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The word “independent” gets used a lot in financial services. Sometimes it means genuinely independent. Sometimes it means “independent-looking, provided you do not ask too many follow-up questions”. In Australia, the term has a specific meaning. An independent...

Financial adviser qualifications are not exactly dinner-party reading, but they matter when someone is helping with your money. Check authorisation first In Australia, an adviser should be licensed or authorised to provide personal financial advice. The Financial...

Financial planning changes because life changes. Annoying, yes. Also unavoidable. Young professionals Early financial planning often focuses on cash flow, debt, super, insurance, investing habits, and major goals such as buying property. The biggest advantage is time....

A financial advice fee is not just paying someone to have a meeting and nod thoughtfully at your super statement. Discovery and fact finding The adviser needs to understand your goals, financial position, family situation, debts, assets, risk comfort, income,...

Financial advice has enough acronyms to make alphabet soup look underqualified. AFSL and authorised representatives An Australian Financial Services Licence, or AFSL, allows a business to provide financial services. An individual adviser may be authorised under a...

Retirement planning the week before you finish work is a bit like packing for Europe at the airport gate. Technically possible, but not ideal. The final working years are powerful The last 5 to 10 years before retirement can be a valuable window. You may still have...

Choosing a financial adviser is not like picking a cafe. Bad coffee ruins a morning. Bad advice can follow you for years. Check the basics first Before being impressed by a polished website, check that the adviser is properly licensed or authorised. Look them up on...

You do not need to wait until your finances feel like a tangled set of Christmas lights before asking for help. Signs advice may help Advice may be useful if you have competing goals, growing complexity, big decisions, uncertainty about retirement, concerns about...

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...