May 2025

Only 16% of Australians have a formal financial plan through a professional adviser or planner.

A higher proportion set informal financial goals, but only a small minority consistently stick to them.

Most Australians prefer to manage their finances independently, with cost and perceived necessity being the main reasons for not seeking professional advice In a financial landscape growing increasingly complex, the difference between achieving financial freedom and merely staying afloat often comes down to one critical factor: having a comprehensive, professionally crafted financial plan.

Surprisingly, only 23% of Australians in 2025 have a documented financial strategy, despite research showing that those who do accumulate nearly twice the wealth of those without a plan.
While many Australians associate financial planning with basic budgeting or investment advice, true professional financial planning encompasses a far more comprehensive approach that addresses every aspect of your financial life.

1. Wealth accumulation strategies tailored to your risk profile and time horizon
2. Tax optimisation across income, investments, and business structures
3. Debt management and strategic leverage for wealth creation
4. Superannuation optimisation to maximise retirement outcomes
5. Risk management through appropriate insurance structures
6. Estate planning for effective wealth transfer
7. Cash flow engineering for lifestyle sustainability

This holistic approach ensures that each financial decision supports your broader objectives rather than creating unintended consequences in other areas.

The impact of professional financial planning can be quantified in both financial terms and life quality. Studies by Vanguard and Morningstar estimate the value of comprehensive financial advice at between 2.5-3% in additional annual returns or savings, an amount that compounds dramatically over time.

For a 40-year-old Australian with a household income of $150,000 and existingassets of $400,000, this advantage typically translates to an additional $1.2-$1.7million in wealth by retirement age. More importantly, it creates the freedom to make life choices based on preference rather than financial necessity.

The absence of professional financial planning often leads to:

1. Opportunity costs from suboptimal investment strategies or missed tax planning opportunities
2. Unnecessary tax leakage that can erode up to 30% of potential wealth accumulation
3. Inefficient debt structures that increase lifetime interest costs
4. Protection gaps that create catastrophic financial exposure
5. Emotional decision-making during market volatility or life transitions
6. Insufficient retirement funding discovered too late to effectively address

The most significant cost, however, is the ongoing stress and uncertainty that comes
from not having clarity about your financial future. This uncertainty affects not just
financial decisions but life choices around career, family, and lifestyle.

Australia’s financial environment presents specific challenges and opportunities that
require specialised expertise:

Superannuation Complexity
With constantly evolving superannuation regulations, including contribution caps, preservation rules, and tax treatments, optimising this critical wealth-building vehicle demands specialised knowledge. Recent changes allowing up to $330,000 in non- concessional contributions through bring-forward provisions create significant planning opportunities when properly utilised.

Property and Debt Management
With Australian household debt among the highest globally relative to income, strategic debt management and property investment planning are critical components of effective financial strategies. The interaction between negative gearing, capital gains concessions, and lending policies creates a complex decision matrix that impacts long-term outcomes.

Investment Strategy in the Australian Market
Australia’s unique dividend imputation system significantly changes the optimal approach to investment asset allocation compared to global norms. For retirees, a well-structured Australian equity portfolio can deliver up to 30% more after-tax income than equivalent international investments due to franking credit benefits.

Our comprehensive financial planning process follows a structured methodology
designed to create clarity, confidence, and measurable progress:

1. Discovery and Goal Setting
The process begins with a deep exploration of your current financial position, values, and aspirations. This creates the foundation for all subsequent recommendations and ensures alignment between financial strategies and life objectives.

2. Strategic Analysis and Solution Development

Using sophisticated modelling tools and drawing on decades of experience, we develop integrated strategies across all financial domains. Each recommendation undergoes rigorous stress testing against multiple scenarios to ensure robustness.

3. Implementation Planning
Converting strategy to action requires careful sequencing and coordination. Our implementation plans provide step-by-step guidance with clear responsibilities and timeframes to ensure execution without overwhelm.

4. Ongoing Management and Adaptation
Financial planning isn’t a one-time event but an ongoing process. Regular reviews and adaptations ensure your strategy remains optimal as circumstances, markets, and regulations evolve.

While technical expertise is essential, the most powerful aspect of professional financial planning often lies in the behavioural guidance and accountability it provides. Research by DALBAR consistently shows that investor behaviour—not market performance—is the primary determinant of long-term financial outcomes.

Our planning approach incorporates behaviour coaching that:
1. Prevents costly emotional decisions during market volatility
2. Creates accountability for implementing wealth-building habits
3. Provides objective guidance during major life transitions
4. Facilitates difficult but necessary financial conversations between family
members

While understanding financial concepts is valuable, research consistently shows that
information alone rarely leads to improved outcomes. The transformation from knowledge to results requires structured implementation and accountability.

Our financial planning team specialises in translating financial concepts into practical action steps that create measurable progress. Whether you’re just beginning your

financial journey or looking to optimise an established position, professional guidance provides the clarity and confidence to move forward effectively.

Contact our financial planning team today to begin creating your roadmap to financial freedom.

1. Finder – Australians and Financial Goals
2. Investment Trends – Financial Advice Report
3. Financial Planning Association of Australia – Value of Advice Report
4. Vanguard – Advisor’s Alpha
5. Morningstar – Gamma Research
6. ASIC MoneySmart – Financial Advice
7. Australian Taxation Office – Superannuation Contributions
8. Reserve Bank of Australia – Household Debt
9. Australian Treasury – Tax Policy
10. ASX – Franking Credits
11. DALBAR – Investor Behavior Study