As a relationship-driven adviser, Tim O’Loughlin enjoys helping people set goals and mapping out their financial future.

But there’s much more to the life-long tennis player, who also loves dropping a line in the water, watching his beloved Melbourne Football Club and getting stuck into a good autobiography.

Here’s more about LDB’s Senior Financial Planner, Tim O’Loughlin.

What drew you to financial planning? How did you end up at LDB?

Straight out of school, I completed a degree in property and construction. After a number of years working in construction, I realised I had a passion for people and numbers, so I went back to university in my mid-twenties to do a commerce/law degree. Following that, I worked for an investment management firm and a mid-tier financial services firm, but I felt they didn’t have the right fit and culture that I was looking for.

I wanted to pursue a career where I could provide personalised financial advice that would have a meaningful difference in my clients’ lives and that’s why I was attracted LDB. LDB is focused on developing long-term relationships with clients, so that if they do have problems or other issues that they need advice on, then there is a connection there for us to help.

What do you love about your job?

One of the things that I really love is the connection to colleagues and my clients. I find it really interesting helping our clients talk through things they may be contemplating, whether it’s from a personal or business point of view.

They may be thinking about retirement in a few years or expanding the business, so it’s looking at multiple aspects of our clients’ lives and providing them advice, so that they have a better picture before deciding.

What’s your best financial planning advice?

One of the best tips is to start early and to speak to someone you trust. That doesn’t mean you have to start early in life necessarily, it means to identify a goal that they would like to achieve.

Whether it’s retiring in five years or buying a house, speak to someone early rather than letting things travel along. Too often we hear from clients that the advice we provide would have been good to know 10 years earlier.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

I’ve spent most of my life playing tennis, socially and competitively, at Grace Park Hawthorn Club, so I enjoy a bit of a social hit and keeping fit. I also enjoy supporting the Melbourne Football Club through its ups and downs and it’s certainly an emotional ride supporting the club.

Equally, I enjoy fishing, golf and reading, especially autobiographies, whether they are about music, sport, war history or politics. I enjoy learning about other peoples’ journeys through life and the lessons they have learnt.

What is something that people may not know about you?

One thing people may not know is that I’ve been on the Grace Park Hawthorn Club committee for the past 10 years. It’s one of Melbourne’s oldest tennis clubs, having been around for 130 years, and I’ve been fortunate to be involved with the committee to see the club go through a $5 million development, which was a huge undertaking.

I took up my interest in tennis from my grandfather who played pretty much his entire life at Kooyong Tennis Club, right up until his early nineties. I also come from a rather large family as my parents have five siblings each. Despite the size of the family, I’m grateful that we’re very close and enjoy going away on holidays together.

What is your favourite film and why?

Rudy. It’s a great story about persistence and overcoming obstacles. It has a message that hard work towards a long goal is achievable no matter how big the challenge seems at the time.