AZ NGA ramps up Sydney acquisition activity

Yasmine Raso

Senior Journalist

10 December 2025

AZ NGA has further expanded its Sydney footprint and high-net-worth (HNW) services capabilities with the acquisition of Northern Beaches-based financial planning, accounting and wealth management firm, Financial Decisions.

The deal will welcome Financial Decisions’ 35 employees, including eight financial advisers, into the AZ NGA fold and will see the firm’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Damien Cooper, step down from the role to focus on purely advising clients.

Paul Barrett, AZ NGA chief executive, said the acquisition brings Financial Decisions’ specialist services in “comprehensive strategic advice and multi-generational advice for corporate executives, professionals, small business owners, and family offices” under the group’s banner, enhancing its capabilities in this space and location.

“We are excited to partner with Financial Decisions to grow the business and deliver quality advice to more people,” he said.

“The firm’s integrated, multi-disciplinary model supports AZ NGA’s strategy of providing end-to-end solutions, ensuring stronger and deeper client relationships, long-term client retention and a steady stream of high-quality referrals.”

Cooper noted that the firm would be able to leverage AZ NGA’s merger and acquisition (M&A) power to grow its line-up of experienced advisers and younger associates.

“We had a good look at the various strategic capital partners in the market and their offers, and the partners and shareholders came together and agreed that AZ NGA was the right fit for us, not just in terms of their model and offer but the cultural alignment,” he said.

“Succession and growth were the main areas of focus for us, and our partnership with AZ NGA positions us strongly for the future.”

Financial Decisisons Managing Director and Principal, Blake Conde, will take over as CEO as part of the deal.

“Running an advice business is increasingly complex and expensive due to red tape and compliance, and additional considerations such as the compensation scheme of last resort, which is making it critical for businesses to find efficiencies in order to not only survive but thrive,” he said.

“Our focus is on delivering excellent service and advice to our clients and growing the business, and being able to leverage the resources, expertise and scale of AZ NGA gives us a competitive advantage. Advice businesses need to get bigger to meet the unmet advice needs of Australians.”