Your Wealth’s Human Firewall with Ord Minnett Noosa
In an age of deepfakes, AI and highly convincing online scams, the greatest risk to Australians’ wealth is no longer market volatility, but the absence of human connection. Kathy Sundstrom speaks to a local Private Wealth Advisory Team who have made cybersafety their personal mission.
When it comes to protecting your life savings, the greatest threat is no longer market volatility, global politics or even an underperforming Superannuation fund. The most immediate and rapidly growing danger to the wealth of Australians is sophisticated investment scams.
According to Scamwatch’s Targeting Scams report, Australians reported losses of more than $940 million to investment scams in 2024. These losses are rarely the result of reckless risk-taking. Increasingly, they affect people making what appear to be sensible, conservative financial decisions.
In a world where criminals can create fake websites that closely mimic legitimate institutions, impersonate trusted financial brands and even deploy deepfake videos and voices; trusted, personal financial advice has never been more important.
Thankfully, Noosa residents don’t have to travel far for that personal, professional advice. It is available on their doorstep.
Ord Minnett is an Australian-owned wealth and investment services firm that has advised individuals, families, businesses and organisations for more than seven decades.
In Noosa, financial advisers Chris Harris and Tom Hartvigsen bring nearly 40 years of combined experience in markets, portfolio construction and long-term wealth strategy from their office in Noosa Drive.
Their depth of knowledge allows them to identify quality opportunities and position clients’ money for growth. For many clients, it is the human side of the relationship that proves most valuable.
Sharon McManus, who was new to the Sunshine Coast when she chose to seek the advice of Ord Minnett, says the personal attention made all the difference.
“After comparing other financial consultants, the decision to go with Chris and Tom was an easy one,” she says. “Any concerns I had about transitioning to retirement were quickly eased by their thorough knowledge, their ability to communicate in a way I could understand, and their constant willingness to be available to answer my questions.
“I would recommend Ord Minnett to anyone seeking a a highly professional team who are passionate about helping individuals with their financial security but who care about you and your needs as well.”
Stories like Sharon’s highlight why face-to-face advice still matters. Chris says the absence of personal contact is often a red flag in scam cases.
“We know of Noosa residents who were simply looking for a competitive term deposit rate,” he says.
“They did a Google search, clicked on what appeared to be a comparison site at the top of the page, and were presented with options using the names of well-known wealth firms.”
Unfortunately, those sites were controlled by criminals impersonating legitimate institutions.
“They were set up on a fake investment platform and communicated entirely online, mostly through WhatsApp,” Chris says. “They never met their ‘adviser’ in person. Everything looked professional.”
It was only months later, when they tried to withdraw funds, that they discovered the truth.
“By then, their entire life savings were gone,” Chris said.
In this environment, the ability to sit across the table from a real adviser provides more than reassurance, it adds a vital layer of protection.
“The value of being able to walk into a local office and meet your adviser face-to-face cannot be overstated,” Chris says.
That human oversight is reinforced by Ord Minnett’s strong focus on cyber security. The firm operates a dedicated Security Centre that monitors client accounts and personal information around the clock.
“We invest heavily in leading-edge security systems and technologies,” Tom says. “But technology alone isn’t enough.”
Instead, Ord Minnett combines systems with personal verification.
“Cybercriminals target humans,” Tom explains. “That’s why we personally confirm transactions and changes to account details directly with our clients.
“If something doesn’t look right, we stop and check.”
This bystander approach of having experienced professionals actively watching over clients’ financial affairs has become increasingly valuable.
Long-term client Heather Glen says that sense of care has been consistent throughout her relationship with the firm.
“I’ve experienced a consistently high level of care and consideration throughout the entire planning and investment process,” she says. “What impressed me most was the long-term commitment. We’ve been working together for almost two decades and the outcome has far exceeded my expectations.”
For Chris, taking a long-term view is fundamental.
“Good advice isn’t just about today’s returns,” he says. “It’s about understanding where clients want to be in five, ten or twenty years, and protecting them along the way.”
That holistic approach is echoed by Jeff Prebble, who has worked with Chris and his team for more than a decade.
“Chris has looked at the whole picture – not just for us, but for our children and grandchildren as well,” he says. “He is extremely competent, freely available, and always happy to provide reassurance and clear advice.”
At the same time, clients retain full visibility over their investments. Ord Minnett’s secure platform allows access at any time, while maintaining rigorous safeguards in the background.
“Our clients can track their investments whenever they choose,” Chris says. “But they also know there is a team actively looking out for them.”
With access to wholesale and pre-market investment opportunities, and the backing of one of Australia’s oldest wealth and investment firms, Ord Minnett Noosa offers something increasingly rare: trusted advice delivered by real people, grounded in genuine local relationships.
When the stakes are your life savings, that human presence can make all the difference.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is of a generic nature. Please seek professional advice tailored to your specific needs before making any investment decisions.
SAFETY FIRST:
Tips to safeguard your accounts and money include:
Use strong, unique passwords:
Avoid using the same password across multiple accounts and use a mix of letters, numbers and symbols, or use a password manager to keep track.
Avoid suspicious links:
Do not click unknown links or download unknown attachments from sources that are not known to you or trustworthy.
Beware of phishing scams:
Be cautious of emails, calls, or texts asking for personal details or financial data. Legitimate institutions will never ask for sensitive details via these channels.
Secure your devices:
Use PINs, biometrics, and auto-lock functions on devices.
Shred personal documents:
Physically destroy documents with sensitive information.
Monitor accounts frequently:
Check your accounts regularly to spot any unusual transactions early.
Avoid public Wi-Fi for financial transactions:
Don’t log into banking or investment accounts on unsecured networks.
Be cautious with sharing:
Limit the information shared online, such as details like your full name, phone number, email, birthday or address.
