Ask what a financial advisor costs and the usual answer is a vague “it depends”. That is little help when you are trying to budget. You want a number you can work with.
Here is the honest version. The price rests on one simple thing: how much help you want once your plan is written. Some people want a plan and nothing more. Others want a hand on the wheel for years. This guide sets out what you pay for the plan itself and how the cost shifts as you add support.
What Does a Financial Advisor Cost in Australia?
A one-off financial plan is the foundation, and it generally costs $3,000 to $4,000 plus GST. That single fee buys a complete strategy built around your goals. From there, the total depends on how much ongoing help you want. Run the plan yourself and you pay for the plan alone. Add implementation, reviews and year-round support and the price rises to match the extra work.
| What you pay for | Cost |
| The financial plan | $3,000 to $4,000 plus GST |
| Ongoing support | Priced on the level you choose |
In short, there is no single sticker price for financial advice. There is a plan fee, and then a level of service you pick on top of it.
What the One-Off Financial Plan Covers
The financial plan is the piece everything else builds on, and for many people it is all they need. For $3,000 to $4,000 plus GST, a complete plan usually includes:
- A twelve-month financial plan mapped to your goals
- Modelling and projections that show where your current path leads
- Clear recommendations across super, tax, investments and cash flow
- A written Statement of Advice setting out the strategy and the reasoning behind it
This is the advice-only option. It suits people with solid financial know-how who are happy to put the plan into action themselves. You get expert direction and a documented strategy, then carry it out at your own pace. Strong on guidance, light on hand-holding.
How the Cost Scales With the Support You Choose
Beyond the plan itself, financial advice works as a set of service levels. Each step up adds more of the advisor’s time, and that is what moves the price. The table below shows how the levels build on one another, from advice only through to full management.
Read from the lightest option to the fullest, the support grows like this:
- Advice only: You receive the plan and once-off modelling, then manage everything yourself.
- Advice and review: The plan comes with a yearly review and refreshed modelling, so you can adjust as your situation changes while still running things day to day.
- Advice and action: The advisor helps put your strategy in place, with implementation handled in the first few months, then hands day-to-day management back to you.
- Ongoing partnership: You get implementation, unlimited support and changes to your advice, plus an annual review. This fits people who want a long-term working relationship with steady fine-tuning.
- Full management: The top level adds priority support for complex or urgent needs and quarterly analysis on top of everything above, for people who want their strategy watched closely all year.
Each step adds work for the advisor, and the fee reflects it. The plan fee stays the anchor. What you pay above it depends on how far along this scale you want to sit.
Which Level of Support Fits You
The right level comes down to three things: how confident you are with money, how much time you can give it, and how involved your finances are.
- If you have strong financial knowledge and prefer to self-manage, the plan on its own is usually enough.
- If you can act on a plan yourself but want the reassurance of regular reviews, a level with annual check-ins fits well.
- If you want expert setup before you take the reins, look for a level that includes implementation.
- If your situation is involved or fast-moving, or you simply want a long-term partnership, the fuller service levels earn their fee through ongoing oversight.
Matching the level to your needs is how you avoid paying for support you will not use, or skimping on help you actually want.
What Else Affects the Price
Two people at the same service level can still receive different quotes. A few things explain the gap.
- Complexity of your finances: Several properties, a business, a family trust or a self-managed super fund all add work, and the fee reflects it.
- Scope of the advice: A plan built around one goal costs less than a full strategy spanning retirement, tax, investments and estate planning.
- Experience of the advisor: Senior planners with specialist accreditation tend to charge more than newer ones.
- Where you are: City practices often sit above regional offices, though online advice has narrowed that gap.
These factors sit underneath every quote. They are the reason a plan fee lands where it does within its range, and why one situation costs more to advise on than another.
Can You Claim Financial Advice on Tax?
Some financial advice fees are tax deductible, but not all, and the rules were updated recently. The ATO’s 2024 determination (TD 2024/7) draws the line based on what the advice is for.
- Upfront advice, such as a first-time plan or setting up a new investment, is generally not deductible. The ATO treats it as a capital cost incurred too early to claim.
- Ongoing advice tied to producing income, like managing an existing investment portfolio, is generally deductible.
- Advice about managing your tax affairs, such as certain super or capital gains strategies, may be deductible under a separate provision.
Because deductibility depends on the type of advice and the paperwork behind it, keep your itemised invoice and check with your accountant before you claim. This is general information, not tax advice for your circumstances.
Get a Price Built Around the Help You Need
You should not have to guess what advice will cost or which level of support suits you. Silverloom Advisory sets it out plainly, with flexible advice options that run from a one-off plan through to full ongoing management. Share your situation in an upfront consultation and walk away knowing exactly what your financial advice would cost and what it would deliver.
FAQs
How do financial advisors charge in Australia?
Most charge a flat fee for the plan, so you know the price before any work starts. Advisors can no longer earn commissions on investment or super advice, which is why fixed pricing is now the norm. Ongoing help is usually a set fee based on the level of service you choose rather than a cut of your balance.
Do I have to pay for ongoing advice after a one-off plan?
No. A one-off plan is a complete strategy you can act on yourself, and plenty of people do exactly that. Ongoing support is optional, and you can add it later if your situation changes or you decide you would rather have a hand on the plan.
Are financial advisor fees worth it?
For many people, yes. A good advisor can trim your tax bill, sharpen your super strategy and steer you clear of costly mistakes, and the plan often pays for itself within the first year or two through better structuring alone. The honest test is whether the cost of getting it wrong on your own is higher than the fee.
Can I get lower-cost advice through my super fund?
Often, yes. Many super funds offer simple advice about your super account, sometimes at no extra cost or for a small fee. The catch is that it only covers your fund, so it suits a single super question rather than a full strategy across your whole financial position.
How often should I review my financial plan?
At least once a year, and sooner if your circumstances shift. A new job, a property purchase, an inheritance or approaching retirement can all change what your plan should do, so a yearly review keeps the strategy in step with your life.