Selecting the Right Financial Adviser

You rely on your financial adviser to help ensure your financial wellbeing; in effect you are hiring an experienced professional to do a very important job. You need to be confident that your financial adviser meets the standards you, the community and the industry have set.

Your financial adviser MUST…

• Be registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
• Have relevant financial planning qualifications eg Diploma of Financial Services (DFS), Certified Financial Planner (CFP).
• Have additional specialist qualifications as required, eg to provide advice to trustees of Self Managed Superannuation Funds and their other advisers.
• Produce a Financial Services Guide (FSG) and Privacy Policy.

• Be bound by the Code of Ethics of the FPA (or similar).
• Provide quality strategic advice, ie focus on advice rather than products.
• Have a disciplined approach to the preparation and ongoing management of your financial plan.
• Offer choice of managed (including wholesale) and direct investments.
• Have a regular, formal and personalised review and rebalancing process.
• Provide the convenience of comprehensive reporting, absolving you from administrative burdens.
• Have the direct support of an experienced team, including other financial advisers and specialist staff.
• Have established relationships with other professionals (including accountants and solicitors) to complement their expertise.
• Offer security through the backing of a reputable, well-established parent organisation.
• Charge fees that are not influenced by the specific investments that are recommended.