After six years in investment management—most recently with Yarra Capital Management (formerly Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s Australian equities and fixed income business)—Robbie Parkinson CIMA® has joined MGD Private as a Private Client Adviser, bringing with him an approach shaped by the highest standards of the investment industry.

We spoke with Robbie about his journey back to advice, and the value he now brings to ultra-high-net-worth families through MGD Wealth’s specialist division, MGD Private.

Robbie began his career in 2006 working directly with clients before moving into investment management roles that sharpened his investment discipline and broadened his perspective. Holding the Certified Investment Management Analyst® designation, he brings to private families the same level of rigour and perspective that has long guided the largest and most sophisticated investors.

You began your career in advice before moving into investment management. What drew you across and what brought you back?

I started in advice back in 2006 and really enjoyed working directly with clients. But I was also eager to deepen my technical knowledge and gain exposure to the broader investment landscape. Moving into investment management gave me that opportunity. I worked alongside high-calibre teams on disciplined mandates backed by strong research, supporting a broad range of clients—from self-directed investors to global institutions.

Over time, though, I found myself missing the unique satisfaction that comes from helping individuals and families put their wealth to work—so they, and future generations, can thrive. Returning to advice now allows me to bring together the best of both worlds: the depth of institutional investment experience, and the enduring relationships that are central to great advisory work.

What lessons from investment management are most valuable to private clients?

Discipline, governance, and consistency. At Yarra Capital Management, everything was driven by robust process—from portfolio construction to risk management. Those principles are just as powerful for private families as they are for large institutions.

Another lesson is that success looks different for every client. The first step is defining what success means for them. From there, it’s about constructing a portfolio where the expected reward justifies the risk, and ensuring every allocation has a clear, purposeful role in achieving that outcome.

You’ve completed the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®) designation. How does that shape your approach?

CIMA® is considered a peak global standard in multi-asset portfolio construction. It blends advanced portfolio theory, risk assessment, due diligence, applied behavioural finance, and investor governance frameworks. That combination helps me test strategies both technically and practically—not just “is this a good investment?” but “does it align with the client’s goals, and does it fit within their broader strategy?”

What made MGD Private the right place for your next chapter?

I’ve always believed that the strength of a team will outlast and outperform any individual. I wanted to be part of a firm that brings together deep expertise, specialist input, and the discipline to deliver advice at the highest standard. A firm that knows precisely where it adds value and continually challenges itself on what “best” should look like.

At MGD Private, we have the breadth and capability to help families make confident, long-term decisions—from investment governance to family office services. It’s a place where I can add value to a family across decades, not just through a single market cycle. That continuity is exactly what brought me back to advice.

What are you most looking forward to in this role?

Seeing the long-term outcomes of the work we do. When you help a family preserve and grow their capital in a way that delivers on their intentions—and you see those results play out—it’s incredibly rewarding. That’s the kind of enduring impact I aim to deliver.

Meet More of the MGD Private Team

MGD Private is a specialist capability within MGD Wealth, delivering strategic advice and institutional-grade investment governance to Australia’s leading business families. As a multi-family office, MGD Private serves as your family office or advises your existing one—bringing disciplined governance, investment strategy, and clarity to the management of multi-generational wealth.

This conversation with Robbie is part of our series introducing the advisers who deliver on that commitment, including Stephen Furness, Chief Investment Officer and Barron’s-ranked adviser.

Important Note: Any advice included in this article is general and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. As such, you should consider its appropriateness having regard to these factors before acting on it. Before you make any decision about whether to acquire a certain financial product, you should obtain and read the relevant product disclosure statement.