Sentry, Epic to join forces

PERTH financial advisory firms, Sentry Group and Epic Adviser Services, have announced plans to establish a jointly owned group that will have 120 advisers in all Australian states. The two firms will retain their existing brands but will be jointly owned by a new entity, Sentry Group Australia. East Perth-based Sentry currently has 33 advisers in WA and 83 nationally while Applecross-based Epic has 37 advisers in WA. Sentry Group chairman and chief executive Murray Hills said that, under a heads of agreement, the financial services licensees would come together with effect from July 1 2007. Epic is a member of the Questus Capital Group and has a network of financial advisers targeting the accounting profession. “We have been looking for alliance solutions for our advisers and found that Sentry shared our belief in the non-institutionally aligned, client focused, adviser service model,” Questus and Epic chairman David Somerville said.