Maria began her career in the financial advisory industry in New Zealand in 2017, where she developed strong expertise in insurance and mortgage advising while building a reputation for delivering client-focused, detail-oriented service.
In 2023, she partnered with her client Smart Adviser, owned by Sam Kodi, to explore outsourcing opportunities in the Philippines. This led to the launch of A-Perform under Guild Solutions Inc., reflecting her forward-thinking approach to scalable and efficient operations.
Gel Nolasco is the CEO of GSI, the workforce offshoring subsidiary and first international venture of Guild Group Holdings — the commercial arm of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia. For nearly a decade, GSI has built a reputation for cultivating a highly engaged and high-performing workforce in the Philippines, delivering offshore solutions that go beyond cost efficiency.
In 2023, with Smart Adviser poised for growth and in urgent need of scalable admin support, Maria and Sam turned to Gel for guidance. Gel didn’t just offer a solution — he delivered a tailored offshore strategy that aligned with Smart Adviser’s values and operational goals. Within months, the new setup was not only up and running — it was thriving. The partnership proved that with the right people and model, offshoring could be both seamless and transformative.
The opportunity was clear: build a solution that not only scales, but does so with excellence at its core.
In New Zealand, the average cost of replacing a single employee can exceed $23,000, factoring in recruitment, onboarding, and lost productivity. Yet for many small and medium-sized financial advice providers, access to quality offshore talent has remained limited—held back by compliance complexity, inconsistent service models, and a lack of trusted partners.
Behind every great partnership is a team of people who lead with purpose.
At A-Perform, our leaders bring together decades of experience in offshoring, financial services, and operational excellence—united by a shared commitment to empowering advisers and building sustainable, people-first solutions.
GSI is the trusted service delivery partner of A-Perform. Based in Manila, Philippines, GSI harnesses exceptional talent to help businesses grow, scale, and reach their full potential through tailored outsourcing solutions.
With expertise across operations, technology, communications, and client support, GSI provides businesses with agile, high-quality services that drive efficiency and impact. GSI empowers organisations to focus on their core strengths by combining global standards with local excellence.
Since launching in 2023, we’ve been proud to stand alongside financial advisers across New Zealand—helping them scale smarter, operate more efficiently, and stay focused on what matters most: their clients.
Our model isn’t just about offshoring; it’s about building meaningful partnerships that drive long-term success through talent, trust, and tailored support.
We’re not here to be just another service provider—and we’re certainly not looking to be trapped in a transactional arrangement. At A-Perform, we believe in true partnership: working side by side with financial advisers to co-create solutions that elevate performance, reduce burden, and unlock growth. If that sounds like your kind of collaboration, we’d love to hear from you.