When Ross Rickards opened Astute Ayr in January 2020, he brought with him over a decade of experience in banking and a stint managing insurance clients—background that gave him a clear vision of what a customer‑first financial service should look like.
Now, five years on, that vision has flourished into a bustling office that handles everything from home loans, equipment finance and commercial lending to Business, domestic and private health insurance services, all under the award‑winning Astute North Queensland banner.
Starting out solo, Rickards had to shoulder every task himself. Then, to pile on the pressure, COVID‑19 hit. “It was a big scare, but in hindsight it actually helped us,” he said, pointing to the rapid adoption of remote appointments and the property market surge that brought southern investors flocking to North Queensland.
Today, Astute Ayr boasts six full‑time staff, split evenly between home loans and insurance specialists. “I’m so lucky to have such an awesome team—they’re the backbone of my business and a big reason I love coming to work every day.”
The team prides itself on a customer-centric approach, driven by around-the-clock availability. “Our approach has always been customer‑first. If a client texts me on a weekend, I’ll call them back. Five minutes out of my day can stop someone stressing all weekend,” says Rickards.
A significant milestone came in August 2023, when Astute Ayr moved into its current home—the old TAB building off Queen Street. Rickards found humour in the contrast: “Instead of people walking in here to blow their money, they’re coming in and we’re helping them save money, put themselves in a better financial position, and achieve their dreams."
Astute Ayr remains proudly Burdekin‑based, but its reach extends nationwide, working with people Ross went to school with or played sport with and against from all across the country.
"We do loans for clients in WA, Brisbane, Sydney, the Gold Coast, and Melbourne. It’s something I absolutely love about what we do," says Rickards.
"If they ever have an insurance claim, we directly help them out with the process instead of dealing with call centres.”
For Rickards, the heart of the business lies in building these lasting relationships.
“We love helping people who’ve never been taught how to manage money. Seeing them come back a year or two later in a much better position—that’s the best part of what we do.”
With a focus on making finance & insurance simple and accessible, Rickards and his team continue to build strong relationships and support clients every step of the way as they work toward achieving their financial goals.
You can get in contact with the team on 07 4783 5229 or ayr@astutefinancial.com.au
For Rickards, the heart of the business lies in building these lasting relationships. Photo credit: Jacob Casha
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