About Tim

Tim Townsend is a seasoned financial advice professional with over 30 years of experience in wealth management, leadership, and client engagement. As the co-founder of TownsendCobain & WealthLeaders eXchange, Tim leads a highly successful advice practice built on the principle of personal service in a depersonalising world and pushing other leaders in the industry to do the same.

Tim’s journey began in the most remote of places — Booby Island, Northern Australia — where he grew up as the son of a lighthouse keeper. His early career included pivotal roles at Outlook Credit Union, where he pioneered outsourced administration, and Perpetual Private Clients, where he served as Chief Executive of Wealth. He later led large-scale integration and cultural change at WHK Group, overseeing the consolidation of 16 licenses into two and aligning diverse financial planning businesses under a unified vision.

Despite his success in corporate leadership, Tim’s passion has always been people. He returned to client-facing advice to reconnect with the human side of finance—building long-term relationships based on trust, empathy, and shared values.

A pioneer in the adoption of technological advances, Tim partnered with Watershed Group to develop bespoke investment solutions that aligns with his firm’s long-standing investment philosophy. Embracing & driving these technological opportunities through these portfolios, has enabled scalable, timely, outcomes to support highly personalised advice.

Known for his ability to lead courageous conversations, define and communicate belief-driven advice, and build purpose-led teams, Tim regularly shares his insights through the WealthLeaders eXchange—a forum for high-quality advisers and industry professionals to collaborate and elevate the advice profession.

“People say I manage money, but I don’t—I manage people. I’m a glorified rollercoaster attendant, making sure clients stay seated through the ups and downs.”

Tim’s leadership continues to shape the future of advice, proving that in a world of automation, human connection remains the most valuable asset.