How To Find A Trusted Financial Planner In Your Area: A No-Nonsense Guide For Australians

Last updated: 22 July 2026

Finding a financial planner is easy.

Finding one you can trust with your savings, superannuation and retirement decisions is much harder.

A local search can produce dozens of planners within minutes. Their websites may look professional, their reviews may sound reassuring and their biographies may contain an impressive list of qualifications.

None of that proves the person is right for you.

According to my research, Australians often choose a financial planner based on convenience, personality or one attractive fee. They spend less time checking the individual planner’s authority, experience, product limitations and ongoing costs.

That is where problems begin.

A trusted planner should understand your position before recommending anything. They should explain their service in plain English, disclose how they are paid and give you enough time to make a decision without pressure.

This guide shows you how to find that person in your area without relying on polished marketing or guesswork.

General information only: This article does not recommend a particular financial planner, investment, super fund or financial product. Check a planner’s current registration, authorisation, qualifications, fee documents and service agreement before acting on personal financial advice.

Begin with the problem, not the planner

Before searching for names, decide what you need help with.

Financial planning can cover:

• Retirement planning.
• Superannuation.
• Investing.
• Debt repayment.
• Personal insurance.
• Estate and wealth transfer planning.
• Planning finances as a couple.
• Small-business finances.
• Managing an inheritance.

One planner may work mainly with people approaching retirement. Another may focus on younger investors. Someone experienced with medical professionals may know little about family businesses or serious debt.

Write down the decision you need help making.

For example:

• I want to know whether I can retire at 60.
• I need help deciding between paying down my mortgage and adding more to super.
• I have received an inheritance and do not want to waste it.
• My partner and I need one financial plan.
• I want an independent review of my investment portfolio.

A clear problem makes it easier to reject planners whose experience does not match your needs.

Our article on knowing when it is time to hire a financial planner can help you decide whether paid advice is justified.

Do not confuse local with suitable

A planner ten minutes from your home may be convenient.

That does not prove they are experienced, reasonably priced or authorised for the work you need.

Location tells you nothing about:

• The planner’s qualifications.
• Their current registration.
• The clients they normally advise.
• The products they can recommend.
• The fees you may pay over several years.
• The quality of their written advice.

A local planner may still hold most meetings online. A planner in another city may have specialist experience that is difficult to find nearby.

Decide whether you genuinely need face-to-face meetings.

Local advice may suit you when:

• You prefer discussing personal matters in the same room.
• You are uncomfortable using online document systems.
• Several family members need to attend meetings.
• Your finances involve local business relationships.

Online advice may suit you when:

• You live outside a major city.
• You need a specialist planner.
• Your working hours make office appointments difficult.
• You are comfortable using video calls and secure portals.

Our comparison of local and online financial planners can help you decide how much location should influence the choice.

Build a shortlist instead of choosing the first result

Create a shortlist of three to five planners.

Look for people whose websites clearly explain:

• Who they work with.
• Which services they provide.
• Whether they offer one-off or ongoing advice.
• How meetings are conducted.
• Who is responsible for the advice.

A vague website filled with phrases such as “building your best financial future” tells you very little.

Useful information is specific.

For example:

We work with Australians within ten years of retirement and provide advice on superannuation, retirement income, investments and personal insurance.

That description helps you decide whether the planner belongs on your shortlist.

From my experience comparing planner websites, firms that clearly describe who they do not serve are often easier to assess. A business willing to say “we do not provide debt counselling” or “we do not advise on self-managed super funds” is giving you useful information.

Check the individual, not only the business

A planning business may have an attractive brand and several qualified staff.

You need to know which individual will provide your advice.

Ask:

• Who will conduct the first meeting?
• Who will prepare the financial analysis?
• Who will sign the advice?
• Who is professionally responsible for the recommendation?
• Who will answer questions after the plan is delivered?

The person in the first meeting may be a business-development employee rather than the adviser responsible for your plan.

Ask for the full name of the individual adviser and check their current details on the appropriate Australian register when the service involves personal advice about financial products.

You should also request:

• The licence holder’s legal name.
• The Australian financial services licence number.
• The planner’s adviser or representative details.
• A copy of the Financial Services Guide.
• Confirmation of the areas they are authorised to cover.

Do not assume that every employee of a licensed business can provide personal financial advice.

Understand what registration does and does not prove

Registration and authorisation are basic checks.

They do not prove that the planner is experienced with your situation.

A planner may be authorised to provide advice about superannuation and investments but spend most of their time working on personal insurance.

Another may have retirement clients but little experience with family trusts, business succession or inherited wealth.

Think of registration as permission to provide certain advice. Experience tells you whether the planner regularly performs the work you need.

Both checks matter.

Ask about qualifications in plain English

Financial planners may list degrees, diplomas, professional memberships and specialist credentials.

Ask the planner to explain what each qualification means.

Questions worth asking include:

• When did you complete the qualification?
• Which subjects did it cover?
• How does it relate to my financial problem?
• Does it require continuing education?
• Does it represent education, legal authority or both?

A qualification may show advanced knowledge without giving the person authority to provide every type of advice.

Likewise, registration does not prove specialist ability.

Our guide to CFP certification requirements in Australia explains what that designation may indicate and which checks still need to be completed.

Experience should match your financial situation

Ask how many clients the planner works with who are similar to you.

Do not stop at:

“I have been in the industry for twenty years.”

Ask what they did during those years.

Useful questions include:

• What type of clients make up most of your practice?
• How often do you work on cases like mine?
• What complications usually arise?
• Which part of my situation may require another professional?
• Can you describe an anonymised example?

A planner should be able to describe their experience without revealing private client information.

For example:

We recently worked with a couple who wanted to retire within eight years while carrying a mortgage. We compared extra mortgage repayments with additional super contributions under several assumptions.

The example does not prove that the planner is suitable. It shows whether they understand the type of decision you are facing.

Find out what service you are buying

“Financial planning” can describe several different services.

You may be paying for:

• A one-hour consultation.
• A complete written plan.
• Advice on one financial issue.
• Investment recommendations.
• Product implementation.
• An annual review.
• Ongoing portfolio management.

Ask for a written service scope.

It should explain:

• The questions being addressed.
• The questions being excluded.
• The documents you will receive.
• The expected timeframe.
• The work included after the recommendations are made.
• The work that will cost extra.

A one-off plan may not include implementation.

An ongoing fee may include one annual meeting but exclude new advice after a major life change.

Do not rely on phrases such as “full support” or “complete financial care”. Ask what those words mean in practice.

Ask whether you need complete advice

Some people need a complete financial plan.

Others need help with one decision.

Limited advice may be suitable when you want help with:

• A super contribution strategy.
• A particular investment question.
• Debt repayment.
• A retirement projection.
• Personal insurance.
• Using an inheritance.

A smaller service may cost less and take less time.

The planner should explain which areas will not be reviewed and whether those exclusions could affect the recommendation.

Someone asking about investing may have expensive debt that changes the order of decisions. A narrow advice scope should not ignore information that makes the recommendation unsuitable.

Get the complete fee in dollars

Financial planners may charge through:

• An hourly rate.
• A fixed project fee.
• An implementation charge.
• An annual ongoing fee.
• A percentage of assets.
• Permitted commissions or referral payments.

Ask for every fee in dollars.

A fee of 1% equals:

A percentage can look small until it is converted into money.

Ask whether the fee rises automatically when your account balance rises.

Our breakdown of financial planner costs in Australia explains how hourly, fixed, percentage and ongoing fees can add up.

Compare the cost over several years

The first-year cost can hide an expensive ongoing arrangement.

Our data shows how three fictional proposals may look over five years:

These figures are examples, not market averages or quotes.

The services may provide different amounts of work.

The table shows why you need to compare the complete cost rather than the initial fee alone.

Find out what product costs sit behind the advice fee

The planner’s fee may be only one part of the expense.

Recommended products may also charge:

• Platform administration fees.
• Investment management costs.
• Transaction costs.
• Brokerage.
• Insurance premiums.
• Foreign exchange costs.
• Performance fees.

Ask the planner to separate:

• Money paid to the planner.
• Money paid to the planning business.
• Money paid to the platform.
• Money paid to investment managers.
• Money paid to other professionals.

A low planning fee can sit beside expensive products.

A larger fixed fee may lead to lower ongoing costs.

The useful figure is the total amount leaving your financial position.

Ask who pays the planner

A financial planner may receive income from:

• Direct client fees.
• Insurance commissions where permitted.
• Referral arrangements.
• Product-related payments.
• Fees based on assets.

Ask:

• Who pays you?
• How much do they pay?
• Does the amount change according to the product selected?
• Do you receive referral payments?
• Do you pay anyone for introducing me?

A payment arrangement does not automatically make the advice poor.

You need to understand whether the planner benefits more from one recommendation than another.

Check who owns the planning business

The brand name may not reveal the business owner.

A planning firm may be owned by:

• The planners working in it.
• A larger financial-services business.
• An investment platform.
• An insurance group.
• A private investment company.

Ask whether the owner manufactures or distributes products that the planner may recommend.

You should also ask whether the business uses an approved product list.

A restricted list does not automatically produce unsuitable advice. You need to know whether the planner compared the broader market or selected from a limited group.

Listen carefully during the first meeting

The planner’s questions tell you a great deal about their process.

A planner preparing personal advice should ask about:

• Your income.
• Household expenses.
• Debts.
• Cash savings.
• Superannuation.
• Investments.
• Insurance.
• Dependants.
• Financial goals.
• Your reaction to financial losses.

Be cautious when the planner recommends a product before collecting this information.

A personal recommendation cannot be based on facts the planner never asked for.

Notice whether the questions feel connected to your situation or copied from a standard sales process.

Ask how they assess investment risk

Risk questionnaires can be useful.

They should not be the entire assessment.

The planner should consider:

• How you feel about market losses.
• When the money will be needed.
• Whether your income is stable.
• How much accessible cash you hold.
• What would happen if the investment fell.

You may feel comfortable with investment risk but lack the financial capacity to absorb a large decline.

Ask the planner to explain possible losses in dollars.

A planner should discuss how that loss might affect your goal, not simply label the portfolio “balanced” or “growth”.

Communication should be clear before you sign

You should feel comfortable asking basic questions.

Notice whether the planner:

• Listens without interrupting.
• Explains unfamiliar terms.
• Answers the question you actually asked.
• Discusses risks as openly as possible benefits.
• Admits when another professional is needed.
• Allows time for you to consider the proposal.

Complicated language does not prove expertise.

A capable planner should be able to explain a recommendation in several ways until you understand it.

Our article on the skills that separate good planners from great ones explains why communication and judgement matter alongside technical knowledge.

Ask who will handle your account later

The planner you meet initially may not remain your main contact.

Ask:

• Who will prepare my plan?
• Who will present the recommendations?
• Who will answer questions after implementation?
• Will junior staff handle reviews?
• Who takes over when my planner is away?
• What happens if the planner leaves the firm?

A team can provide a reliable service.

You should know who is responsible for each part.

Our article on what a financial planner actually does during the day explains how planning, research and client work may be divided between staff.

Read reviews for patterns, not praise

Online reviews may help, but they should not decide the choice.

Look for repeated comments about:

• Communication.
• Fee transparency.
• Pressure to sign.
• Accuracy of documents.
• Follow-up service.
• Unexpected charges.

A review saying “excellent planner” gives you little useful detail.

Several reviews describing slow replies or unclear fees deserve attention.

Check when each review was written. A planning business may have changed owners, advisers or service models.

Personal referrals still need to be checked

A recommendation from a friend can create a useful introduction.

Your friend’s financial position may be completely different from yours.

Someone who helped a retired couple manage a large portfolio may not be the right person for a young freelancer trying to control debt and irregular income.

Complete the same registration, qualification, fee and experience checks even when the planner comes highly recommended.

Trust should be earned through evidence, not borrowed from someone else’s relationship.

Ask for references carefully

A planner may provide references from existing clients.

Those people are likely to have had a positive experience.

You can still ask useful questions:

• Were the fees explained clearly?
• Did the written advice match the meetings?
• How quickly did the planner respond?
• Were annual reviews completed?
• Did the service change after implementation?
• Were you ever pressured to buy a product?

Do not ask a reference to reveal private financial information.

Use references as one part of the assessment.

Check how your information will be protected

A planner may collect:

• Bank statements.
• Identification documents.
• Tax information.
• Super balances.
• Insurance records.
• Family details.

Ask how documents are uploaded, stored and accessed.

Find out:

• Which staff members can see your records.
• How identity is verified.
• How the firm confirms transaction instructions.
• What happens after a security incident.
• How long documents are retained.

Never give a planner your internet banking password, government login or one-time security code.

Understand the complaint process

Ask how complaints are handled before you sign.

The business should explain:

• Who receives complaints.
• How a complaint should be lodged.
• What response process applies.
• Which external dispute arrangements may be available.

Keep copies of:

• Advice documents.
• Service agreements.
• Fee disclosures.
• Emails.
• Meeting notes.
• Transaction instructions.

A professional business should not become defensive because you ask how complaints work.

Find out how you can leave

An ongoing service should not trap you.

Ask:

• How much notice is required?
• How are recurring fees stopped?
• Does an exit fee apply?
• What happens to my investments?
• Will I lose access to any platform?
• How do I obtain copies of my documents?

The exit process should appear in writing.

Do not wait until the relationship has broken down to learn how cancellation works.

Red flags you should not ignore

Pause the process when a planner:

• Guarantees investment returns.
• Recommends a product during the first short conversation.
• Refuses to explain fees in dollars.
• Pressures you to sign immediately.
• Avoids questions about ownership or commissions.
• Claims one strategy suits every client.
• Cannot provide registration details.
• Asks for passwords or security codes.
• Discourages you from obtaining another opinion.
• Uses fear to sell an ongoing service.

A genuine deadline should be explained with a date and a clear consequence.

“This opportunity will disappear” is not enough.

Use the same questions with every planner

Comparisons become difficult when each meeting follows a different conversation.

Ask every candidate:

1. Are you authorised to provide the advice I need?
2. How often do you work with clients like me?
3. Who will prepare and sign the advice?
4. What will the complete first-year cost be?
5. What will I pay in later years?
6. Do you receive commissions or referral payments?
7. Are your product choices restricted?
8. What will I receive in writing?
9. How do I cancel the service?
10. How are complaints handled?

Take our list of questions to ask a financial planner before paying into each meeting.

Score the shortlist after each meeting

Personality can influence your judgement.

A simple scorecard helps you compare the information that matters.

Score each area from zero to two:

• 0: Missing, vague or concerning.
• 1: Partly explained.
• 2: Clear and supported in writing.

The highest total does not automatically decide the result.

It shows where one candidate supplied stronger evidence and where you need further answers.

A worked example

Consider Priya, aged 46.

She has:

• A mortgage.
• Two super accounts.
• A small investment portfolio.
• A goal of reducing work at 58.
• Concerns about whether her insurance is adequate.

Priya meets two planners.

Planner A

Planner A works five minutes from her home.

The planner recommends transferring both super accounts during the first meeting. Fees are described as “about 1%”, and Priya is told that a detailed proposal will come after she agrees to proceed.

The planner does not ask about the insurance attached to the existing super accounts.

Planner B

Planner B works online and has an office forty minutes away.

The planner requests Priya’s super statements, insurance information, mortgage details and household budget before discussing products.

The proposal includes:

• A fixed advice fee.
• No required ongoing service.
• A separate implementation fee.
• A list of matters excluded from the advice.

Planner B also explains that an accountant may need to review one tax question.

Priya chooses Planner B.

The decision is not based on distance. It is based on the planning process, fee clarity and willingness to examine her existing arrangements before recommending changes.

A thirty-day search plan

Days 1 to 5: define the work

• Write down the problem you need solved.
• List your financial goals.
• Decide whether you want one-off or ongoing help.
• Choose whether in-person meetings are necessary.

Days 6 to 10: create a shortlist

• Find three to five planners.
• Review their stated services.
• Check whether they regularly work with people like you.
• Remove businesses that do not explain what they do.

Days 11 to 15: verify the details

• Confirm the individual planner’s identity.
• Check registration and authority where relevant.
• Review qualifications.
• Ask who holds the licence.

Days 16 to 22: hold the meetings

• Ask every planner the same questions.
• Request fees in dollars.
• Ask about commissions and product restrictions.
• Pay attention to how they gather information.

Days 23 to 27: compare the documents

• Read the Financial Services Guide.
• Compare written service proposals.
• Calculate costs over several years.
• Check the complaint and exit process.

Days 28 to 30: make the decision

• Complete the comparison scorecard.
• Ask final questions in writing.
• Seek another opinion when something remains unclear.
• Do not sign because you feel pressured.

Trust should come from evidence

A trusted financial planner is not simply someone who seems friendly or works nearby.

Trust develops when the planner’s authority can be checked, their experience matches your problem and their fees are explained before you commit.

Start with your financial need. Compare several planners. Ask the same questions and read every document away from the meeting.

Pay attention to what the planner asks you.

Someone who wants to understand your income, debt, goals and family position before discussing products is following a more careful process than someone who arrives with a ready-made solution.

Your planner may be around the corner. They may work online from another part of Australia.

Choose the person whose work you can verify, whose costs you understand and whose advice makes sense without a sales presentation.