Carl Freshwater

Carl holds a Bachelor of Business (Business Information Systems) from RMIT, an Advanced Diploma in Financial Services (Financial Planning) and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® with the Financial Planning Association.

Carl has also completed specialist courses in Self-Managed Superannuation Funds with Kaplan Professional and is an Accredited Age Care Professional™ with Age Care Steps.

Born and raised in East Gippsland, Carl is a local who completed high school at Bairnsdale Secondary College before heading to the city to complete his tertiary education (Bachelor of Business) in Melbourne at RMIT.

Carl’s professional journey began working in the private banking sector for a boutique investment bank while completing university study. Working as a custody and settlements officer and software developer part-time he gained valuable experience in funds management and private wealth.

After university Carl moved interstate spending time working within the retail banking sector, specializing in mortgage processing for the Commonwealth Bank in Perth, WA before commencing his Financial Planning career in 2008 with RSM.

Carl spent 9 years within Global Accounting Practice (RSM) in the Financial Planning division. Carl’s high focus on education, ethical standards as a Paraplanner has provided an excellent foundation for the knowledge and skills required of a highly competent and well-educated Financial Planner.

After 15 years away from country life, which is hard to replace, Carl’s desire to move back to East Gippsland was strong and engrained. With a young family and the opportunity to provide professional financial planning services in the broad rural area – it was an easy decision to return to the place he grew up.

Outside of work, Carl loves spending time exploring outdoors with his wife and three children. He enjoys fishing and boating on the Gippsland lakes or spending time on the family farm. In his spare time Carl enjoys playing Squash and Racquetball. Carl is currently the President of the Bairnsdale Squash & Racquetball Association Inc. He also holds positions in the Squash & Table Tennis stadium committee and Lucknow Recreational Reserve Grounds Committee of Management.

Carls is a member of the AFSL Advisory Council Committee with responsibilities which match his passion and commitment to the growth and integrity of the Financial Planning profession.

Carl and Jake co-founded the establishment of Sterling Grange Financial Planning Pty Ltd in 2021.