Get a full review of your finances from a qualified financial adviser
Expert advice for your financial future
A licensed financial adviser can help you make confident decisions about your money and provide personalised recommendations on your income, super, investments, insurance and financial goals.
What comprehensive advice can help with
Financial advice gives you personalised guidance to help you make informed decisions about your money and work towards your financial goals. It can be especially valuable during major life events, such as starting a family, changing jobs, receiving an inheritance, or planning for retirement.
Comprehensive financial advice can help you:
- Prepare for retirement by understanding how much you'll need and creating a plan to fund the lifestyle you want.
- Make the most of your super through advice on contributions, investments, consolidation and insurance.
- Build an investment strategy that's tailored to your goals, needs and risk tolerance.
- Protect yourself and your family with the right insurance cover for your circumstances.
- Plan your estate by considering what happens to your super, investments and other assets when you pass away.
How much does financial advice cost in Australia?
Financial advice is tailored to your individual needs, so the cost can vary depending on your circumstances and the level of support you require.
Super advice (also referred to as intrafund advice)
Selected super topics.
No extra cost for eligible FirstChoice members.
Learn more about super advice
Not applicable.
One-off advice
Specific topics such as investment options, super contributions, insurance or consolidating your super. You only pay for the advice you choose.
$550 - $3,300 with an adviser arranged through our guidance team.
Learn more about one-off advice
You can pay the fixed fee directly from your bank account or have it deducted from your super or investment account.
Comprehensive advice
Your whole financial situation including but not limited to super, investments, insurance, retirement income and estate planning considerations. Ongoing advice can also be provided if that’s what you want.
Advisers charge a fee for service, which may be a one-off or ongoing fee. The cost is disclosed upfront, and you decide whether to proceed. The average annual adviser fee is $4,744.*
Get in touch with an adviser
Depending on your circumstances and eligibility, you may be able to pay:
• Directly from your bank account or savings.
• From your super, pension or investment account where available and authorised by you. Any fees deducted will reduce your account balance or investment holdings.
*Fee Evolution: New Opportunities in the Wake of DBFO Reforms, Adviser Ratings 22 Jan 2025.
How adviser fees are charged
Financial advisers can charge in different ways. It's important to understand both the fees and how they're structured.
Fixed fee - A set price for a defined piece of work, such as a retirement plan. You know the cost upfront and can decide whether the scope and value are right for you.
Hourly rate - A fixed hourly rate for the time spent providing advice and services. This can work well for specific questions or one-off support that sits outside an ongoing advice arrangement.
Percentage of assets - A percentage of the funds the adviser manages on your behalf, usually charged annually. As your balance grows, the fee generally increases, regardless of whether the level of service changes.
Ongoing fee - An annual fee for ongoing advice, reviews and support. In Australia, these arrangements require your written consent to continue, so it's important to understand exactly what services are included.
How comprehensive financial advice works
Financial advice is a collaborative process designed to help you achieve your financial goals with confidence. Here's what you can expect when working with a financial adviser.
Your first meeting
Before your first appointment, your adviser may ask you to share some information and what you’ll need to bring. During the meeting, they’ll take the time to understand your goals, priorities and financial situation.
Developing your strategy
Your adviser will use this information to review your full financial situation and create a personalised strategy designed to help you achieve your goals. The recommendations will be documented in a Statement of Advice.
Put your plan into action
Your adviser will walk you through their recommendations and answer any questions you have. If you decide to proceed, they can help implement the strategy, including completing paperwork, updating accounts and making investment changes.
Review and stay on track
As your life and circumstances change, your financial plan may need to evolve too. If you choose ongoing advice, regular reviews can help keep your strategy on track and ensure it continues to support your long-term objectives.
How to find a financial adviser
Finding the right adviser is about understanding your goals, reviewing their credentials, and choosing someone whose expertise and approach align with your needs.
Check they're licensed
All financial advisers in Australia must have an AFSL number or be authorised under an AFSL holder. Before you engage an adviser, you can check their qualifications and licence details on the financial adviser register via Moneysmart.
Match the adviser to your needs
The best adviser for you depends on what you need help with. If you have a specific question, limited or one-off advice may be enough. If you're looking for support across multiple areas of your finances, comprehensive advice may be more appropriate.
Use a network you can trust
A trusted adviser can help you navigate important financial decisions with confidence. You can explore and connect with an adviser who suits your needs via our find an adviser tool.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on the decisions you need to make. For a single, well-defined question, targeted advice may be a cost-effective way to avoid expensive mistakes. For broader goals, such as retirement planning, super, insurance and estate planning, the value often comes from bringing all the pieces together, as these decisions can affect one another.
Your first appointment is focused on understanding your goals, circumstances and the type of support that may be right for you.
Your adviser will discuss your financial situation, explain the advice process and outline any fees before you make a decision about proceeding.
To help your adviser understand your circumstances, you may be asked to provide information about your:
- Income and savings
- Superannuation
- Investments
- Assets and liabilities
- Insurance arrangements
- Living expenses
Some advisers may request these details before your appointment so they can spend more time discussing your goals and priorities.
Choosing an adviser is an important decision, so it's worth asking questions about their experience, services and approach.
Some questions to consider include:
- What services do you provide?
- How do you charge for your services?
- What is your approach to investing?
- How often will we meet?
- Who will be working with me?
- How will you communicate with me?
- How long does the advice process typically take?
The right adviser should be able to explain their recommendations clearly and answer your questions in a way you understand.
No. Financial advisers can work with clients anywhere in Australia, and many provide advice through phone and video meetings. Location is most important if you prefer face-to-face meetings. The right adviser for you is often the one with the expertise you need, regardless of where they're based.
If you're receiving personal financial advice, it should be documented in a Statement of Advice, giving you a clear record of the recommendations and the reasons behind them.
A Statement of Advice (SOA) is a document that outlines the personal financial advice an adviser has provided. It explains their recommendations, why they are suitable for your circumstances, the costs involved, and any fees or benefits received by the adviser or their licensee.
If you're receiving personal financial advice, it should be documented in a Statement of Advice, giving you a clear record of the recommendations and the reasons behind them.
In Australia, the terms financial adviser and financial planner are often used interchangeably. Both can provide personal financial advice if they are appropriately licensed and authorised.
Generally, a financial planner focuses on creating a long-term strategy that may cover retirement, superannuation, investments, insurance and estate planning. A financial adviser is a broader term that can include professionals who provide advice on specific areas, such as investments, insurance or retirement planning.
The most important thing isn't the title they use. It's whether they're qualified, authorised to provide the advice you need, and able to help you achieve your financial goals.
We're here to help
Get in touch
Get in touch with us online or call us 8:30am to 6pm (Sydney time) Monday to Friday.
Find the right advice option
Our dedicated team can help you choose from a range of different financial advice options.
Download mobile app
Track your balance and see your transaction history from anywhere.
Disclaimer
Guidance Consultants (General advice): Avanteos Investments Limited (AIL) (ABN 20 096 259 979, Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) 245531) and Colonial First State Investments Limited (CFSIL) (ABN 98 002 348 352, AFSL 232486). AIL and CFSIL are subsidiaries of Superannuation and Investments HoldCo Pty Limited ABN 64 644 660 882 (CFS). AIL and CFSIL are responsible for any general advice that either provides. AIL and CFSIL do not provide personal advice.
Super Advice by CFS Advice Services: Avanteos Investments Limited ABN 20 096 259 979, AFSL 245531 (AIL) has appointed CFS Advice Services Pty Ltd ABN 52 682 119 651, AFSL 564571 (CFSAS) to provide one-off limited personal advice on specified topics to members of FirstChoice Superannuation Trust who access the Super Advice service. AIL and CFSAS are both members of the Colonial First State group of companies. CFSAS holds a financial services licence to provide personal financial product advice, and its financial advisers act under this licence when providing advice services to members. CFSAS is responsible for financial advice provided to you under the Super Advice service. Before you receive a financial service from CFSAS, you should read the Financial Services Guide (FSG) issued by CFSAS. The cost of providing the Super Advice service is collectively charged to all members of the Fund and is incorporated in the fees and costs shown in the PDS.
One-off Advice: AIL and CFSIL have engaged Viridian Advisory Pty Ltd (Viridian Advisory) (ABN 34 605 438 042 AFSL 476223) to facilitate the provision of personal financial product advice under Viridian Advisory’s AFSL, as an agent of each of AIL and CFSIL. Viridian Advisory holds its own financial services licence and provides financial product advice under that licence. Viridian Advisory is not part of the CFS group of companies.
AIL and CFSIL advise that: any financial product advice you receive is provided by Viridian Advisory in its capacity as an agent of AIL or CFSIL, and not personally by AIL or CFSIL; Viridian Advisory is not an authorised representative of AIL or CFSIL under the AIL or CFSIL financial services licence; Viridian Advisory is only authorised by AIL and CFSIL to provide one-off or episodic financial product advice and not any other services; and AIL nor CFSIL does not stand behind or guarantee the capital value and/or performance of any investment you may make as a result of the advice you receive from Viridian Advisory. Any other services would be provided in Viridian Advisory’s personal capacity and not as AIL or CFSIL’s agent. If you receive an advice service through Viridian Advisory, they will provide you with a copy of their FSG.
Comprehensive Advice: Comprehensive advice is provided under the AFSL of your chosen financial adviser. If you locate an adviser on the CFS ‘find an adviser’ tool on our website, search results will only show financial advisers who have an agreement to distribute our products. CFS cannot endorse advisers on this list, so it's important you take the time to assess which adviser is best for you. To search for additional advisers, please refer to the ASIC MoneySmart website.
AIL is the trustee of the Colonial First State FirstChoice Superannuation Trust ABN 26 458 298 557 and issuer of FirstChoice range of super and pension products. CFSIL is the responsible entity and issuer of products made available under FirstChoice Investments and FirstChoice Wholesale Investments.
Information on this webpage is provided by AIL and CFSIL. It may include general advice but does not consider your individual objectives, financial situation, needs or tax circumstances. You can find the target market determinations (TMD) for our financial products at https://www.cfs.com.au/tmd which include a description of who a financial product might suit. You should read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and FSG carefully, assess whether the information is appropriate for you, and consider talking to a financial adviser before making an investment decision. You can get the PDS and FSG at www.cfs.com.au or by calling us on 13 13 36.