Many people seek financial advice because they don't have the time, energy or the technical expertise and would like assistance with planning. A financial adviser considers your goals and looks at all the financial options to meet those goals in the short, medium and long term.

Financial advice helps you make the most of your money. The right advice can help you avoid costly mistakes, take advantage of tax concessions and select investment options with return potential but with the same risk level. Your adviser will give you direction by providing tailored solutions. An adviser performs a holistic review of your situation, reviews where you are in your life and make recommendations to suit your needs.

The importance of independent advice
Financial advice can be invaluable - particularly as some areas of investment and superannuation can be complex - but equally important to is ensuring you receive independent financial advice. Over 75% of financial advisers in Australia are owned by banks and insurance companies. The quality and independence of their advice is tainted when they also function as the de factor sales force for their employers' products. The vast majority still charge percentage based commissions and adviser service fees for their services.

You don’t pay your accountant or lawyer an ongoing percentage of the value of your assets for their advice. The same should apply to financial planning advice. We recommend that when seeking financial advice, separate products from advice by paying your financial adviser an hourly or dollar based fee-for-service to eliminate the incentive for your adviser to recommend any investment for any reason other than its investment merit and its suitability for you. Find out more about fee for service financial advice.

Getting Advice - FIDO