Zenith Investment Partners has hired a former associate financial adviser as an investment analyst, continuing a hiring trend it started earlier this year.
James Damicoucas spent two-and-a-half years as an associate financial adviser at Perpetual Private and Wattle Partners (formerly Sornem Wealth).
As a Zenith investment analyst he will research fund managers as a part of its income team.
He will report to Zenith's head of multi-asset and Australian fixed income Andrew Yap.
Damicoucas' hire is the third time that the ratings house has brought in advice talent to build its research teams.
"While Zenith recruits research staff from a range of industry backgrounds, our analysts with financial planning experience are able to provide unique insights to our team from the adviser's perspective, which we can incorporate into our offering to ensure it maximises the benefits for our financial advice clients," Yap said.
In January, Stephen Colwell who had worked at Kearney Group as a financial adviser for about six years was hired as a Zenith investment analyst.
Then in February, Zenith hired former KRA Wealth Management adviser Dan Cave as an investment analyst.
Zenith's research team now has 14 members -- up by four since August last year.
The research team rates 701 flagship funds as approved, recommended or highly recommended. It screens out of 900 funds (not rated).
It has expanded its coverage universe significantly to meet advisor demand for more product structures. This includes recent ratings of LICs and ETFs.
