John Manuel has more than twenty years’ experience working within the financial planning industry and became a Prosperity Director in 2004. He is both a Chartered Accountant and Financial Planner and specialises in developing financial planning strategies for his business and high net worth clients.

John was named as one of six finalists in the IFA Magazines National Independent Adviser of the Year competition in 2003. He has since been listed as one of Australia’s Top 50 Financial Planners by the Australian Financial Review Smart Investor Magazine by being named on their Masterclass Top 50 Honour Roll.

Most recently John was listed two years running as one of Australia’s Top 50 Financial Advisers by The Australian’s Deal Magazine in association with Barron’s (2017 & 2018).

• What makes a good leader?

I believe a leader needed to be someone that you know can actually do what the people are trying to dictate needs to be done. It’s pretty easy to earn respect for someone who is a good leader.

So, I think what you need is a good communicator, someone who is always positive, that’s very important as well, and someone that’s interested in what your day-to-day accounts are, and wants to get an understanding and hear about those as well.

Those are probably the key things.

• What has shaped your leadership style?

I think it’s ingrained in us as we evolve, as we’re children, as we get personalities.

I’m not saying lots of people try and be someone they’re not, and they get called straightaway. I’m very non-confrontational, so I’ve formed with that democratic style role and that suits for me. That’s why I’d say it’s built into us and you can’t fake it.

• Is it becoming more critical for leaders to be abreast of their legal responsibilities?

Absolutely, especially in the industry I’m in, so the financial service industry is getting a lot of feedback at the moment. They need to be very abreast to things like best duty interests by filling obligations to client under fee for service obligations.

There are a lot of people getting pain for that at the moment, so it’s really important as a business leader you understand your obligations in that respect. I just think there’s so much in the work that you find yourself at all levels, just in your day to day interaction and helping the people around you understand what’s right and what’s wrong.

• What’s good about doing business in the Hunter?

It doesn’t take much. I’m in Sydney a couple of days, a fortnight, and I comes home very quickly when I’m down in Sydney. There’s some great people up here, the lifestyle’s wonderful, some really smart people doing some really things, tight-knit community.

And if you are doing a good job, people will be there so support you in the Hunter and there’s those around you that are doing the same. So a lot of great people, a lot have grown up here and that’s why I like to work them.

• Which local businessperson do you find inspiring?

I couldn’t pick any single person. I guess the people that I find inspiring are I’ve got clients that have been very successful that are now giving their time to non-profits, so I’ve got a client that’s helping out a non-profit that helps disabled people with reconstructing their homes, etc, those sorts of things.

There’s some really good people doing some great that are great connection and great experiences. So, they’re the people I respect, especially the ones that can keep their roles and give at the same time.