How to Find the Right Financial Adviser in Australia (And What to Ask Before You Hire One)

By Véurr Financial Planning | Financial Planning, Canberra · Sydney · Melbourne

You’re earning a solid income. You’re keeping up with bills. But at the end of each month, you’re not entirely sure where your money is going – or whether you’re on track to actually build wealth. Sound familiar?

This is exactly why more Australians are searching for a financial adviser – and why it’s one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your long-term financial wellbeing. But knowing what to look for, what questions to ask, and how financial planning actually works can feel overwhelming before you’ve even had your first conversation.

This guide cuts through the noise.

What Does a Financial Adviser Actually Do?

A financial adviser (also called a financial planner) helps you create a comprehensive, personalised strategy for your money. This isn’t about chasing hot stocks or predicting the market. It’s about building a clear, structured plan that aligns with your goals, your stage of life, and your tolerance for risk.

A good financial planner covers areas including:

• Budgeting and cash flow management – understanding where your money goes and redirecting it with purpose
• Superannuation advice – optimising your super contributions, consolidating funds, and improving your long-term retirement balance
• Investment advice – building a diversified portfolio suited to your goals (property, shares, managed funds, etc.)
• Insurance and risk management – protecting your income and assets against unexpected events
• Retirement planning – mapping out when you can retire, how much you’ll need, and how to get there. See our retirement planning guide for Australians for a deeper walkthrough.
• Tax-effective strategies – legally reducing your tax burden to keep more of what you earn
• Estate planning – ensuring your wealth transfers to the right people in the most efficient way

When done well, financial planning transforms vague financial anxiety into a concrete roadmap.

When Should You See a Financial Adviser?

There’s a common misconception that financial advice is only for the wealthy or the nearly-retired. In reality, the earlieryou start working with a financial planner, the better your outcomes tend to be – thanks to the power of compounding and smart early decisions.

Here are common life moments when Australians seek financial advice:

• Starting a new, higher-paying job and wanting to make the most of increased income
• Buying your first home and trying to understand mortgages, LVR, and what to do with your savings
• Starting a family and realising you need income protection and a longer-term plan
• Turning 40 or 50 and wondering if your superannuation is where it needs to be for retirement
• Receiving an inheritance or windfall and needing a smart strategy to grow it
• Approaching retirement and wanting clarity on when you can stop working
• Running a small business and needing advice on structures, super, and personal wealth separation

If any of these resonate, it’s worth having a conversation.

How to Choose a Financial Adviser: 7 Questions to Ask

Not all financial advisers are created equal. In Australia, advisers must be licensed under an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) and registered with ASIC. But beyond qualifications, here’s what to look for:

1. Are they a fiduciary?

A genuine financial adviser is legally obligated to act in your best interests – not to sell you products for commission. Always confirm this upfront.

2. What are their fee structures?

Ask whether they charge flat fees, hourly rates, or take commissions from product providers. Fee-for-service advisers generally have fewer conflicts of interest.

3. What’s their area of specialisation?

Some advisers focus on retirement planning, others on wealth accumulation or small business strategies. Make sure their expertise aligns with your current needs.

4. Can they provide ongoing support?

Good financial planning isn’t a one-time event. Look for an adviser who offers regular reviews to adjust your strategy as your life evolves.

5. Do they have verified client reviews?

Check platforms like Adviser Ratings to read authentic, verified feedback from real clients.

6. Do they work with clients at your income level and life stage?

Some advisers specialise in high-net-worth clients; others work specifically with people building wealth from a strong salary base. Make sure you’re a good fit.

7. Can you meet them easily?

Look for advisers who offer online meetings so geography doesn’t limit your options – especially important if you’re based outside a major city.

The Difference Between Financial Planning and Financial Advice

These terms are often used interchangeably, but there’s a distinction worth understanding:

• Financial advice typically refers to guidance on a specific decision – such as whether to invest in a particular product or how to structure a purchase.
• Financial planning is broader and more holistic – it’s a comprehensive strategy for your financial life across multiple goals, timelines, and circumstances.

At Véurr, we focus on financial planning – because isolated advice without context rarely leads to lasting results.

What a Personalised Financial Strategy Looks Like

When you work with a qualified financial planner, here’s what the process typically involves:

1. Discovery session – Understanding your income, expenses, assets, liabilities, goals, and concerns
2. Strategy development – Creating a tailored plan across super, investments, insurance, and tax
3. Implementation – Putting the plan into action, including any product recommendations
4. Ongoing review – Regular check-ins (typically annual or semi-annual) to keep the plan on track

The goal isn’t perfection on day one – it’s building a system that compounds results over time.

Why Australians Earning $100K+ Often Need Advice More Than They Realise

There’s a “golden trap” that affects many professionals: you earn good money, your lifestyle creeps up to match it, and despite a strong income, genuine wealth accumulation is slower than it should be.

A financial planner helps you:

• Maximise super contributions before your concessional cap runs out
• Structure investments tax-effectively so you’re not giving the ATO more than necessary
• Build a property or share portfolio with intention, not impulse
• Protect your income with the right insurance so a health event doesn’t derail everything
• Set up structures (trusts, SMSFs, salary packaging) that suit your situation

The difference between doing this with advice and doing it alone – over a 20-year period – can be hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Specialist situations need specialist advisers. If you are a federal public servant facing redundancy, the questions you have to answer are different from generic retirement planning. Read our guide to voluntary vs involuntary redundancy for Canberra APS members for a starting framework. If you are in CSS, PSS or PSSap more generally, our financial planning guide for Australian Public Servants covers the seven mistakes we see most often.

Ready to Talk to a Financial Adviser?

At Véurr Financial Planning, our advisers Maciej Stanek and Imran Amjad work with Australians across Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, and Goulburn – and online, from anywhere in Australia.

We help people who are earning good money but want more clarity, more growth, and more confidence in their financial future.

📞 Book a free 30-minute strategy call at veurr.com.au – no obligation, just an honest conversation about where you are and where you want to be.

Véurr Financial Planning Pty Ltd (ABN 16 635 751 423) is a Corporate Authorised Representative of Lifespan Financial Planning Pty Ltd, ABN 23 065 921 735, AFSL 229892. This article is general in nature and does not constitute personal financial advice. Please consult a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions.