The Best Financial Planners In Canberra

Let us help you find the best financial planner for your needs

The Best Financial Planners In Canberra

Need Financial Advice in Canberra?

Let us find the Best Financial Planner for your Needs and Situation.

We have listed the 10 best Canberra Financial Planners.

Gianna Thomson Best Financial Planner
awards

Gianna Thomson – Thomson Wealth

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®

Are you a professional or Executive who is an expert in your field, but not your finances?

Are you a senior public servant with Public Sector Superannuation (PSS, CSS and PSSAP)?

Are you looking to invest in a diversified, professionally managed portfolio?

In retirement and wanting to manage investment risk?

Are you a successful business owner who has been in business for a while?

If so, then Gianna is likely the best financial planner in Canberra to help you reach your goals.

Client testimonials
Irene, Academic – “Gianna is the best financial advisor of three that I have known. She has skilfully determined the optimal strategies to maximise our retirement income, providing my husband and I peace of mind about our retirement. I wish that I had met Gianna years ago!”

Rob, Business Owner – “Gianna has helped my wife and I get our financial life back on track when we never would have ourselves. Gianna was also an essential team member helping our small business survive through Covid Lockdowns/closedown period. Gianna is professional and personable”

Tim, Accountant – “Gianna has given me advice since I had a career change and was contemplating a redundancy payment. Gianna is always very prompt in responding to my questions and takes an interest in understanding my life goals as part of getting a full conversation on how my family and I could structure our finances that was aligned to what we wanted. I have always found Gianna to be an extremely good listener and she complements that with good advice which is always very well explained so that I am comfortable in making decisions, backed up by her technical and industry knowledge. Gianna is always prompt, courteous, and extremely professional and it is a pleasure having her as our financial adviser.”

Areas of Expertise

  • Superannuation and SMSF
  • Investment portfolio management
  • Retirement planning
  • Public Sector Superannuation
  • Redundancy
  • Debt management
  • Tax planning and asset protection strategies
  • Estate planning
  • Personal insurances
  • Business succession planning, key person and buy/sell agreements
  • Philanthropy charitable giving

A trusted relationship
Her approach is different. She doesn’t try to be all things to all people. By keeping her client list low she can spend more time getting to know you, understand what you want to achieve, and be there when you need her help – now, and long into the future.

She has 20 years’ experience in financial services and was recently nominated for the prestigious 2021 Women in Finance – Financial Adviser of the Year Award and the IFA Excellence Award – Goal Based Adviser.

She is also an expert in PSS and CSS whereby her expertise is sought after by senior-public servants who want the right advice regarding their complex defined benefit scheme. She is also approached by other financial planners for her knowledge!

Running a business? She does too! She understands the added complexities of running a business – hence she considers the whole balance sheet when providing advice.

All meetings are offered via Zoom or in person at her Canberra office. Gianna and her financial advising team have clients nationwide due to their flexible services.

Gianna collaborates with other trusted professionals such as lawyers, accountants and mortgage brokers – saving you time and hassle.

Gianna and her team offer a range of bespoke financial planning services from the premium Family Chief Financial Officer Service, to scoped advice. But first, Gianna may invite you to a 90min Discovery Meeting. You can read more about her services and fees via her website.

Book your complimentary 15min chat today.

Office
38 Allan Street Curtin, Canberra ACT

Ellie Fordham Best Financial Advisor

Ellie Fordham – Verse Wealth

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®

I’m a Financial Adviser at Verse Wealth, a team of multi-award winning financial advisers. I’ve chosen to align my career with a leader in the profession, who listens to clients, values people over product, and provides truly personalised advice. In my more than 15 years in advice, I’ve been dedicated to my clients, as well as championing causes I’m passionate about including promoting females within a historically male dominated profession, and helping attract young people to financial advice as a career choice.

Our Approach

At Verse, our approach is wildly different to most of the industry. It’s not just about money – it’s about your entire life. Money is just fuel for living the life you want, which means something different to everyone. To learn more about our Approach, click here.

Our Services

Our advice embraces your whole financial life. Your situation will dictate what combination of services and advice you need to make the most of your resources. To learn more about our Services, click here.

Our Clients

We work with professionals, pre-retirees, high achievers and more.  They reach out because they might be making good money but not making the most of it, are unsure on the right strategy or uncertain about the future. To learn more about our Clients, click here.

What our clients say

‘Getting financial advice has been one of the best things we’ve ever done.’ Olivine. M

‘Verse have been indispensable helping my family achieve our goals.’ Greg. P

‘Professional, personable, responsive and highly knowledgeable.’ Ryan. C

‘I could not be happier with their professionalism and knowledge.’ James. F

‘The Verse team will change your lives forever.’ Stephen. S 

To see more of what our other clients have to say about the experience of working with us, we encourage you to check out our Google reviews.

Recent awards

  • 2022 Independent Financial Advisers Goals Based Adviser of the Year
  • 2021 Independent Financial Advisers Excellence Award
  • 2021 Independent Financial Advisers Client Outcome of the Year
  • 2020 Financial Planning Association Advice Innovation Award
  • 2020 Independent Financial Advisers Client Servicing Adviser of the Year

If you’d like to have a short, no-pressure chat you can book a call with us, contact us below or visit www.versewealth.com.au

Office
Hub Civic Quarter, Level 1, 68 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra

Contact: Ellie Fordham

Craig Phillips Canberra Financial Planner

Craig Phillips – Phillips Wealth Partners

Principle Advisor

As a senior financial planner, Craig Phillips is motivated to make a real difference to those who value advice by finding out what’s important to them, using his expertise and network to put a robust and workable plan in place and then providing the ongoing service to help you stay on track and achieve your goals.

Craig’s experience has awarded him recognition in the Financial Planning Association (FPA) of Australia planner of the year finalist two years running and a finalist in the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA), Great Advice Awards 2021. Craig is an aged care specialist, bringing experience over a broad range of services including a truly holistic and personalised approach to putting clients in a better position.

Craig has worked extensively in establishing and implementing investment portfolios, retirement planning, tax planning, pensions, social security, managed funds, direct equities, estate planning as well as all forms of superannuation including SMSFs, defined benefit funds and has a passion for ethical investing.

Phillips Wealth Partners  is privately owned and operated, with a transparent fee for service model and offer a comprehensive range of solutions, you can be comforted by the fact that our advice will be in your best interest.

We love turning the complex into simple, the scrambled into order and give you back the peace of mind that your financial world is under control and visible 24 x 7.

Multidisciplinary approach: 

To achieve your goals Phillips Wealth Partner work closely other trusted professionals from the accounting, legal, mortgage and real estate industries and others to ensure your needs are meet by firms and people who have your best interest at heart.

The clients we can add the most value to are:

Phillips Wealth Partners are specialists in aged care financial advice, retirement living and retirement planning.

Our skills include 

Phillips Wealth Partners are specialists in:

  • aged care financial advice,
  • retirement living and
  • retirement planning.

Our aged care specialists and retirement planning consultants help simplify the financial decisions of moving into an aged care home, retirement village or granny flat arrangement. Based in Canberra, and servicing clients Australia-wide, our team are dedicated to helping people plan for the next stage in life.

Visit my profile on Adviser Ratings

Read more about Craig and his team here.

Craig and his financial advising team look forward to discussing your goals when you request a meeting

Office
Level 4, 1 University Avenue, Canberra City ACT 2601

Contact: Craig Phillips

Russell Dew – Russell Dew Financial Services

  • B.Bus, Dip. Ap. Ec., DFP
  • Authorised Representative of Charter Financial Planning Pty Ltd
  • ASIC Number: 252541
  • Email: [email protected]
  • AXA Discovery Australian Planner of the Year 2007

Charter Financial Planning Limited, for which he is an Authorised Representative, has the expertise and commitment to help you achieve these goals by providing you with professional financial advice and ongoing service.

The Principal, Russell Dew, has the expertise of over 27 years experience in financial planning in Canberra.

Russell’s employees assist him within the planning process areas of:

  • plan preparation
  • administration support
  • technical analysis

His business has associations with Accountants, Solicitors, Mortgage Brokers and Share Brokers to cover other aspects of your financial planning.

Their Client Service Policy

  • To provide you with full financial advice to help you make balanced decisions in your own time without
    pressure.
  • To liaise with your accountant or solicitor as appropriate.
  • To recommend companies and products which have been thoroughly researched and are appropriate to your
    investment strategy.
  • To provide continuing service and regular reviews as well as holding ongoing seminar programs on major changes
    in the areas of investments, Centrelink benefits, taxation and superannuation.
  • Their aim is to educate and motivate you to achieve your financial goals.

Office
Unit 4, 46 Geils Court, Deakin ACT 2600

Contact: Russell Dew

Andrew Jones – HILLROSS FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED

I am the Practice Principal and partnered with Richard Navakas in October 2011.

I specialise in providing advice to high net worth individuals, in particular senior executives who are transitioning into retirement.

Qualifications & Memberships

  • Bachelor of Economics
  • Masters of Financial Planning
  • Certified Financial Planner
  • Diploma of Financial Planning
  • Member of the Financial Planning Association
  • Cancer Council Pro Bono Adviser

Areas of Expertise

  • Direct shares
  • Investments
  • Retirement
  • Self Managed Super Fund
  • Superannuation

I am the Practice Principal. I have been a Certified Financial Planner since 1998 and have worked in various management and technical roles for over 17 years.

I previously spent over 5 years working as a Senior Financial Planner within the Private Wealth division of Macquarie Bank and prior to this I managed the Sydney Financial Planning Team at the consulting firm, Watson Wyatt.

Coincidentally, my first ‘real’ job after finishing at ANU in the mid 1990’s was working as a paraplanner with Hillross in their Sydney head office.

My qualifications include a Bachelor of Economics from ANU and a Masters of Commerce from UWS in financial planning. I have lectured in Financial Planning at the University of Technology in Sydney and continue to be an active member of the Certified Financial Planners education taskforce.

I specialise in providing advice to high net worth individuals, in particular senior executives who are transitioning into retirement.

My main areas of expertise include self managed super funds and direct equity advice, as well as wealth creation, retirement planning and insurance.

I am a member of Mensa Australia and enjoy playing golf, other sports and keeping my young daughter Molly out of mischief.
Andrew’s ideas of Financial Freedom

My idea of Financial Freedom is to retire to the coast and play 3 games of golf per week.

Office
Level 3, AMP Building 1 Hobart Place, Canberra City, ACT 2601

 

Contact: Andrew Jones

Michael Radnedge – Assure Financial Services

Michael Radnedge has been a member of the financial services industry for over 17 years. Commencing in 2000, he has worked in a variety of roles within the financial advising sector in Canberra.

Michael holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Banking & Finance. He subsequently completed a Diploma of Financial Services in Financial Planning and joined the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) where he retains AFP membership status.

In 2006, financial planning firm Assure Financial Services was established, with an aim to provide quality advice on superannuation, investments, personal insurance and estate planning matters.

Conscious that many people receive advice from firms aligned to banking and other financial institutions, Assure Financial Services is licenced with Blue Ocean Financial Services Pty Ltd, one of Australia’s leading privately owned financial planning groups. As a Blue Ocean adviser, we are able to provide comprehensive and robust advice suiting the individual needs of our clients.

Michael seeks to provide clients with a positive experience when working on financial and strategic advice related matters, and frequently receives referrals from those for whom he has delivered outstanding service.

Michael is a Director of Assure Financial Services Pty Ltd, a financial planning practice that delivers strategic solutions to clients who are seeking financial advice on a fee for service basis.

Their focus is to deliver high quality service and advice on a fee for service basis, this means you only pay for the financial services you agree to receive.

Their services range across superannuation, investments and personal risk management as well as assisting as a facilitator on estate planning issues.

If you are seeking the delivery of superior strategy focused financial advice, Assure Financial Services is here to provide it.

Michael Radnedge and Assure Financial Services Pty Ltd trading as Assure Financial Services are Authorised Representatives of Blue Ocean Financial Services Pty Ltd AFSL 493361.

Office
11 London Circuit CANBERRA ACT 2601

Paul Zobonos – Manifest Financial Wealth

Manifest Financial Wealth Pty Ltd was established by Paul Zobonos, a 15 year veteran of the financial planning industry.

Paul, has demonstrated a long standing commitment to delivering a high level of service with integrity and technical expertise over his career. The secret to his success has been the ability to develop a deep understanding of his clients goals, tailoring solutions to achieve these goals and maintaining long standing relationships.

Paul is a Certified Financial Planner, the highest designation in financial planning in the world. A CFP designation requires a commitment to higher standards of education, ethics and professionalism than is required by law.

They aim to provide a high service standard no matter what your level of financial assets. This service standard is made possible due to scaleable back-office systems which have been developed in conjunction with their business partners.

Paul Zobonos is an Authorised Representative (AR No. 289322), and Manifest Financial Wealth Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative (AR No. 1237082) of HNW Planning Pty Ltd, AFSL 225216, ABN 42 083 745 055. You can view our privacy policy here, and our Financial Services Guide here.

Office
Suite 12, Birubi Chambers, Hawker Shops, 121 Hawker Place, HAWKER ACT 26014

Contact: Paul Zobonos

Trudy Heins – Wholistic Financial Services

Trudy has over 25 years’ experience in the financial services industry and is the Director and Senior Planner of our dedicated Financial Planning arm – Wholistic Financial Coaching.

Trudy is passionate about providing long-term quality and solid advice. She holds a Diploma in Financial Planning and is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). She also has specialist qualifications in Self-Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSFs) and Margin Lending.

Trudy came to WFC to establish our Queensland footprint and has become an integral part of our business. With part ownership in WFC she is committed to long term relationships and solutions with her clients. She prides herself in being able to explain investment and risk concepts in a “plain English fashion”. Trudy views that an ongoing client and adviser relationship is paramount for financial success.

Trudy specialises in retirement planning including Centrelink and Self-Managed Superannuation strategies. However, is well versed in all areas of “Wholistic” planning.
Trudy splits her time between Brisbane where she has grown children and three grandchildren and Canberra her hometown.

Office – 4/6 Pelle St, Mitchell

Contact: Trudy Heins

Sean Hammond – ASET Wealth Management

Executive Director/Senior Financial Advisor Canberra

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Commerce
  • Chartered Accountant (CA)
  • Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA)
  • Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning
  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
  • GAICD

Memberships

  • Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (FCA)
  • Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA)
  • SMSF Professionals’ Association of Australia

Sean was a partner of WalterTurnbull from 1997 to 2010. In June of 2010, following the merger of WalterTurnbull and PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sean and Alison Smith acquired the Financial Planning and Wealth Management Business that is known today as ASET Wealth Management.

Sean has over 28 years experience in Business Advisory, Wealth Management, Superannuation, Taxation and Consultancy for small to medium enterprises and individuals. Sean’s background as a practicing Chartered Accountant prior to becoming a Certified Financial Planner results in him being able to bring extensive taxation and business experience to the area of Financial Planning which benefits his clients in a broad range of areas.

Sean brings with him a degree of professionalism and expertise. He is very personable and charismatic whilst always taking the time to listen to others.

For Sean, rugby is a way of life. He was the Chairman of the ACT Brumbies from May 2005 until December 2014. He is a keen supporter of all sporting codes. He is married to Tanya and together they have 3 daughters; Tessa and twins Ruby and Matilda. Being the only male in a family with four girls has broadened Sean’s perspective on life and increased his repertoire of stories.

Office
Ground Floor, 39 Brisbane Ave, BARTON ACT 2600.

Contact: Sean Hammond – ASET Wealth Management

Jeremy Gillman-Wells – Invest Blue

Jeremy Gillman-Wells is a fully qualified and widely experienced Certified Financial Adviser. He is a regular guest speaker at investment forums, writes for investment magazines and provides a financial education program for Canberra schools.

Jeremy maintains a passionate concern for not only technical financial planning excellence, but honesty and transparency in the manner in which clients’ affairs are managed.

Adherence to this philosophy has won Jeremy the privilege of serving the needs of both individual and corporate business clients.

In 2007, Jeremy was recognised as a leader in retirement planning strategies and advice methodology by being named as the National Winner of the prestigious Financial Planning Association Award for Pre-Retirement Planning. The business has also won multiple other awards for financial planning excellence. In 2014, Jeremy was named the ACT Certified Financial Adviser of the Year.

Living in Canberra for over 25 years has also allowed Jeremy to develop a strong understanding of the needs of public service employees and their families, and a comprehensive knowledge of public service superannuation benefit schemes.

Jeremy is married to Joanna and they share their life outside the financial planning world with Reuben and Lilla on a 40 acre rural property.

Office
Level 1, 29 Bentham Street, Yarralumla, ACT 2600

Contact: Jeremy Gillman-Wells

Catherine Smith – Wholistic

Catherine has had over 20 years experience in Taxation, business, SMSF’s, finance and property investment. She holds an Accounting Degree and a Masters degree in Taxation and was recognised by the Certified Practitioners of Australia (CPA) Society as a ‘Specialist in Taxation’ in 2001. She spent 11 years with the Australian Taxation Office as a senior Audit manager and a Fraud Investigator

After leaving the ATO Catherine established an Accounting practice in Ulladulla in 2002 and then relocated the practice to Canberra in 2006. Catherine is a member of FBAA, a Fellow of the NTAA and a member of PIPA. She also holds a Diploma of Financial Planning, a Diploma of Mortgage Broking and Finance, a Diploma of Real Estate, a Masters Degree in Taxation and a Degree in Accounting. She is also a Justice of Peace and Certified Results and Master Results Coach.

Most importantly Catherine is a passionate Property investor. She bought her first property when she was 17 and has brought and sold over 20 properties in the last 20 years. She currently maintains a large property portfolio and has properties in ACT, NSW, Qld and Vic. She holds both residential and commercial properties and her aim is to retire to the coast and live financially independent through the capital growth on her property portfolio.

Catherine made many mistakes during her investing career and her main goal is to help her clients not make the same mistakes.

Along with a busy career, Catherine is raising four young children and knows the importance of children to our future.

Office
83/101 Lysaght St Mitchell ACT 2911 Australia

Contact: Catherine Smith

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT FINANCIAL ADVICE IN CANBERRA

The cost of a financial planner will vary depending on your financial situation and what tasks you want your advisor to perform. For example, are you looking for a complete holistic financial plan, or looking for advice on a specific situation or goal.

Most financial planners charge fixed prices depending on the service provided. There will generally be an upfront fee for the initial plan and strategy, and then an annual fee thereafter for regular reviews. According to the Financial Planning Association (FPA), the average initial set-up cost is around $3,300, and then around $4,300 per year for annual advice and maintenance. However, be sure to discuss fees with your financial planner up front, as some of them may have different fee structures.

The majority of the best financial advisors in Canberra are based in the inner north area, in and around the city centre. However, there are a number of financial planners who operate out of offices in the inner south, primarily in Barton and Kingston.

It’s worth noting, however, that many financial planners these days also offer virtual appointments, so it is worth reaching out even if your preferred financial advisor isn’t in a convenient location for you.

We have reviewed all of the financial advisors in Canberra to compile a list of the best financial planners. To determine our top ten planners, we assessed their qualifications, how long they have been advising, testimonials, and their track record of reviews on Google and Facebook. Only those that have consistent positive feedback have been included on our list of best financial planners in Canberra.

It’s important to find the right financial advisor for you, but it can be a complicated process as there are many different types of financial planners. If you are looking for a financial planner in Canberra, here are some things you might want to consider.

First, what qualifications, accreditations do they have? This does not necessarily make them the best financial planner for you, but at least you know that they’ve done the proper tests and registrations.

Second, what type of clients do they have and do they have any specialisations? This can help you determine if they have the relevant experience and expertise with your type of situation.

Finally, how is their communication? You need to know that you can have a free line of communication with them and that they will listen to your concerns and answer you questions in a timely manner. Ultimately, you need to be comfortable with your financial advisor.

Need financial planning advice in another area of Australia? Check out our recommended best financial planners in:

If you would prefer a female advisor, our list of the best women financial planners and advisors in Australia is a great resource.

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