TOOWOOMBA PART OF Q INVEST EXPANSION IN REGIONAL COMMUNITIES

Q Invest, a financial planning organisation owned by QSuper and QIC is now expanding its services to regional Queenslanders, Deputy Premier and Treasurer Anna Bligh said in Toowoomba today.

“I’m pleased to congratulate Q Invest on opening five new regional offices which will provide financial advice to Queenslanders in more locations across the State,” Ms Bligh said.

Q Invest is a financial planning company that provides informed and independent advice to QSuper members as well as the general public.

“It provides advice on financial arrangements such as superannuation, pensions and annuities, savings plans, managed investments and life insurance. Importantly, none of the staff are paid by commissions,” Ms Bligh said.

“Q Invest began expanding its services to regional communities in November 2004 with the opening of the Townsville office.

“They have since relocated and expanded the Townsville centre and opened offices in Toowoomba, SunshineCoast, Bundaberg, and the Gold Coast, and also are planning a Rockhampton office.”

Ms Bligh said the Toowoomba office had proved very popular, and many locals had pre-booked meetings with the office’s financial planner before the office opened for business in September.

“These new Q Invest offices will provide a range of services including tailored advice, full financial plans, web assisted and phone advice, seminars and workshops.”

Existing Q Invest clients will also see some new benefits over the coming months.

“Additional financial planners will be appointed to the Brisbane offices to improve access to financial advice for South East Queenslanders, while Q Invest will continue its regional program which sees planners regularly travelling to clients in our remote communities.”

In the 2005-06 financial year, Q Invest provided over 15,000 advice related interviews.

“Through these new initiatives, we now estimate that Q Invest will provide an additional 3,600 financial planning interviews per annum in regional Queensland to QSuper members,” she said.

“Bringing these services to the community is just another way we’re working towards a smarter and more financially secure Queensland.”

06 December 2006

Media contact: Deputy Prermier’s Office 322 44379