Giving Across Borders - Options for Tax Effective Gift Giving

Host: Ashley S. Murphy, GFP (USA/AUS) CFP® AIF®

Tri-citizen of the US, Australia and the UK & Principal of Areté Wealth Strategists Australia, a financial planning firm based in the US, whose expat clients constitute 90% of its portfolio. More Info

At Arete Wealth Strategists Australia, Ashley works with clients to bring strategy, structure, clarity, confidence and compliance to their global financial lives and keep it that way.

Founded In 2013, Arete Wealth Strategists Australia is an SEC-registered, fee-only financial planning and investment management firm for Australian/American expatriates located in the United States and Australia.

As of 2021, Ashley and his team have grown the firm from start-up in 2013 to 63 client households with $63M in Assets Under Management while experiencing an impressive 400% growth in Assets Under Management in the past 3 years.

Ashley is a tri-citizen of the USA, Australia and the UK. From 2014 - 2017, Ashley taught in the CFP programs at UC Berkeley Extension and Golden Gate University. He was formerly a Knowledge Circle host for the International and Cross-Border Knowledge Circle with the Financial Planning Association (2017 - 2019), and a regular conference speaker. He holds a Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning in Australia making him one of the only financial advisors qualified in both countries. Ashley has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal and profiled in Financial Advisor Magazine. He places a strong emphasis on learning and typically achieves a multiple of the required Continuing Education (CE) credit for his designations.

Ashley’s undergraduate studies at the University of Queensland (Brisbane, Australia) were in Business Management and Management Information Systems. Ashley has long felt a passion for financial planning and investment management. While completing his undergraduate studies, he founded an investment club and grew it to over 300 members.

In 2005, he ventured to the United States to pursue his dreams in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ashley worked for several large companies, including Visa, Babcock and Brown and VWR International as a corporate financial analyst.

Ashley began the transition to financial planning in 2008. In 2009 he completed the first level of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. In 2010, Ashley was named runner-up ‘Student of the Year’ in the UC Berkeley Extension’s Personal Financial Planning program and won a number of scholarships. In 2012, he obtained his Certified Financial Planner™ designation.

Ashley, his wife Eliza, daughters Elise & Jasmine maintain their residence in Minneapolis, MN but are living in Brisbane, MN through 2022. He enjoys cycling, reading and world travel. He is a futurist with interests in architecture, renewable energy and demographics.

Guest: John Versace CFP®

John Versace is an experienced financial planner with extensive expertise in helping expats protect and grow their finances to reach their goals. He uses this wealth of knowledge to support Australian expats, those migrating to Australia and US citizens living on our shores. More InfoMore Info

Based in Melbourne, Victoria, John has been in the financial services industry for 15 years, 10 of those with Apt Wealth Partners, where he is a Senior Financial Adviser. He is known amongst expat communities for his deep knowledge of wealth building and protection in multiple jurisdictions, helping people live their best lives wherever they reside.

John holds a Bachelor of Business (Economics and Finance) from RMIT and a Graduate Diploma in Financial Services. He is also a Certified Financial Planner® with the Financial Planning Association of Australia.

Outside work, John is a passionate football fan, following AFL and soccer. His weekends are usually spent with his family, enjoying the outdoors and spending time with his daughter.