Storm duo still afloat - Clients face agony

THE husband and wife founders of Storm Financial continue to live in the lap of luxury while former investors face an agonising decision whether to accept a compensation deal or risk everything to get back their portfolios.

Storm founder Emmanuel Cassimatis claimed to have lost ``everything'' when the company went into liquidation in January last year.

Mr Cassimatis said at the time his family had been wiped out by the collapse and faced an ``orderly'' sell-down of their assets.

But 14 months later, Emmanuel and Julie Cassimatis continue to live in their Belmont mansion in Brisbane's east, surrounded by luxuries including a driving range and helipad.

The Cassimatis mansion in Townsville has been on the market since April 2009, with real estate agent Gary Byrnes not commenting on any offers.

Mr Cassimatis is still a part-owner of more than 700ha of land near Townsville that was converted from sugar cane to trees amid the carbon credit scheme.

Late last year Julie Cassimatis was found to be buying back their furniture and other goods through auction site Grays Online.

There is no word if they have sold their private jet, which was up for sale in the US.

In an email last week, Mr Cassimatis urged clients to reject an offer negotiated by law firm Slater & Gordon.

About 250 former Storm Financial clients attended a meeting in Redcliffe yesterday held by law firm Levitt Robinson.