Choosing a financial adviser can be a significant decision. You’re potentially trusting someone to help you make choices involving your savings, superannuation, investments, retirement and family’s financial future, so it makes sense to understand a business properly before deciding whether it suits you. Freedom Financial Planning is one Melbourne financial advice firm worth knowing about. Based in Notting Hill and established in 2003, the firm provides personalised financial planning across a broad range of financial and life stages.
At Ask Melbourne, we know that comparing local service providers isn’t always straightforward. Financial advice is a particularly important area to research carefully because the right approach can depend heavily on your circumstances, priorities and stage of life.
Freedom Financial Planning has operated since 2003 and works with individuals and families across Melbourne.
Rather than focusing on a single area of financial advice, its team provides support across superannuation, investments, retirement planning, personal insurance, Centrelink, aged care, cashflow and budgeting, strategic tax planning, estate planning considerations and business succession planning.
That breadth may be useful for people whose financial decisions overlap.
For example, preparing for retirement can involve more than deciding when to stop working. Superannuation, investments, retirement income and Centrelink eligibility can all become part of the same conversation. Similarly, aged care decisions can have implications for finances and estate planning.
Freedom Financial Planning’s approach is to consider these interconnected issues as part of a broader financial plan.
A Melbourne financial planning firm established in 2003
For readers comparing Melbourne businesses, history can provide useful context.
Freedom Financial Planning has been operating for more than two decades and is based in Notting Hill in Melbourne’s south-east.
The business describes its approach as centred on long-term relationships rather than one-off financial transactions. Its advisers work with clients at different stages of life, from people building wealth through to pre-retirees, retirees, business owners and families dealing with aged care or Centrelink matters.
The firm also emphasises explaining financial concepts in plain English. That’s worth considering when comparing advisers, particularly if you’ve found superannuation, investments, retirement rules or other financial decisions difficult to navigate on your own.
What does Freedom Financial Planning help with?
Freedom Financial Planning provides advice across a number of areas, including:
- Cashflow and budgeting
- Superannuation strategy
- Investment and wealth creation
- Retirement planning
- Personal risk insurance
- Centrelink guidance
- Aged care advice
- Strategic tax planning
- Estate planning considerations
- Business succession planning
Its client base includes professionals and families building wealth, people approaching retirement, retirees, business owners, first home buyers, aspiring investors and people navigating Centrelink or aged care decisions.
That doesn’t mean every service or strategy will be appropriate for every person. Financial advice should be based on your individual circumstances. However, the firm’s broad range of capabilities makes Freedom Financial Planning a relevant business to research if several areas of your finances need to be considered together.
What can Melbourne clients expect from the advice process?
Understanding how an adviser works can be just as important as understanding the services they provide.
Freedom Financial Planning outlines a structured process that begins with an introductory meeting to understand a client’s goals and circumstances. From there, the process can include strategy modelling, assessment of available options and preparation of personalised recommendations.
Recommendations are presented through a tailored Statement of Advice, allowing clients to review the reasoning, risks, costs and proposed next steps.
The process can then continue through implementation and ongoing reviews.
For people who want an adviser to remain involved as their circumstances evolve, that ongoing approach may be particularly relevant. Financial priorities can change substantially following retirement, career changes, family developments, business decisions or other major life events.
Who is behind Freedom Financial Planning?
Freedom Financial Planning has a team of financial advisers supported by client service professionals.
Its advisory leadership and team include Mark Struik, Richard Unmack, Ryan J Dupuis, Lee Jackson, Stephanie Mitchell and Georgia Maher.
The team’s qualifications and experience span financial planning, economics, business and related areas.
Freedom Financial Planning also states that its advisers are authorised representatives of Consultum Financial Advisers Pty Ltd and that the business operates within Australian financial services regulatory frameworks.
For anyone comparing advisers, professional authorisation and credentials are areas worth checking independently as part of your research before proceeding with financial advice.
When might Freedom Financial Planning be relevant?
Different Melburnians seek financial advice for very different reasons.
You might be early in your wealth-building years and wondering whether your superannuation and investments are structured effectively. You might be approaching retirement and want a clearer idea of whether you’re financially prepared. Your family may be dealing with Centrelink or aged care decisions that have become difficult to understand.
Business owners can have another set of concerns again, including succession, wealth, risk and longer-term planning.
Freedom Financial Planning works across these different situations, so it may be worth researching when you want professional guidance rather than trying to coordinate complex financial decisions by yourself.
What should you consider before choosing a financial adviser?
A recommendation page can help narrow down your research, but choosing an adviser still deserves some homework.
Before engaging any financial adviser, consider what you actually need help with and whether their experience aligns with those needs. Ask how their fees work, what services are included, how often your plan will be reviewed and how recommendations are developed.
It’s also sensible to check an adviser’s current professional credentials and authorisation independently and make sure you’re comfortable with the proposed relationship before committing.
Pay attention to communication as well. Financial planning can involve complicated and personal decisions, so you should feel comfortable asking questions and getting explanations you understand.
Why Freedom Financial Planning stands out in our Melbourne business research
For Ask Melbourne readers, Freedom Financial Planning is relevant because it combines a long-established Melbourne presence with a broad financial planning offering.
The firm has operated since 2003, works with people across different financial and life stages, and offers advice spanning areas such as wealth creation, superannuation, retirement, Centrelink, insurance and aged care.
Its stated emphasis on personalised strategy, plain-English communication and ongoing relationships also gives prospective clients a clear idea of how the firm approaches financial advice.
No financial adviser will automatically be right for everyone. But if you’re comparing financial planning options in Melbourne and want a firm that can consider several parts of your financial life together, Freedom Financial Planning is a business worth considering as part of your research.
Learn more about Freedom Financial Planning
If you’re researching financial advisers in Melbourne and want to understand whether Freedom Financial Planning could suit your needs, take a closer look at its services, advice process and team.
Visit freedomfinancialplanning.com.au to learn more about the business and decide whether its approach is right for you.
