perspective allows him to understand both internal bank processes and the practical needs of his clients.
Sun provides comprehensive services, including home lending, property investment lending, and development project finance. He also supports business owners with tailored business loan solutions. He delivers practical, well-aligned strategies and provides end-to-end support throughout the lending process to achieve consistent results.
Financial Adviser
Steven Sun
Greg McAweeney is an accomplished commercial leader with over 20 years of experience spanning digital strategy, customer experience, strategic marketing, brand building and B2C/B2B sales across financial services, telecommunications and insurance. He joined Helia in 2022 as chief commercial officer, where he leads growth strategy and drives key partnerships. Prior to Helia, McAweeney served as CCO at HCF and held senior sales and service roles at Rabobank across Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and an MBA from University College Dublin and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Chief Commercial Officer
Greg McAweeney