According to the 2018 Financial Advice Report by Investment Trends, trust in financial advisers has hit an all-time low. The report says that this may be due in part to the dishonest behaviour uncovered by the banking royal commission. According to the report, more than 40% of Australians do not believe the financial services and banking industry has met its obligations to them. Similarly, many submissions made by the general public to the royal commission voiced the concern that financial advisers are only recommending particular in-house or commissioned products. This concern is longstanding – back in 2009, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) stated that many financial advisers act as a “sales force” and “a product pipeline” for financial product manufacturers.
Despite this, there is still significant demand for financial advice. According to the report, in the next two years it’s estimated that over two million Australians will engage the help of a financial adviser. If you’re looking for an adviser who is not affiliated with any product provider and who doesn’t receive commissions for selling particular products, it might be worth considering an independent financial adviser.
What is an independent financial adviser?
A financial adviser is a person or authorised representative of an organisation licensed by ASIC to provide financial advice on areas such as investing, superannuation, retirement planning, estate planning, risk management and insurance. They can also be called financial planners.
Legislation came into effect on 1 January 2019 imposing restrictions on who can be called a ‘financial planner’ and ‘financial adviser’. Financial advisers or planners are now required to hold a relevant bachelor or higher degree, pass an exam, complete a year of work and training, and meet continuing professional development requirements. From 1 January 2020 providers will also have to comply with a code of ethics.
In order for a financial adviser to be classified as ‘independent’, they must meet certain additional criteria set out by the Corporations Act. Specifically, they – and anyone on whose behalf they provide advice – cannot receive any commissions (unless they rebate them in full to their clients), volume-based payments (i.e. payments based on how much business they send to a financial product issuer) or other gifts or benefits for recommending particular financial products. They must also operate without any conflicts of interest in most circumstances. Due to these requirements, only a very small number of financial advisers in Australia are considered ‘independent’.
What does a financial adviser do?
The job of a financial adviser is to help you identify and reach your financial goals. A financial adviser will typically take into account your personal circumstances to make sure these goals are realistic and achievable and provide recommendations to help you achieve them.
Advice can range from one-off advice, such as how to consolidate your super, to more comprehensive advice like setting up an investment plan or ongoing advice which may involve regular reviews with your financial adviser.
How much does a financial adviser cost?
Before you engage a financial adviser, it could be helpful to understand how they will be paid as it varies depending on the provider. Payment schemes can include commissions, asset-based fees, fee-for-service and performance percentage fees. Due to restrictions under the Corporations Act, independent financial advisers are likely to charge on a fee-for-service or fixed-fee basis.
These fees mean you pay for an agreed service or for a certain amount of the adviser’s time. Additionally, if an adviser is a member of the Profession of Independent Financial Advisers (‘PIFA’), formally IFAAA, they won’t be able to receive asset-based fees, or in other words, they won’t be able to charge fees that are based on the size of your investment portfolio.
The exact cost of financial advice may vary depending on the services provided and the complexity of the advice. In some instances, your first meeting with a financial adviser may be free. During this meeting you will discuss your needs and it is likely your adviser will explain how they charge and give you an estimate of the cost of advice. If you choose to proceed, your adviser should prepare a Statement of Advice formally outlining their advice. You will typically be billed for the cost of preparing this statement and may also be charged an execution fee. If you choose to receive ongoing advice, this will involve ongoing fees. Find out more about some of the different types of fees and costs that may be involved here.
What are the potential benefits of using an independent financial adviser?
There are a number of potential benefits to using a financial adviser. For example, they could help you:
- Identify short, medium and long-term goals
- Create practical strategies to achieve these goals
- Feel more in control of your finances
- Develop an investment plan
- Protect your assets
- Plan for retirement
A financial adviser may be particularly useful during big life events, such as if you are buying a home, starting a family, being made redundant, inheriting money or approaching retirement.
For some people, a benefit of choosing an independent financial adviser specifically may be the reassurance that the advice given should be impartial and not based on sales incentives.
What are the potential disadvantages of using an independent financial adviser?
A potential disadvantage of engaging a financial adviser is the cost. In some instances, an independent financial adviser can also be a more expensive option than receiving advice from an adviser who isn’t classified as independent. As previously noted, it is important to understand their costs and what you are paying for upfront. Not every situation will necessarily call for a financial adviser. You might want to think about what kind of financial help you need before committing to an adviser. For example, if you’re after financial information rather than advice, it might be useful to talk to your bank or super fund, or to look online at ASIC’s MoneySmart website. The Canstar website is also a source of financial information that could help you in some situations.
One potential disadvantage of using an independent financial adviser is their relative scarcity. At the time of writing, there are less than 70 independent financial advisers in Australia who are members of PIFA. This may mean you need to travel a long distance for a consultation or have over the phone or online consultations in some cases.
List of independent financial advisers in Australia
The list below displays PIFA Practising Members and Associate Members across Australia, sorted by city and state.
According to PIFA, to be a practising member, financial advisers must comply with the Corporations Act (including its definition of independence) and must meet the following three criteria:
- No ownership links or affiliations with product manufacturers
- No commissions or incentive payments from product manufacturers
- No asset-based fees
To be an Associate Member, PIFA says you must be a financial planner who complies with the legal definition of independence or is actively transitioning their practice to become independent.
| Ben Liddicoat
BBK Financial Planning Dulwich Hill |
BBK states that its advice includes: insurance, debt management, superannuation, SMSF, tax, retirement income, and investment properties. |
| Bill Raffle
Bennelong Private Wealth Sydney |
Bennelong Private Wealth says it is a specialist tax structuring and financial planning practice. |
| Chris Rae
Allied Wealth Sydney |
Allied Wealth says its services include investment portfolio management, superannuation and retirement planning, structuring and tax planning, cashflow management and personal insurance advice. |
| Daniel McGregor
Wealth Train Orange |
Mr McGregor says he provides advice which includes: cash flow management, debt elimination, superannuation and investment. |
| David Harper
Naked Wealth Newport |
Naked Wealth states its advice includes: superannuation, mortgage, life insurance, cash flow management, investment, estate planning, and retirement planning. |
| Deborah Lin
Liquidity Financial Advisers Oatley |
Liquidity Financial Advisers states its advice includes: SMSF, retirement planning and property investment. |
| Fergus Hardingham
FM Financial Solutions Pyrmont |
FM Financial Solutions states its advice includes:budgeting and cash flow management, contingency planning, family wealth succession, investment and superannuation. Does not advise on SMSF or direct shares. |
| Howard Pitts
Arc Financial Solutions Neutral Bay |
Mr Pitts says he provides advice which includes: deposit and payment products, government debentures, stocks or bonds, life products, managed investment schemes, retirement savings accounts, margin lending, securities, superannuation, SMSF, and tax. |
| Jo-Anne Nelson
Arc Financial Solutions Neutral Bay |
Ms Nelson says she provides advice which includes: superannuation, insurance and wealth management. |
| Kyle Frost
Millennial Independent Advice Newcastle and Sydney |
Mr Frost says he is the only independent financial adviser in Australia who specialises in working with young people. Mr Frost states that his advice includes plans for: spending, property, investment, debt, tax, retirement, lifestyle protection and estate. |
| Michael Morrison
M Financial Planning Sydney |
M Financial Planning states that its advice includes: retirement planning, superannuation, estate planning, investing, and wealth creation. |
| Michael Radalj
Your Private Advisers Sydney, Brookvale, North Sydney |
Your Private Advisers states its advice includes: investing, superannuation and SMSF, retirement planning, ancillary tax, and insurance |
| Peter Surtenich
Suetonius Wealth Management Sydney |
Suetonius Wealth Management states its advice includes: superannuation and SMSF, corporate advice, wealth creation and investments, and retirement planning. |
| Philip Davies
Liquidity Financial Advisers Sutherland |
Liquidity Financial Advisers states its advice includes: SMSF, retirement planning and property investment. |
| Phil Harvey
Construct Wealth Bungendore |
Construct Wealth states its advice includes: risk insurances, debt management, cash flow and income management, career planning, superannuation, retirement, aged care, and estate planning. |
| Richard Barber
Liquidity Financial Advisers Shellharbour |
Liquidity Financial Advisers states its advice includes: SMSF, retirement planning and property investment. |
| Ron Geffin
Core Private Wealth Sydney |
Core Private Wealth says it offers holistic wealth and financial planning including wealth management, superannuation, insurance and bespoke services. |
| Stephanie O’Connor
Custom Accounting Cootamundra |
Custom Accounting states its advice includes: superannuation and SMSF, insurance, investment, retirement and succession planning. |
| Trevor Geffin
Core Private Wealth Sydney |
Core Private Wealth says it offers holistic wealth and financial planning including wealth management, superannuation, insurance and bespoke services. |
| Vince Lam
Plutus Financial Guidance Chatswood |
Plutus Financial Guidance states its advice includes: budgeting and saving, debt management, investment, superannuation, wealth protection, retirement planning, aged care, and estate planning. |
| Adriano Donato
Roskow Independent Advisory Hawthorn |
Mr Donato states he specialises in providing advice to high complexity clients who are either: high income families with a $200,000+ salary, business owners with salary/profits greater than $200,000 or high net worth clients with at least $2 million accumulated assets (home not included). |
| Berivan Dubier
Curve Accountants Moorabbin |
Curve states that it specialises in providing financial planning services to medical professionals. Advice includes: superannuation and SMSFs, commencement of pension and retirement planning, cash flow planning, intergenerational financial planning, investment advice, and personal risk insurance advice. |
| Chris Thoms
Super-Focus Geelong |
Mr Thoms says he specialises in SMSFs, superannuation, investment, direct shares, property investment and estate planning. |
| Corin Jacka
Priority1 Wealth Management Group Ringwood North |
Priority1 says its advice includes investment planning, retirement and pre-retirement planning and estate planning. |
| Daniel Twentyman
Surf Coast Wealth Management Torquay |
Surf Coast Wealth Management says its advice includes wealth accumulation, planning for retirement and retirement. |
| Dominic Alafaci
Collins House Melbourne City |
Collins House states its advice includes: tax, insurance, investment, superannuation and SMSFs. |
| Dennis J. Maddern
Maddern Financial Advisers Malvern |
Maddern Financial Advisers states it specialises in providing financial planning advice to professional people who have achieved career success or aspire to it. Advice includes: investment, tax-effective strategies, superannuation, insurance, and succession planning. |
| Fortuna Alexandrow
Interwealth Financial Advice Shepparton |
Interwealth says it can help you life events such as saving for a deposit, starting a family, starting a business and retirement. |
| James Stephan
Stephan Independent Advisory Kew |
Stephan Independent Advisory states it typically works with successful family business owners and self-funded retirees. |
| Jason Smith
Think Independent Melbourne |
Certified Financial Planner, Bachelor of Business (Accounting), Graduate Diplomas in Financial Planning and Applied Finance and Investment (Investment Management). |
| Joe Stephan
Stephan Independent Advisory Kew |
Stephen Independent Advisory states it typically works with successful family business owners and self-funded retirees. |
| Mathew Horvat
Horvat Financial Advisors Essendon North |
Horvat Financial Advisors states it works with individuals and families who are financially independent and want to maximise their wealth. |
| Matthew Ross
Roskow Independent Advisory Hawthorn |
Roskow Independent Advisory says it focuses on providing advice to high achievers. |
| Rick Horvat
Horvat Financial Advisors Essendon |
Horvat Financial Advisors states it works with individuals and families who are financially independent and want to maximise their wealth. |
| Sean Dwyer
Curve Accountants Moorabbin |
Curve states that it specialises in providing financial planning services to medical professionals. Advice includes: superannuation and SMSFs, commencement of pension and retirement planning, cash flow planning, intergenerational financial planning, investment advice, and personal risk insurance advice. |
| Trent Alexander
Financial Planning Expert Mornington |
Financial Planning Expert states it specialises in SMSF advice for retirees and pre-retirees. Advice includes: superannuation, tax strategies for retirement, retirement planning, investment strategy and advice, Australian direct share investment, estate planning, SMSFs, life and income protection insurance, asset allocation, and financial structures. |
| Aaron Crosthwaite
Curve Accountants Fortitude Valley |
Curve states that it specialises in providing financial planning services to medical professionals. Advice includes: superannuation and SMSFs, commencement of pension and retirement planning, cash flow planning, intergenerational financial planning, investment advice, and personal risk insurance advice. |
| David Harper
Naked Wealth Noosaville |
Naked Wealth states its advice includes: superannuation, mortgage, life insurance, cash flow management, investment, estate planning, and retirement planning. |
| Keith Henderson
Malibu Wealth Advisory Noosaville |
Specialises in people over 45, time-poor business owners and executives, medical and other professionals, expatriates moving to or living in South-East Asia, and ADF personnel. Malibu Wealth Advisory states that its advice includes: retirement planning, cash flow management, debt reduction, superannuation, pension, SMSF, insurance, investment, Centrelink, and estate planning. |
| Neil Salkow
Roskow Independent Advisory Stones Corner |
Roskow says it works with business owners, leaders in their field and those who have achieved financial independence. |
| Samuel Turrisi
Roskow Independent Advisory Stones Corner |
Roskow Independent Advisory says it focuses on providing advice to high achievers. |
| Cameron Foster
Horizon Advisory Port Lincoln |
Horizon Advisory states it specialises in personal money management, investment, retirement planning and superannuation. |
| Craig Meathrel
Strategiq Wealth Eastwood |
Strategiq Wealth says it provides ‘life-centred’ advice which is focused on your personal goals and life issues. |
| Jacie Taylor
Periapt Advisory Kent Town |
Periapt Advisory states its advice includes: investments, insurance, cash flow, government benefits, salary sacrifice and salary packaging, retirement planning, superannuation and SMSFs, aged care and estate planning. |
| Naomi Horobin
Clover Financial Group Braddon |
Ms Horobin says her advice includes: cashflow management and budgeting, wealth creation, superannuation, retirement planning and income streams, Centrelink and DVA, estate planning, asset and lifestyle protection. |
| Phil Harvey
Construct Wealth Dickson |
Construct Wealth states its advice includes: risk insurances, debt management, cash flow and income management, career planning, superannuation, retirement, aged care, and estate planning. |
| Phil Thompson
Rise Financial Monash |
Mr Thompson states his areas of expertise include: includes: superannuation, investment, borrowed funds, personal insurance, salary packaging, budgeting and cashflow management, estate planning. |
| Susannah Kulincevic
Brocktons Independent Advisory Phillip |
Brocktons states it offers a “no strings attached” advice consultation and a comprehensive planning service. |
| Simon Duigan
Core Independent Financial Advice Kingston |
Core states its advice includes: financial coaching, superannuation and pension, insurance, retirement funding, legal/estate planning, Centrelink and aged care, investments, and finance and debt management. |
| Annette Sinclair
Jarrah Bridge Midland |
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| Benjamin Coombe
Bruining Partners West Leederville |
Bruining Partners says its expertise includes pre-retirees, retirees, public sector retirement advice and wealth building. |
| Bradley Clarke
CY Financial Advice South Perth |
CY Financial Advice says its typical clients are over the age of 50 with investment assets that exceed $1 million. |
| Christopher Pritchard
Bruining Partners West Leederville |
Bruining Partners says its expertise includes pre-retirees, retirees, public sector retirement advice and wealth building. |
| Christopher Young
CY Financial Advice South Perth |
CY Financial Advice says its typical clients are retirees or those close to retirement who are over 50 with investment assets exceeding $1 million. |
| Cristina Simpson
Bruining Partners West Leederville |
Bruining Partners says its expertise includes pre-retirees, retirees, public sector retirement advice and wealth building. |
| David McGregor
Bruining Partners West Leederville |
Bruining Partners says its expertise includes pre-retirees, retirees, public sector retirement advice and wealth building. |
| James Robinson
Jarrah Bridge Midland |
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| Mick Steffan
Independent Advisers WA Bluff Point |
Independent Advisers WA says it offers specialised independent financial advice for clients working largely in the farming, fishing and resources industry. |
| Nick Bruining
Bruining Partners West Leederville |
Bruining Partners says its expertise includes pre-retirees, retirees, public sector retirement advice and wealth building. |
| Peter Humble
Rise Wealth Group Eaton |
Rise Wealth Group states its advice includes: retirement and estate planning, mortgage and debt management advice, risk assessment and management, and life insurance. |
| Peter Webster
Bruining Partners West Leederville |
Bruining Partners says its expertise includes pre-retirees, retirees, public sector retirement advice and wealth building. |
| Stephanie Tang-Bowman
Bruining Partners West Leederville |
Bruining Partners says its expertise includes pre-retirees, retirees, public sector retirement advice and wealth building. |
How to find a financial adviser based on your needs
If you are looking for an independent financial adviser, the list above may help you find an adviser who practices without incentives or conflicts (as verified by PIFA). But there are other potential avenues for finding financial advisers across Australia. For example, the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) operates a ‘Find a planner’ service, while the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) has a similar tool available which allows consumers to find advisers in their area. The AFA’s tool allows consumers to narrow down a search to advisers it says are ‘non institutionally aligned.’ Bear in mind that the advisers available via these tools may not be classified as ‘independent’ by the PIFA.
Before using any adviser’s services, ASIC’s MoneySmart recommends that consumers check their qualifications, employment status, affiliations, disciplinary history and other relevant details using the ‘Financial adviser register’.
MoneySmart recommends asking your adviser plenty of questions upfront about their qualifications, experience, the types of products they can offer advice on and how they get paid. They also offer guidance on what to do if you have an issue with your chosen adviser down the road.
Find out more about some factors to consider when choosing a financial adviser here.
This article was reviewed by our Sub-Editor Tom Letts and Finance Editor Sean Callery before it was published as part of our fact-checking process.
Main image Source: crazystocker (Shutterstock).
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