PIPA Member Profile | Andrew Trigg, Empower Wealth
May 2025Karen Millers
Categories
Location ReportsMedia releasesNational market updatesPersonal advisersPIPA AdviserPIPA Annual Investor Sentiment SurveysPIPA Member ProfilesPIPA video updatesPIPA webinarsPodcastsProperty advisersProperty newsUncategorisedLatest Articles
Safeguarding Property Businesses Against Cyber Threats
Young purchasers sidelined as key buyer group returns to market
Andrew Trigg is a Qualified Property Investment Adviser with Empower Wealth as well as a property investor with a passion for renovation.
| | CAN YOU PLEASE TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR ROLE AT EMPOWER WEALTH? |
| As a Qualified Property Investment Advisor (QPIA) at Empower Wealth, my role involves working with clients to fully understand where they are at today, and what direction they are wanting to move towards. As trusted advisors acting in the best interests of our clients, the property investment advice is the last step in the process. We must first consider myriad factors such as career, accommodation (renting or owner-occupier), family plans (parental leave, childcare, schooling), renovations, holidays, vehicles, etc. If you think about it, we cannot conscientiously recommend a client purchase a specific asset unless we know that the projected cash flows and growth performance of that asset will align with each individual client’s personal plans and aspirations. My favourite part of the role is having deeper conversations with clients to understand their motivation when it comes to investing. Every client has different circumstances, future plans, and goals. It is only after understanding their “why” that we can then advise them on the appropriate “what” and “how”. The novelty of working with individuals and couples around Australia, aging from their 20s to 60s, from all walks of life and differing careers, incomes and aspirations is the highlight of my role. During my time at Empower Wealth, I have worked in both our Sydney and Melbourne offices, meeting our growing team and collaborating with our Mortgage Brokering, Buyer’s Agency, Financial Planning and Accounting services. |
| | HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A PROPERTY INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL AND WHAT WAS YOUR PATHWAY INTO THE PROFESSION (INCL. OTHER CAREERS)? |
| I have been working at Empower Wealth for seven years. The first two of those years as an associate support (while completing my QPIA) and then the last five years as a PIA. Prior to this, I worked for eight years in construction management, overseeing the construction of high-rise commercial and residential property, correctional facilities and government projects across Melbourne and Sydney. While working in the construction industry, I was building my personal property portfolio and taking a strong interest in educating myself on everything there was to know about investment in property. I was “living and breathing” property and consuming books, podcasts, forums and blogs. I had even started undertaking my PIPA accreditation as I began reaching out to companies to make my career transition. This transition was made easier thanks to my education background, completing a Bachelor of Environments at the University of Melbourne, majoring in Property and Construction as well as a cadetship of town planning with local council. In addition, I have always had a natural inclination to want to help people, being a member of several volunteer organisations over the years. This instinct aligns well with the values of a QPIA and Empower Wealth, so I get immense satisfaction from our positive client reviews and seeing them achieve their financial and personal goals over the years. |
| | ALSO, PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR OWN PERSONAL PROPERTY INVESTMENT HISTORY |
| I have been invested in the property market for over 13 years now, starting within the first 12 months of securing a full-time role after university. Over the journey (which is not complete!), I have held five separate properties, renovating most of these assets either for sale or a longer-term hold strategy. Fortunately, to date, these renovations have yielded positive returns through either increased equity, rental income or a higher sale price. Each time I get to the end of a renovation and think, ‘Never again!’ only to find myself doing another one. I think this risk profile and interest comes from a background of architecture and construction courses at uni, along with having parents who have a similar. appetite and experience with renovations. While I am happy with how the portfolio is progressing, I think it is important to also acknowledge there have been mistakes and “lessons learnt” along the way. Specifically, starting my portfolio before seeking professional advice, or at the very least educating myself. This oversight meant the first two properties I purchased myself with little research, resulting in acquisitions in the town I grew up in in regional Victoria. While COVID-19 eventually helped give these assets an uplift, I could have accelerated my strategy by buying a single property in a capital city at that time, rather than two regional properties. I subsequently purchased my next two properties through a qualified buyer’s agent and these assets significantly outperformed the first two. Life is changing a little for me now with the anticipated arrival of our first child in 2025. This comes with a change to the property strategy moving forward. Perhaps another renovation and another sale, to then look to secure a personal home after what has primarily been a rentvesting strategy to date. I’m looking forward to the next chapter! |
| | YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE PIPA ACCREDITATION PROGRAM AND ARE A QPIA MEMBER AS WELL. HOW DID YOU FIND THE TRAINING PROGRAM? |
| Early in my career I was consuming as much property material as possible, and the PIPA Accreditation Program was a natural progression. It was also a contractual requirement for all advisors working at Empower Wealth. I completed the six modules of the QPIA program during my first six months working as an associate to the qualified advisors at Empower. The course was online, meaning I could complete it at my own pace, with assistance from the PIPA administration and assessors where required. I found the theory to be relevant to the property market of the day and that it touched on all aspects of the property industry and providing professional advice in the best interests of the client. I found it helpful working in the industry while completing the course, but I don’t think this should be a barrier for anyone wanting to increase their knowledge in the space or considering a move into the property investment advice industry. The course also included a practical module where you are required to create a Property Plan for a hypothetical client – something I thoroughly enjoyed and have continued doing professionally ever since! |
| | WHY DID YOU THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT TO UNDERTAKE SPECIALIST ADVICE TRAINING AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS FOR YOUR CAREER AFTER FINISHING THE PROGRAM? |
| The property investment industry is currently unregulated, meaning anyone can call themselves a ‘Property Investment Advisor’ with no education, formal training or knowledge. I feel the intent of the PIPA Accreditation Program is to approach the industry as though it is regulated and establish a (must needed) minimum qualification and barrier to entry for individuals presenting themselves as trustworthy and competent advisors. Buying a property, for personal or investment purposes, is one of the biggest financial decisions a person or couple will make in their lives. I have seen first-hand the distress this causes when it goes wrong. When clients have purchased an unsuitable asset, incorrectly structured their finances or not planned how they will cash flow this property through interest rate changes, vacancy, family plans, career changes, home renovations, etc. It is unfortunate when clients have taken this action without seeking advice. Even more upsetting, however, is when people have taken action on the poor advice of an unqualified ‘advisor’, or someone whose incentives lie elsewhere than in giving the client the best advice to suit their personal situation. From a competition and marketing perspective, this qualification gives credibility to our service offering and helps us distinguish ourselves from other individuals or businesses who may be giving unqualified advice or advice misaligned to the client’s best interests. |
| | WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU PROFESSIONALLY IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS AND BEYOND? |
| I want to continue to help ordinary Aussies strive to achieve their personal goals, in whatever form that takes for them. It’s an exciting time to be working at Empower Wealth currently, with enhancements to our industry-leading cashflow projection software and research platform. Personally, there will hopefully be some further qualifications for me in the coming years in the Financial Planning and/or Buyer’s Advocacy space as I look to add more facets to my expertise. |
Originally Published: PIPA Adviser Issue #35
