Meet the Centuria Life team - Paul Roach

Paul Roach is a Distribution Manager and the newest edition to the Centuria Life team. Discover Paul’s take on investment bonds, what inspires him and his passion for working with financial advisers.

1. What inspired you to pursue your current career path?

Financial advisers fulfil a really important role in our society and so working alongside them, to help them improve the lives of many, has always been something I’ve enjoyed and been fulfilled by.

2. If there’s one thing you’d want every adviser to know about investment bonds, what would it be?

They’re a great way of saving and investing money in a flexible, tax-effective manner, suitable for many phases of life. The recent – and indeed ongoing – changes to superannuation legislation mean investment bonds are increasingly more relevant to managing clients’ wealth.

3. Can you share a career highlight or memorable time?

I worked in Margin Lending before, during and after the GFC. It was an amazing, if somewhat unnerving time. I was struck by how few people understood how gearing worked in a falling market, compared to the many that seemed to understand it when the bulls were running.

4. What’s something you’ve been reading or learning about lately that’s grabbed your attention?

I learned recently that, during daylight saving, Adelaide is ahead of Brisbane by half an hour and it blew my mind.

5. Who inspires you professionally or personally?

I’m inspired by anyone who works with our very young or very old…such an important contribution to humanity, that isn’t rewarded as it should be.

6. What’s the last movie or concert you watched and did you enjoy it?

I saw Spiderbait at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney recently. It was the first time I’d seen them and they were amazing!

7. What’s your favourite food?

It’s hard to go past a good laksa or pho.

8. What’s your favourite way to relax after work?

Once the kids are eventually asleep, I like to read about what’s been going on in the world.

9. What’s something you’re passionate about outside of work?

What goes on in sport behind the scenes. I host a podcast – ‘For and Against’ – that delves into what might very loosely be described as the business of sport. It’s easy to dismiss sport as a bunch of people chasing a ball (etc.) but sitting behind that is a huge global industry.

10. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

‘Watch the ball’. It has much wider application than the sporting context with which it’s generally associated. Thanks Dad.