In the latest installment of our Meet the Team series, we sat down with Meena Berry, Partner Enablement Manager.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I was born in Zambia, Africa and migrated to Australia when I was 9 years old. I majored in BCom Accounting at Macquarie University and lived overseas in Canada and the UK shortly after finishing my degree. I love travelling, mountain hiking and spending time with my family in the outdoors.
When did you join myprosperity? Where were you before?
I joined myprosperity just over 12 months ago in what has been a hugely exciting year of change in the company and industry as a whole. Prior to that, I was a Director for Business Development at PwC. My tenure at a big 4 accounting firm came about largely from my role as a Senior Account Manager at Xero which involved working closely with a range of accounting practices of varying sizes in helping them transition to the cloud. My role at Xero was pivotal in my entry into the accounting tech industry.
What would you say is the top trend to watch out for in the accounting and financial planning industries?
One of the biggest trends is the willingness of clients to embrace digital experiences in their everyday world. The advisers who focus on delivering an accessible and affordable digital experience will be the ones to outshine their competition. A key area is to make it easy for millennials and digital natives to access financial services as easy as, say, Uber has made it to hail a car from a smartphone. Firms who are offering exceptional digital client experiences including personalised mobile apps, client portals, electronic document signing, video conferencing tools and social media to educate connect with their market are building better client experiences and attracting new clients.
What would you say is the most overrated trend?
Robo-advice. A key question often asked is “whether robo-advice will replace financial advisers?” I think it’s more likely that these robo offerings will complement the work done by advisers. The human element of coaching the client to help them prioritize, track their goals and adapt as their lives change inherently builds a relationship that extends beyond just the nuts and bolts of investing. This is more apparent in the case of handling more complex financial issues, such as retirement, insurance and estate planning.
What’s a little known fact about Meena?
In a previous life I used to own a cafe in inner city Sydney.
Quick Round:
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- Biggest pet peeve? Coffee served lukewarm
- Favourite spot? I have travelled a lot and one city I never forgot was Lyon, France. I love the live music, theatre, markets and the authentic french cuisine. Hands down one of my most favourite cities in the world!
- Favourite food? Pineapples, passionfruit and anything tropical
What is your favourite myprosperity feature?
The mobile app is my favourite feature and one which is of increasing importance. Stats show that 85% of people use 3+ digital devices while 98% access the internet and apps daily. These days convenience is king and there is a growing expectation people have access to their financial information 24/7 at their fingertips.