--- title: Investment Commitee description: Learn about Strategy First's Investment Committee, ensuring fiduciary responsibility and client-centric decisions. image: https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/hubfs/Advisers%20All%20-%20Copy%20(resized)-1.jpg --- - 02 9091 0080 - contact@strategyfirst.com.au - - [![lzsk3cui](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/lzsk3cui.png?width=400&height=104&name=lzsk3cui.png "lzsk3cui")](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/?hsLang=en) - About us - [Who we are](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/our-values-0) - [Meet the team](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/en-au/meet-the-team) - [Why partner with Strategy First](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/partering-with-us) - [Client testimonials](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/testimonials) - [Investment commitee](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/investment-commitee) - Information - [Who we can help](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/who-we-can-help) - [Our services](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/how-we-can-help) - [Packages & pricing](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/service-offerings) - [Financial planning process](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/process) - [Our community](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/our-community) - [Learn more](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/information) - [FAQs](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/faqs) - [Aged Care](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/aged-care-strategy-first) - [Blog](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/blog) [Contact Us](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/contact-page?hsLang=en) [![Strategy First](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/INDEPENDENT%20FINANCIAL%20ADVICE-3.png?width=150&height=56&name=INDEPENDENT%20FINANCIAL%20ADVICE-3.png "Strategy First")](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/?hsLang=en) [Contact Us](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/contact-page?hsLang=en) - About us - [Who we are](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/our-values-0) - [Meet the team](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/en-au/meet-the-team) - [Why partner with Strategy First](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/partering-with-us) - [Client testimonials](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/testimonials) - [Investment commitee](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/investment-commitee) - Information - [Who we can help](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/who-we-can-help) - [Our services](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/how-we-can-help) - [Packages & pricing](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/service-offerings) - [Financial planning process](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/process) - [Our community](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/our-community) - [Learn more](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/information) - [FAQs](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/faqs) - [Aged Care](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/aged-care-strategy-first) - [Blog](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/blog) [Contact Us](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/contact-page?hsLang=en) # Investment Committee # What is the Strategy First Investment Committee? Before we expand on the people within and the functions of our Investment Committee, it is important to understand why we have one.   **Fiduciary Responsibility** As a self-licensed and Independent Financial Planning firm, we make our fiduciary responsibility a priority. This means that our firm must always act in the best interests of its clients, by putting their needs ahead of its own. This includes: 1. **Duty of Care:** Making informed and prudent investment decisions. 2. **Duty of Loyalty**: Avoiding conflicts of interest and not profiting at the client's expense. 3. **Transparency:** Providing clear and honest information about investments and fees. The firm must ensure that all processes, actions and decisions align with the goal of serving the clients' best interests. **Investment Committee** A significant part of this, is Strategy First’s Investment Committee. Made up of the five licensed Financial Planners and one external Investment Consultant, the Strategy First Investment Committee oversees the firm's investment strategies and decisions. More specifically, this committee: 1. **Set Investment Policies:** Defines the firm's overall investment philosophy. 2. **Approve Investments:** Review and approve specific investments and strategies, and make sure they are consistent with the investment philosophy and serve the client’s objectives. 3. **Monitor Performance:** Assess the performance of individual investments and model portfolios, to ensure they align with the firm's investment philosophy. 4. **Manage Risk:** Evaluate and manage risks associated with various investments funds and model portfolios. The ultimate goal is to ensure that investments are made in accordance with the firm's investment philosophy and that they effectively meet client needs and expectations. ### Our Members ![Advisers All - Copy (resized)-1](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Advisers%20All%20-%20Copy%20(resized)-1.jpg?width=600&height=300&name=Advisers%20All%20-%20Copy%20(resized)-1.jpg "Advisers All - Copy (resized)-1") Internal Members: - [Rhys Phillips](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/en-au/meet-the-team?hsLang=en) - [Christopher Gilmour](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/en-au/meet-the-team?hsLang=en) - [Erin Coyle](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/en-au/meet-the-team?hsLang=en) - [Donald Foster](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/en-au/meet-the-team?hsLang=en) - [David Price](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/en-au/meet-the-team?hsLang=en) *(pictured left to right)* External Members: - Dr Steve Garth Steve (pictured) serves as the Principal of [Principia Investment Consultants](http://www.principiaic.com.au) and is an independent member of the [Strategy First](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/?hsLang=en) Investment Committee. In his role, Steve brings academic rigor, support, and valuable insights to the committee, focusing on areas such as asset allocation, implementation, and the assessment of alternative investment strategies. With nearly two decades of experience, Steve was instrumental in expanding the Australian operations of the global asset manager Dimensional Fund Advisors. His career at Dimensional included managing both Australian and global equity portfolios, leading the Asia Pacific trading team, and spearheading the adoption of direct market access trading. For the past ten years, he has specialized in managing the firm's fixed interest strategies. Prior to joining Dimensional in 2001, Steve was a faculty member at the University of New South Wales, where he focused on optical fibre technology and quantitative finance in his teaching and research. ![Steve Garth](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Steve%20Garth.jpg?width=400&height=458&name=Steve%20Garth.jpg "Steve Garth")  **Qualifications & Accreditations** - PhD in Applied Mathematics - Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics - Bachelor of Arts with majors in History and Politics - Masters of Applied Finance (MAppFin) - Graduate Diploma in Business Administration **Professional Memberships** - Australian Institute of Company Directors. ## [Publications and Articles](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/blog/author/dr-steve-garth?hsLang=en) Click the link above for a full list of articles written by the Investment Committee ![summer-adventure](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/summer-adventure.jpg?width=2000&name=summer-adventure.jpg) ### Dream Plan Achieve At Strategy First our mission is to encourage you to dream a little to set your financial goals, and help you develop a structured plan around smart financial decisions to achieve your aspirations. [Get In Touch](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/contact?hsLang=en) [![Copy of Copy of INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVICE](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Copy%20of%20Copy%20of%20INDEPENDENT%20FINANCIAL%20ADVICE.png?width=302&height=93&name=Copy%20of%20Copy%20of%20INDEPENDENT%20FINANCIAL%20ADVICE.png "Copy of Copy of INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVICE")](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/?hsLang=en) *Strategy First is an independent, fee-for-service financial planning firm specialising in long-term wealth and retirement strategy for Australians.* *Copyright © 2021 Strategy First Financial Planning Pty Ltd.  All rights reserved.*  Contact us:  02 9091 0080​ Office Address: Ground Floor, Front Suite 55, 117 Old Pittwater Rd, Brookvale  |  PO Box 7418, Warringah Mall NSW 2100 Australia [Financial Services Guide (Version 37 – 30 April 2026)](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/financial-services-guide?hsLang=en)|  [Privacy Policy](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/hubfs/20260911%20Client%20Privacy%20Policy.pdf?hsLang=en) |  [Public Complaint Policy](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/hubfs/20211001%20Complaints%20Policy.pdf?hsLang=en) | AFS Licence No. 290771  |  ABN 69 114 540 528  |  **[Disclaimer](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/hubfs/20230921%20Website%20Disclaimer.pdf?hsLang=en)** [Homepage - Strategy First Financial Planning](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au?hsLang=en) [Who we are](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/our-values-0?hsLang=en) [Meet the Team - Our Independent Financial Advisers](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/en-au/meet-the-team?hsLang=en)  [Why partner with Strategy First](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/partering-with-us?hsLang=en) [Testimonials - What our clients have to say](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/testimonials?hsLang=en)  [Investment Commitee](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/investment-commitee) **[Our Clients - Who We Can Help](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/who-we-can-help?hsLang=en)**  [Our Services - How We Can Help](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/how-we-can-help?hsLang=en)  [Packages and Pricing](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/service-offerings?hsLang=en) [Processes - What to Expect](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/process?hsLang=en)  **[Information and Documents](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/learn-more?hsLang=en)  [Our Community](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/our-community?hsLang=en)  [Blog](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/blog?hsLang=en)** [Independent Financial Advice Sydney - Contact Us](https://www.strategyfirst.com.au/contact?hsLang=en) All Rights Reserved. © 2023-2024 [| FThemes](https://fthemes.net/)