Our History

Consultique
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We pioneered independent financial advisory in Italy

The Story of Consultique: 20 Years of Independence

2001: Founding of Consultique

Founded in 2001 by Cesare Armellini, Giuseppe Romano, and Luca Mainò, Consultique's mission is to promote independent financial advisory among Italian investors. This led to the creation of a new profession: the independent financial advisor who, not being tied to any bank or network, works solely in the best interest of their clients.

With over 24 years of experience, we provide independent financial advisory to private clients, businesses, and institutions.  We also provide ongoing support to most independent advisors and financial advisory firms across Italy.

2004: Partnership with Il Sole 24 Ore

Our Research department, now comprising over 15 analysts, has been the primary provider of analyses for the Italian financial newspaper, Il Sole 24 Ore since 2004. Our ratings of ETFs (the first in the world), open and negotiated pension funds, are published weekly in Plus24 of Il Sole 24 Ore.

In collaboration with Il Sole 24 Ore, the first books and manuals on independent financial advisory in Italy were published in 2006 and 2008. The third and final book was published in May 2022 and is available for order on Amazon (Click Here)

 

 

2005: Founding of NAFOP

Consultique is the founder of NAFOP (National Association Fee-Only Planners), the first national association of independent financial advisors, now referred to as "autonomous."

As the most representative association, NAFOP is part of the Steering Committee of OCF. The association's president is Cesare Armellini, CEO of Consultique.

2011: The Launch of the “Fee-Only Summit”

Established in 2011, this national event for independent financial advisory brought together, for the first time, all independent financial advisors from the Consultique Network.

Over the years, the event has grown in importance, attracting not only "fee-only" advisors but also all market operators interested in the evolution of financial advisory and the establishment of an independent financial advisory firm.

With over 1,500 participants annually, it is now one of the leading events in the Italian financial landscape.

Go to the Fee-Only Summit site

2018: Institutional recognition

The profession of independent financial advisor was officially institutionalized in Italy on December 1, 2018.

OCF manages the new register of financial advisors, which also includes independent financial advisors (section for autonomous financial advisors) and independent financial advisory companies (section for advisory firms).

Also in 2018, ASSOSCF, the national association of independent financial advisory firms, was created by NAFOP.

 

2022: Inauguration Milan's Office

With over 20 years of experience, Consultique has established itself as Italy's leading independent financial advisory firm. The company leads the first professional network in Italy, comprising over 300 independent financial advisory firms across the country. In September 2022, the new Milan office was inaugurated in Piazza Duomo.

Cesare Armellini, CEO of Consultique and President of NAFOP, is part of the Steering and Restricted Committee of OCF (Organismo di vigilanza e tenuta dell’Albo Unico dei Consulenti Finanziari), alongside associations representing banks and their sales networks (ABI, Assoreti, Assonova, etc.).

2023 Arrival of the CFP® in Italy

On October 19, 2023, the CFP® certification was officially introduced in Italy, making our country the 28th globally to join the FPSB network.

The introduction of the world's most prestigious financial planning certification is the result of the merger of the two independent financial advisor associations, NAFOP and ASSOSCF, and the significant contribution of Consultique. The company has played a primary role over the years in training and developing the skills of Italian financial advisors.

Always on the Investors’ Side

Since the beginning of our activity, we have assisted investors and law firms in dealing with banks on all matters related to financial disputes, supporting the recovery of unfairly lost funds. Here is a list of the main financial scams we have uncovered over more than 20 years of activity:

  • 2008: Lehman Brothers Bonds
  • 2015: Derivatives sold to companies and local authorities, and Hype Alpe Adria Bank leasing
  • 2016: Subordinated bonds
  • 2017: Banca Popolare di Bari, Veneto Banca, Banca Popolare di Vicenza
  • 2018: Diamonds (the first appraisals date back to 2012)
“I am convinced, and have witnessed it in my own life, that at any moment we have the power to change our destiny.”
Cesare Armellini
CEO/Consultique SCF
Cesare Armellini: The Story of the Founder of Independent Financial Advisory

Graduated in Economics and Business from the University of Verona, Cesare Armellini is the son of a prominent entrepreneur who, in the 1960s, founded “Pollo Arena”, a national leader in the sector with a turnover of 850 billion lire and 3,000 employees. After leaving the food group in 1990, Armellini entered the publishing sector with the Athesis Publishing Group, owner of the newspapers L’Arena di Verona, Il Giornale di Vicenza, and Brescia Oggi.

After holding key positions in the family companies and being in contact with financial institutions, Armellini noticed the absence of an independent professional figure acting in the best interest of entrepreneurs within the Italian financial landscape.

From this observation, the idea of Consultique was born, whose mission from the very beginning has been to promote independent financial advisory in Italy.

Cesare Armellini is married to Francesca, with whom he has four children: Giulia, Gianarrigo, Elena, and Leonardo.

Cesare Armellini tells the story of Consultique
John Sestina, founder of independent financial advisory in the USA in 1965
Watch the video