There’s over 15,000 registered financial advisers in Australia. Finding one isn’t the hard part. Finding one who actually understands what you’re dealing with, tells you straight what they charge, and isn’t quietly steering you towards a product they get paid to sell, that’s where most people get stuck.
Some advisers live and breathe retirement planning. Others work almost exclusively with business owners. A few try to do a bit of everything and mostly pull it off. If you’re just starting to look, here are a few worth putting on your list.
1. Silverloom Advisory Group
Silverloom is led out of Sydney by Anthony Zaman, Director and Principal Adviser, who’s held his Certified Financial Planner status for well over ten years now. The office is at Martin Place in the CBD, though in practice a lot of clients never set foot there. Most of the work happens over video call regardless of where you’re based in Australia.
Here’s the thing that actually stands out. Wealth planning, business advisory, super and retirement strategy, estate protection, debt structuring, insurance and risk advice, it’s all handled through the one firm. You don’t have to bounce between different specialists who barely know what the others are doing.
If you’d rather deal with one adviser across your whole financial picture instead of coordinating three or four different people, that’s the real appeal. Fees are laid out upfront, and the first consultation doesn’t cost anything, so you can get a feel for whether it’s the right fit before committing.
2. Findex
Findex is enormous, at least by Australian standards. More than 2,500 people and over 90 offices across Australia and New Zealand. Chances are there’s an adviser somewhere near you, and because the firm covers so much ground, you’re not stuck looking elsewhere for services they don’t offer.
For individuals, that includes wealth management, SMSF advice, lending and insurance. Businesses can also access accounting, tax advisory and corporate finance through the same group.
Here’s the catch, though. A business this size means your experience can depend heavily on which office you end up with, and which adviser picks up your file. It’s worth digging into their background before signing anything. Don’t just assume the Findex name guarantees the same experience everywhere.
3. Financial Foundations
Based in Camberwell, Victoria, this firm’s been around for more than 40 years. That’s a decent run in an industry where firms come and go all the time.
You can usually tell when a firm’s been doing this for a while. There’s generally less focus on what’s happening this quarter and more attention on building wealth that lasts, sometimes with the next generation of a family in mind rather than just the person sitting across the table.
If you’re looking for an adviser who’s thinking well beyond the next few years, particularly when it comes to family wealth and long-term planning, this one’s worth a look.
4. Sydney Financial Group
Sydney Financial Group has built a fairly sizeable advisory team, with more than 20 advisers covering retirement planning, wealth creation, tax advice and early access to super where appropriate.
The upside of that size is having different areas of expertise available without needing to jump between separate firms. The downside, same as anywhere really, is that your experience depends a lot on the adviser you’re paired with and how that relationship develops over time.
Client feedback tends to mention communication quite a bit. Quick responses, proactive follow-up and advisers who stay in touch rather than disappearing after the first few meetings.
What Actually Matters Here
Start with the basics.
Every financial adviser in Australia needs to hold an Australian Financial Services Licence or be an authorised representative of one. As of 2026, they also need to meet the required education standards or qualify through the experienced provider pathway. That’s easy enough to check yourself through the Financial Advisers Register or a site like Adviser Ratings.
After that, it’s really about fit.
Some advisers spend most of their time helping people prepare for retirement. Others are better suited to business owners planning succession or professionals trying to make the most of their peak earning years. Skip the usual “how long have you been doing this?” question and ask whether they’ve actually worked with people in a situation like yours. That answer usually tells you far more.
It’s also worth asking about fees early. A one-off financial plan generally sits somewhere between $3,500 and $6,000, while ongoing advice can add a few thousand dollars a year after that. If someone dances around the pricing question before you’ve even had a proper conversation, that’s worth paying attention to.
Experience matters, but so does communication. A good adviser should be able to explain complicated financial decisions in a way that makes sense, without burying everything in industry jargon.
Don’t Skip the Free Consultation
Nearly every adviser worth talking to, including the firms listed here, offers an initial meeting at no cost. Make the most of it.
Ask who their typical client actually is. Ask how often they’ll review your plan. Ask what happens if your circumstances change six months from now, whether that’s a new job, selling a business or something completely unexpected.
It’s also the easiest way to work out whether you’ll actually enjoy working with them. Financial advice is rarely a one-off conversation. If everything goes well, it could be a relationship that lasts for years.
The best adviser for you probably isn’t the one with the biggest name or the cheapest fees. It’s the one who explains things clearly, understands what you’re trying to achieve and leaves you feeling more confident about the decisions you’re making with your money.
