Start with licensing and scope
Ask whether the adviser is licensed or authorised to provide personal financial advice in Australia, and what areas they are authorised to advise on. You can also check the Financial Advisers Register.
A good adviser will not be offended. They will probably be pleased you are doing proper due diligence.
Ask how they charge
You want plain answers on fixed fees, ongoing fees, percentage-based fees, commissions, referral payments, and any implementation costs. No fog. No waffle. No ‘we will get to that later’ routine.
Try asking: ‘What will I pay, when will I pay it, and what exactly is included?’ That one sentence can save a lot of confusion.
Ask who they usually help
Some advisers focus on retirement. Others work mostly with young families, executives, business owners, pre-retirees, or people with complex insurance needs.
You are looking for fit. An adviser can be excellent and still not be the right person for your specific stage of life.
Ask what the process looks like
Find out what happens after the first meeting, what documents you will need, whether you receive written advice, how implementation works, and whether ongoing advice is recommended.
You should leave the meeting knowing the next steps. If you leave feeling like you accidentally joined a secret club, something went wrong.
Bring your questions. A good adviser will answer them clearly and give you room to think. If you would like a first conversation that is straightforward rather than salesy, that is a sensible place to start.
Why not have a chat to our friendly team? Book a time: https://partnersinplanningaus.setmore.com/book or give us a call on 1300 880 100.