December 2023 - Bay of Plenty Business News

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18 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS December 2023 HIGH PERFORMANCE The ‘Titan of Tauranga’ secret revealed Less than three years ago, Freddie Bennett arrived in Tauranga with no contacts, no network and no business to lead. Today, he owns New Zealand’s most powerful – and most exclusive – mastermind networking group. Discover the secret behind his meteoric rise from addiction and depression to Guinness World Record holder, adventurer, and leading the private members group that everybody wants to join… but nobody talks about. you keep a secret?” Freddie smiles conspiratorially. “I’m on a “Can heroic quest. Nothing exists like this in New Zealand. A mastermind group full of remarkable people sharing once-in-lifetime experiences, learning unique lessons in secret places.” It sounds like a far-fetched dream that’s impossible to deliver. But ‘impossible’ is what Freddie Bennett does best. Proving the doubters wrong Freddie learned about decision-making when a drug-dealer held a gun to his head and pulled the trigger. Living in the UK, his life appeared perfect: He had a young family, a Porsche on the driveway, a Rolex on the wrist and a successful career advising the executive teams of brands such as Coca-Cola, Amazon, Microsoft, Virgin Atlantic, Heineken, Kuwait Petroleum and many more. But underneath the surface, Freddie’s life was falling apart. A potent mix of stress, and overwhelming imposter syndrome led to anxiety, depression, and substance addiction. Freddie became disillusioned at living an unfulfilled existence. “I was someone I didn’t recognise”, he explains. “I felt trapped in this life of quiet desperation. And I felt guilty because I knew I had so much that I should be grateful for, which just made me feel even more stuck. I was unfit, overweight, addicted, suicidal and one bad decision away from fully burning-out and blowing-up my life.” Then, at 36, Freddie watched his father die suddenly and brutally before his eyes, and it gave him the wake-up call he needed. “My dad’s death made me realise I was wasting my life, wasting my potential and wasting time. I was a seven-figure leader at work. But I wasn’t a seven-figure husband. I wasn’t a seven-figure father. I didn’t have seven-figure habits and I certainly didn’t have a seven-figure body”. Nobody believed Freddie could change his ways - he’d tried and failed so many times before. But he embarked on what he called ‘a heroic quest’ to prove to himself - and to the world - what he was capable of. Completing the world’s toughest footrace – 300km unsupported across the scorching Sahara Desert in six days; breaking Guinness World Records; winning ultramarathons; running 100 miles non-stop through the wilderness; completing Ironman races; publishing a bestselling book; launching a globally acclaimed podcast and much more. This led him to be featured by media such as the BBC, Men’s Health magazine, the Daily Mail and invited to the United Nations as a mindset and resilience advisor. Then an opportunity to move to Aotearoa arose, and Freddie embraced the challenge. Despite never visiting the country before, and with no business, no support network, no contacts and no friends, he was determined to make a difference. Freddie hustled, knocked on doors and focused on serving others, and quickly built a successful business working with accountancy and advisory firms to give their teams the knowledge, mindset and habits to create client revenue ‘on demand’. “But I knew I could do more”, Freddie states. “I wanted to create something that nobody has ever done. Something that would give bold, talented kiwis access to a powerful network full of remarkable people who could help them achieve amazing fulfilment, combined with unforgettable experiences”. So he chose to make the impossible dream a reality…and shoot for the stars. Aiming high Freddie created ‘Titan Sky’: A secret mastermind group for individuals who have already experienced an element of business and financial success but feel like something is missing from their lives. What exactly is a ‘Mastermind’ group? “The concept of a Mastermind group was introduced by Napoleon Hill”, he explains. “It’s formed by bringing a small, select group of talented individuals together to learn, grow and expand their businesses, minds and lives. This was inspired by Hill’s many conversations with the highly successful business magnate, Andrew Carnegie, who attributed his entire fortune and success to his Mastermind group. I wanted to bring the concept to New Zealand”. Freddie has gone to great lengths to ensure Titan Sky is not another networking group: This is about bringing truly successful and elite individuals together in private to excel in all areas of their lives, indulge in truly memorable experiences and make powerful connections. “As a newcomer to Tauranga – and to New Zealand – I had to do the rounds of the usual networking groups. I saw the same people promoting themselves in the same old way, at the same old meetings in the same old places drinking the same old terrible coffee.” “I was looking for a network that would enrich my life. What we currently have made me emotionally, spiritually and financially poorer. And worst of all…I felt like these groups were wasting my most precious resource: Time” So when Freddie couldn’t find what he was looking for, he created it. The Titan Sky mastermind was born. But instead of shouting it from the rooftops, he did everything he could to keep it a secret. Until now. Few are chosen In a world where everyone is fighting for attention, Freddie wants to keep Titan Sky under the radar. “Success comes from subtraction”, he says. “I don’t want the world to know about Titan Sky. This won’t be for everyone, and that’s just the way it should be.” So who is likely to become a member? “We invite applications from people who feel like their edge in life has been dulled. They might not feel truly recognised or fulfilled, despite the sacrifices they’ve made over the years. Individuals who want to join Titan Sky often are often eager to regain their ‘lost’ strength, spirit and energy and or can’t remember when they last felt truly challenged or alive. And most of all, they must be excited by the prospect of powerful conversations with remarkable people in secret places.” For those who do make it inside, a truly memorable experience awaits. “Members of Titan Sky will make deals, make memories and make their lives count for something more”, Freddie says. “This is about sharing experiences with truly powerful experts, leaders and masters of their fields while rediscovering their ‘true’ self, in terms of health, fitness and relationships, and to be held accountable for excelling in this area of their lives.” A different set of rules Freddie has gone to great lengths to ensure Titan Sky delivers a business, personal and developmental experience like no other. Privacy and secrecy within the group are paramount. Rather than sending standard emails and calendar invites to the bi-monthly meetings, members receive information via hand-written, wax-sealed letters. The mastermind also has a strict ‘no conference centre’ rule. (“Meeting rooms are where inspiration goes to die”, Freddie says). Titan Sky members convene in locations such as maximum security prisons, the stage of a closed opera house, cutting-edge tech labs and military bases. The exact location is kept a secret until the day of the meeting, and Freddie gives a guarantee that Titan Sky members will get a transformative experience, a life lesson and a story to tell that will never be forgotten. It’s bold. It’s brash. It’s ambitious. It’s disruptive. And that’s exactly how Freddie likes it. “I want to make Tauranga stand out, not just in New Zealand, but across the world”, Freddie states. “You don’t stand out by aiming for mediocrity or reinventing the wheel”. Is he worried that the five-figure annual membership fee will put people off? “That’s the plan”, Freddie replies. “I’m hoping 99% of people don’t want to apply. As Groucho Marx once said: I wouldn’t want to be part of any club that would welcome me as a member. But for the 1%... you will experience something money cannot buy.” Freddie’s vision for Titan Sky is certainly bold, and potentially impossible. But for someone who enjoys making the impossible happen…it appears the sky’s the limit. Titan Sky has no website. Membership applications are made in writing. Contact can be made by emailing hello@freddiembennett.com
December 2023 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS 19 FINANCIAL SERVICES Thinking of seeing a financial advisor? Sarah Ashby and Simon Bradley, wealth management advisors at Jarden explain what to expect and what to ask when consulting a financial advisor. For many people, choosing to see a financial adviser is a big decision. Talking about money and finances can be a deeply personal topic and for some people, it isn’t something they’re used to being open about. As financial advisers, we get to meet with new clients for a range of reasons. It’s generally connected to a change of situation, and they need help with what to do next. Often this is positive, where people are taking the next step towards their future by selling a property or their business, or being proactive in planning for retirement or building a legacy for their family. On the other hand, sometimes the need to talk to an adviser can come from a place of sadness if a loved one has passed away and left provisions for you in their will. Whatever the case, we find the first meeting is an important one. Our approach is to spend time with new clients and do a lot of listening and asking questions. This way, we can get an understanding of their current circumstances, find out what they are looking for in an adviser and what their goals are. At this point, we will likely have a few different options that work for different scenarios and goals. At Jarden, we offer the full range of services, from transactional advice only (e.g. share broking) to a full portfolio management services. We will recommend which service we think would be most appropriate and outline the applicable fees. If it is determined that a portfolio management service is appropriate, a big part of that meeting will involve talking about the client’s risk profile, discussing both their tolerance and ability to accept risk in a portfolio. The risk assessment is vital for both the adviser and the client to understand levels of comfort (or discomfort) with movements in the share market – especially given the recent volatility. This can also be an interesting exercise for couples where they may both have different risk profiles, and we need to find a way forward. A financial adviser will make sure that someone with a conservative appetite doesn’t end up with a high-risk portfolio only to find they are concerned and cash up when the market goes down. The effect of cashing up when the market falters can result in locking in losses, so it’s important to always consider the client’s goals and reasons for investing in the first place. Our job as advisers is to help them stick to the agreed long term investment strategy, rather than reacting to short term market movements. We often have clients tell us how valuable it is to have a chance to have open, frank conversations about money and goals in a way that they don’t feel comfortable doing with family or friends. One option that usually holds a lot of appeal for our clients is our Discretionary Investment Management Service (DIMS), which is where we provide a diversified investment portfolio that is bespoke to the client. We take care of the initial portfolio set up and the ongoing investments decisions so that clients don’t need to do that themselves. For this service, after the initial meeting we prepare an investment proposal and present it to the client for review. In this, we play back to them what they’ve told us and recommend a way to invest in a portfolio that will fit with their risk profile and help them achieve their investment goals. At this point, we talk more about the fees for their specific portfolio. Once the client has reviewed this and given us the green light, we proceed with creating the portfolio and taking care of it for them. We set up the portfolio, purchase all the assets, and create online access so the client can view their investment at any time. Many clients tell us they would find setting up a portfolio a daunting task and they’re delighted that we can do this for them quickly and easily. We take care of the portfolio over time – everything from making investment decisions and regular reporting – we even provide a tax report for you. It’s such a privilege for us to build long-term relationships with our clients and we love nothing more than seeing our clients achieve their goals. If seeking financial advice is on your to-do list, we hope sharing this process has helped demystify things and let you know what you should expect. Sarah Ashby 027 211 0760 Simon Bradley 027 427 3899 www.jarden.co.nz SARAH ASHBY, Wealth Management Advisor, Jarden SIMON BRADLEY, Wealth Management Advisor, Jarden Disclaimer: Sarah Ashby and Simon Bradley are Wealth Management Advisers at Jarden. The information and commentary in this article are provided for general information purposes only. It reflects views and research available at the time of publication, using external sources, systems and other data and information we believe to be accurate, complete and reliable at the time of preparation. We make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, correctness and completeness of that information, and will not be liable or responsible for any error or omission. It is not to be relied upon as a basis for making any investment decision. Please seek specific investment advice before making any investment decision or taking any action. Jarden Securities Limited is an NZX Firm. A financial advice provider disclosure statement is available free of charge at www.jarden.co.nz/ our-services/wealth-management/financial-advice-provider-disclosure-statement Strong investment decisions built on trust Our local wealth management experts Sarah and Simon, will work with you to guide you toward your long term financial goals. www.jarden.co.nz/wealth-management Jarden Securities Limited is an NZX Firm. Jarden Financial Advice Provider Disclosure statement is publicly available at www.Jarden.co.nz. Jarden is not a registered bank in New Zealand.
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December 2023 - Bay of Plenty Business News

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