Navigating Life’s Twists: Partners OHM Financial Services, the Quiet Architects of Financial Resilience in Malvern

In the leafy, affluent enclave of Malvern, Victoria – a stone’s throw from Melbourne’s vibrant heart – financial decisions often feel less like calculations and more like navigating a storm-tossed sea. Whether it’s the windfall of an unexpected inheritance, the seismic shift of a divorce, or the tender uncertainties of planning for retirement, life’s pivotal moments demand more than spreadsheets; they call for wisdom, empathy, and unerring precision. Enter Partners OHM Financial Services, a boutique advisory firm that has quietly become the compass for countless Australians charting these waters. With roots stretching back decades and a personalised touch that feels almost familial, Partners OHM isn’t just advising on wealth – it’s safeguarding futures.

Established as a restructured entity in 2012, Partners OHM Financial Services draws its lifeblood from the venerable OHM Australia, whose origins trace to 1989. Yet the story runs deeper still: the firm’s symbiotic partner, OHM Chartered Accountants, was founded in 1976 by a cadre of forward-thinking professionals determined to blend rigorous accounting with strategic foresight. Today, this heritage manifests in a seamless alliance, where the forensic detail of tax expertise meets the broad-stroke vision of investment planning. “We’ve always believed that true financial advice emerges at the intersection of numbers and narratives,” reflects Peter Meakin, the firm’s Managing Director and a Senior Financial Adviser with over two decades in the industry. Under his stewardship, Partners OHM has evolved into a specialist practice licensed through Charter Financial Planning via PRPIA Pty Ltd, serving a clientele that spans high-net-worth individuals, family businesses, and those at the cusp of profound life transitions.

What sets Partners OHM apart in Australia’s crowded financial landscape is its unwavering commitment to holism – a philosophy that treats every client’s circumstances as uniquely etched. Gone are the days of generic portfolios; instead, the firm crafts bespoke strategies that factor in not just returns, but the subtler currents of taxation, emotional well-being, and long-term legacy. Clients arriving amid the euphoria of a job promotion or the heartache of supporting ageing parents find solace in advisers who listen as intently as they analyse. This client-centric ethos is no accident: it’s baked into the firm’s DNA, honed by a team that prioritises clarity over complexity.

At the helm is Peter Meakin, whose career trajectory reads like a masterclass in financial stewardship. A fixture in Melbourne’s advisory circles, Meakin’s expertise spans wealth accumulation, superannuation restructuring, and risk mitigation, often drawing on his intimate knowledge of market volatilities to shield clients from downturns. Flanking him are Luke Andrews and William Tunbridge, both seasoned advisers whose specialisms complement the firm’s breadth. Andrews excels in retirement and Centrelink planning, helping clients unlock the labyrinthine benefits system to maximise their golden years. Tunbridge, meanwhile, brings a sharp focus to business succession and debt strategies, guiding family enterprises through generational handovers with the finesse of a surgeon. Together, they form a triumvirate backed by the broader OHM network – including tax luminaries like Director Scott Goodwin and business advisory whiz George Casson – ensuring that advice isn’t siloed but symphonic.

The firm’s services read like a roadmap for life’s most demanding junctions. Investment advice forms the cornerstone, encompassing everything from direct equities and fixed-interest securities to listed property and cash holdings. For those eyeing retirement, pre-retirement planning dovetails with superannuation counsel, whether opting for self-managed super funds (SMSFs), master trusts, or public offerings. Life protection looms large too: recommendations for total and permanent disability cover, trauma insurance, and income safeguards provide a safety net against the unforeseen. And in an era where aged care costs can eclipse home values, Partners OHM’s dedicated planning in this arena – coupled with debt reduction tactics – empowers clients to age with dignity and independence.

Business owners aren’t overlooked; succession planning and limited recourse borrowing arrangements (ideal for superannuation-funded property buys) address the thorny issues of legacy and leverage. Through its affiliations, the firm extends into accounting, taxation, legal support, mortgage broking, and even property syndication – all orchestrated to optimise outcomes. “Tax isn’t an afterthought here; it’s the thread that weaves through every recommendation,” Meakin explains. This integrated approach, leveraging OHM’s accounting prowess, has yielded tangible wins: clients routinely report enhanced after-tax returns and streamlined compliance, turning potential pitfalls into pathways.

The proof, as they say, lies in the testimonials. Dave Collins, a long-time collaborator, lauds the team’s “extraordinary, up-to-date advice tailored to specific business needs,” crediting them with elevating his financials to peak compliance while delivering exceptional care. Adrian Cosman-Jones echoes this, recounting how a spot of tax wizardry from the OHM side shaved thousands off his bill – a boon that rippled into broader financial confidence. For Liana Slipetsky, director of a property firm, the transition to Partners OHM felt effortless, thanks to “attentive service and great advice” that smoothed her path through complex dealings. These voices, drawn from OHM’s stellar 5-star reviews, underscore a truth: in a field rife with jargon, Partners OHM communicates with compassion, fostering relationships that endure beyond transactions.

As economic headwinds – from inflation’s bite to superannuation reforms – buffet Australia’s households, firms like Partners OHM emerge as vital allies. Their Malvern base, a modern haven at 77 Station Street, hums with the quiet energy of lives being realigned. Here, financial planning transcends the transactional; it’s an act of empowerment, ensuring that whether you’re toasting a new arrival or contemplating your sunset years, your wealth works as hard for you as you have for it.

For those ready to plot their course, Partners OHM Financial Services awaits. Reach them at 77 Station Street, Malvern VIC 3144, or via PO Box 428, Malvern VIC 3144. Telephone: (03) 8508 7870. Email: fs@pohm.com.au. Office hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Your story, after all, deserves its own chapter – and they’re here to help you write it.