Frequently asked questions

Most of the people I work with are in their 50s or early 60s, often professionals or business owners, who want to know whether they’re on track for retirement and what it will take to get there. I also help people who have already retired and would like a second opinion or a more reliable income. If you’re not sure whether I’m the right fit, the free 20-minute call is the easiest way to find out.

Not at all. I meet clients by video from anywhere in Australia, and many of my clients have never visited the office. If you’re local and prefer to meet face to face, you’re very welcome to come in to my office in Ringwood.

It’s a relaxed conversation, by phone or video, about what’s prompted you to look for advice, how I work and what it would cost. It’s a chance for us both to see whether we’re a good fit. I won’t give advice in this call, and there’s no obligation to go any further. Book a free call.

Before we meet, I’ll send you a short list of what’s helpful to have on hand, such as recent super and investment statements and a rough idea of what you spend. Don’t worry if you don’t have everything; we can fill in the gaps together, and working out your spending is something I help with as part of the process.

The 20-minute call is free, and the two-hour initial consultation is $440, which comes off your plan fee in full if you go ahead. Initial plans range from $3,600 to $17,600 depending on how much the plan needs to cover, and ongoing advice, if you want it, is a fixed annual fee. Every fee is agreed with you in writing before work starts. You’ll find examples on the fees page.

In Australia, an adviser can only call themselves independent if, in broad terms, they receive no commissions, no payments linked to the amount of business placed with a product provider, no gifts or benefits from product providers, and have no ownership ties to them. I meet that test. It means the only thing I’m paid is the fee you agree to, and my recommendations aren’t influenced by any product. You can read more on the About page.

In some cases, part of the fee for advice about your super can be paid from your super fund. Whether that’s possible, and whether it’s a good idea for you, depends on your fund and the advice involved. We’ll talk it through when we agree your fee, and you can always choose to pay directly.

Not necessarily. Because I’m not tied to any product, I’m just as happy to recommend keeping what you have when it’s working well. Where I do recommend a change, I’ll explain why, what it costs and what you’d gain, so you can decide with confidence.

It’s the written plan I prepare for you. It sets out your situation and goals, my recommendations, the reasons for them, and any costs or risks involved. It’s a legal document, but I write it to be read, and I’m always happy to talk through anything that isn’t clear.

Ongoing advice is entirely optional. If you choose it, we’ll agree a review schedule that suits you, I’ll keep an eye on your plan and investments as your life and the rules change, and you can contact me directly in between. It’s a fixed annual fee, and you can stop at any time.

Yes, gladly. Good advice often involves your accountant, your lawyer or both, and with your permission I’ll work alongside them so everything fits together. If you need someone, I can suggest professionals I trust; I don’t accept payments for referrals.

Absolutely. Many people come to me after they’ve stopped work, wanting a second opinion, a more reliable income or help with the Age Pension and estate planning. It’s never too late to make sure your plan is working as well as it can.

It depends mostly on what you’ll spend, which is why that’s where I start. Rules of thumb can be a long way off for any individual household. If you’d like a feel for the numbers before we talk, the Retirement Spending Planner shows what your retirement might cost year by year.

For most people today, super can be accessed from age 60 once you retire, from 60 if you leave an employer after turning 60, or from 65 whether or not you’re still working. There are some other limited circumstances too. The right time to start drawing on it, and how, is part of every retirement plan I prepare.

The Age Pension is available from age 67, subject to an income test and an assets test. Many people who don’t qualify when they first retire become eligible later as their savings are drawn down. I’ll factor it into your plan, now and in future years.

Your information is handled in line with my Privacy Policy. Please don’t send account numbers or identity documents through the website contact form; once we’re working together, I’ll give you a secure way to share documents.

I’d always like to hear about it first, so I can put things right. My Complaint Handling Policy explains how to raise a concern, and if you’re not satisfied with my response you can take it to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), a free, independent service.