December 4, 2025
Shona McGregor
Our Team
All Blogs

Upskilling for Impact: Tully Debuts as a Financial Adviser

Kia ora and massive congratulations, Tully! Today we’re celebrating your step into the Financial Adviser role, with the hard mahi paying off in a big way. To mark the moment, we’ve pulled together a quick Q&A to chat about what’s next, how you’ll put your new skills to work, and what clients can expect from you at Velocity.

Congratulations Tully!

What qualification have you just completed, and what does it involve?

I have just completed my Diploma in Business Studies through Massey. This give me the ability to provide advice on a few things as there were multiple strands which I had to complete. I can now give advice on KiwiSaver/Investments, Mortgages and Personal Insurance.

What inspired you to pursue this qualification?

I started this qualification when I was in my previous job at Booster Financial Services. As much as I tried to put it off, I did give in and follow in the footsteps of Graham (father). It was hard to stay away from the financial services when it has been a staple in your life about 20 years.  

Was there a particular moment or challenge that made you decide it was time to upskill?

It was during my time at Booster that I decided I wanted to move into the Financial Adviser world. After working closely with advisers up and down the country and having the interest since childhood it felt like the right time.

How will this qualification change your role?

I have opened my own KiwiSaver and Investment books with a number of providers which I will recommend, to ensure people are in the right place for their situations.

Are there specific tasks where this new knowledge will make a difference?

I had a good knowledge of the KiwiSaver and Investment space due to the nature of my previous jobs, however in the Insurance and Mortgage space is where the study has really helped out.

Who supported you along the way—any shoutouts you'd like to give?

I would like to give a huge shoutout to my partner Jade, she is currently crushing this qualification as well, her knowledge in the insurance space was a huge help in understanding the course material. As well as a shout out to the advisors at Velocity who are always offering insights and demonstrating that the "paper" is just the start and we are always learning on the job.

Would you recommend this qualification to others in similar roles? Why or why not?

Absolutely, it gives you the confidence to speak about the areas you operate in. Knowing that I've put in the work studying, learning new topics and products means I can give advice in a more holistic manner.

From L to R: Advisers Dean, Graham and Tully at the recent Booster conference

What are you most excited about now that you’ve completed it?

Hitting the ground running and putting the theory in place.

How do you plan to apply what you’ve learned in the next few months?

I'm going to be reaching out to friends and family to make sure that their KiwiSavers are working correctly. Neglecting this can have such a huge impact on what the future can look like.

What was the most surprising or rewarding part of the learning journey?

Knowing that the knowledge I had previously was correct and solidifying that I know what I'm talking about.

If you could sum up the experience in one word or phrase, what would it be?

Progress!

Meet Tully

You can read more about Tully here

Get in touch with Tully

See here for Tully's contact details

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