Our Process
Initial Phone Call
We understand that when you first reach out to us, it’s often your first time exploring financial advice.
So, we like to start with a friendly phone call. This is where we’ll get to know you a bit, hear about your reasons for seeking advice and see if we’re the right fit to help.
If it sounds like we can assist you and make a positive difference to your financial future, we’ll schedule an initial meeting.
Initial Meeting
In our first meeting, we’ll take the time to really understand your goals, current financial situation, and anything else that might be relevant to building the right strategy for you.
These meetings usually run for about 45 minutes to an hour and give us a solid foundation to start tailoring your advice.
Because we’re one of the few firms offering independent financial advice in Perth, there’s often a bit of a wait-around 4-5 weeks to book in. That said, we’ll always do our best to slot you in sooner if we can.
The initial meeting fee is $440, which acts as a non-refundable deposit. The good news? If you go ahead with advice, we’ll deduct this from your advice fee.
While we might share a few early thoughts during this meeting, any specific recommendations will come later in your Statement of Advice – that way, everything is properly researched and tailored before you act.
Advice Proposal
After our meeting, if we believe we can genuinely improve your financial situation, we’ll send you an advice proposal. This outlines the key areas where we can help, along with a clear breakdown of our fees.
The initial advice fee usually falls between $4,000 and $5,000, depending on the complexity of your situation – though it can be more or less, based on what’s involved.
If you’re happy to move forward, we’ll get started on building a tailored strategy that’s designed just for you.
To make things easier, we offer flexible payment options: you can pay the advice fee in three equal monthly instalments as we develop and implement your plan or choose to pay it all upfront – whichever works best for you.
Data Collection
Now that we’re moving forward, the next stage is data collection. This helps us build a clear and accurate picture of your financial situation so we can create advice that truly fits your needs.
In most cases, this means reaching out to your super fund or investment provider to get the full story on what’s happening with your accounts.
To do that, we’ll ask you to sign an authority form. This simply gives us permission to speak with your fund or provider on your behalf. Don’t worry – we can’t make any changes; we’re just gathering information to help shape your strategy.
Strategy
Once we’ve gathered all the necessary information, we begin modelling different financial scenarios to find the best fit for you.
This might include:
- Cash flow and budgeting
- Super contribution strategies
- Investment planning
- Retirement planning
- Tax-effective structuring
- Debt reduction
- Insurance (life, TPD, income protection)
- Estate planning
We then draft your Statement of Advice. If your situation is more complex, we’ll break the strategy into manageable steps.
Next, we invite you in for a strategy meeting (usually 45-60 minutes). Most clients need 1-2 meetings, depending on the level of detail involved.
If we’re recommending changes-like switching super funds-we’ll provide a clear apples-to-apples comparison of things like fees and investments so you can make informed decisions.
After each meeting, we fine-tune the plan based on your feedback. Once you’re happy, we’ll finalise the complete financial strategy designed to guide you through the next 5-10 years.
Implementation
Once you’re happy with the strategy, we’ll help put everything into action. Everyone’s situation is a little different, but this might include:
- Making investments
- Setting up or rolling over your super to a new fund
- Arranging or updating insurance
- Taking care of estate planning (often with help from a solicitor)
We’re also happy to work alongside your accountant, lawyer, or mortgage broker to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Ongoing Support & Review
Once everything’s in place, we move into the review stage. We offer two flexible options, and we’ll help you choose the one that suits you best during the early stages of your advice journey.
Option 1: Set and Forget
This option is great if you’re happy to take the reins once your plan is up and running. You can come back for a review whenever you feel it’s needed.
When you do, we’ll revisit your strategy starting from a review Meeting-but since we already know your story, the process is quicker and more affordable than the first time around. Most people choosing this option check in every 2-3 years.
Option 2: Ongoing Service and Review
This is the option most of our clients choose. It’s a more hands-on, proactive approach where we help keep your financial strategy on track, with:
- Regular check-ins
- Ongoing investment monitoring and tweaks
- Updates for any big life changes (like a new job, windfall, or new family member)
- Adjustments in response to changes in markets or legislation
You’ll typically hear from us 2-3 times a year, or more if needed – so you’re always supported and in control, no matter what life throws your way
Start your Journey with Independent Financial Advice in Perth
Get in touch with our independent financial planners in Perth today
If you’re ready to get started, call us to book your initial consultation or get in touch through the Contact Us page.