Frequently Asked Questions

Independent financial advisers:

• Do not receive commissions or volume-based incentives.

• Are not owned by banks, insurers or investment providers.

• Are free to recommend products and strategies based on a client's needs.

• Must meet strict legal requirements before using the term "independent".

Only a small number of Australian financial advisers are legally permitted to describe themselves as independent.

For our clients, this means advice that is focused on their goals and circumstances, rather than product sales targets, commissions or institutional influences.

Yes. Finspire Advisers® operates under Catalpa Pty Ltd, holder of Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) 530665.

Our advisers, Christopher Keating Rickie Latimore and Luke Hill, are qualified financial professionals, registered with ASIC and members of the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA).

As independent financial advisers, we are committed to providing professional, ethical and client-focused advice, helping you make informed financial decisions with confidence.

Learn more: Choosing a financial adviser - Moneysmart.gov.au

We provide independent financial advice focused on your goals, not product sales.

Unlike many advice businesses, we are not owned by a bank, insurer or investment provider, and we do not receive commissions or product-based incentives.

We take a strategy-led approach, helping you understand your options and make confident decisions about retirement, superannuation, tax and your financial future.

Independence allows financial advice to be focused on your needs, not product sales.

As independent financial advisers, we do not receive commissions, are not influenced by sales targets and are not owned by a bank, insurer or investment provider.

This gives our clients confidence that our recommendations are based on what is right for them, not on commercial relationships or incentives.

We work with individuals and couples at all stages of life, but many of our clients are approaching retirement, transitioning into retirement or looking to make informed decisions about their superannuation, investments and tax position.

We also assist people receiving inheritances, managing defined benefit schemes, navigating Centrelink and making important financial decisions following major life events.

No.

We work with a broad range of clients and focus on whether we can add value to your situation. During an initial conversation, we'll discuss your circumstances, goals and objectives to determine whether our services are likely to benefit you.

Our advice is tailored to your needs, regardless of whether you're building wealth, preparing for retirement or already retired.

No.

Finspire Advisers works with clients across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, the Central Coast, Port Stephens, Maitland, Cessnock and the wider Hunter region. We also provide advice to clients throughout Australia via phone and video appointments.

Whether you prefer to meet in person, by phone or online, we can provide ongoing advice and support tailored to your needs.

Your initial appointment is complimentary and gives us the opportunity to get to know each other.

We'll take the time to understand what's important to you, discuss your goals and answer any questions you may have. We'll also explain how we work, outline the next steps and discuss whether our services are likely to add value to your situation.

There's no obligation to proceed. The meeting is simply an opportunity to determine whether we're the right fit and whether professional financial advice can help you achieve your goals.

Not much. Most importantly, bring any questions or concerns you'd like to discuss.

Your initial appointment is complimentary and designed to help us understand your situation and determine whether we're the right fit for each other.

If available, it can be helpful to bring:

• Recent superannuation statements

• A recent payslip

• Investment or portfolio statements

• Information about any insurance policies

• Details of pensions or Centrelink benefits

• Information about loans or other debts

• A list of your assets and liabilities

• Any questions, goals or concerns you'd like to discuss

Don't worry if you don't have everything organised. The purpose of the first meeting is to understand your circumstances and identify how we may be able to help. We can let you know what information might be needed if you decide to proceed.

No.

Many clients continue using their existing superannuation funds, investments and insurance arrangements.

Before recommending any changes, we review what you already have and determine whether it remains appropriate for your needs and objectives.

As independent financial advisers, we only recommend changes where we believe they may improve your outcome.

The cost of financial advice depends on your circumstances, the complexity of the advice and the services you require.

Your initial appointment is complimentary. It gives us the opportunity to understand your goals and circumstances, discuss what you’re looking to achieve and determine whether we can help.

If we believe we can add value, we’ll explain the advice we recommend, what’s included in your engagement and the fee before you decide whether to proceed.

We work with clients through a 12-month engagement for an agreed fee. You’re appointing Finspire Advisers as your financial planner for that period, rather than simply paying for a meeting or a Statement of Advice.

There is no obligation to proceed.

As a fee-for-service business, our fees are transparent, agreed upfront and not influenced by commissions or product sales.

We understand that how and when you pay for financial advice can be an important consideration.

There are a number of ways your advice fee may be paid, depending on your circumstances and the advice we’re providing. This may include paying personally, from an investment account, or in some circumstances from your superannuation account where permitted. Sometimes a combination of payment methods may be appropriate.

For new clients, your advice fee is agreed upfront and is payable after we have prepared and presented your advice. For any future 12-month engagement, we’ll agree on the scope and fee with you first, with the invoice issued at your planning meeting.

We’ll talk you through the payment options, so you understand what the fee covers, when it will be payable and how it can be paid.

Where part of your advice fee may be tax deductible, we’ll work with your tax agent to help determine any applicable deduction and provide the information needed to support their assessment.

During your engagement, you're welcome to contact your financial planner as questions arise in relation to your agreed scope of advice.

Meetings can be held in person, over the phone or virtually, whichever suits you best.

Every client is different, but a typical financial planning journey may include:

Introduction - Getting to know you, your goals and what's important to you.

Discovery - Understanding your financial position, objectives and circumstances.

Options - Exploring strategies and opportunities that may help you achieve your goals.

Advice - Presenting recommendations and explaining them in plain English.

Implementation - Putting agreed strategies into place and coordinating any required actions.

Planning Support - Helping you implement your advice, respond to changes and stay on track throughout your engagement.

Our role is to provide ongoing support and guidance, helping you make informed financial decisions with confidence as your life evolves.

That’s quite common. You may be looking for help with one particular decision, such as when to retire, what to do with an inheritance, whether to invest, or how to make the most of your super.

That doesn’t mean we need to advise on every aspect of your finances. Your advice can be scoped around the areas that are important to you.

However, Finspire doesn’t generally provide financial advice through hourly or one-off consultations. Our approach is to work with clients as their financial planner through a defined 12-month engagement.

You’re not simply paying for a meeting or a Statement of Advice. You’re appointing Finspire as your financial planner for that period, giving you someone you can come back to for advice and guidance as you work through the financial decisions covered by your agreed scope.

We believe financial planning works best as a relationship rather than a one-off transaction.

Financial decisions don’t always happen at once. Questions arise, circumstances change and new opportunities can emerge.

Our 12-month engagement gives us time to understand your goals and circumstances, provide the agreed advice, help you put it into action where required, and remain available for questions and decisions relating to your agreed scope.

For many clients, the value is not simply receiving advice. It’s knowing they have a financial planner they can contact as financial decisions arise.

No. A Statement of Advice may form part of the advice process where required, but it isn’t the service itself.

Your fee relates to the advice, work and support included in your agreed engagement.

Depending on your circumstances, this may include understanding your goals and financial position, financial modelling, developing personalised strategies and recommendations, preparing and presenting advice, helping with implementation and supporting you throughout the engagement.

You’re appointing a financial planner, not simply purchasing an advice document.

Generally, no.

Finspire’s approach is to work with clients as their financial planner rather than provide transactional or hourly financial advice.

Your advice can still be focused on the areas that are important to you, but we generally provide that advice as part of a defined 12-month engagement.

Talk to us.

Life rarely goes exactly to plan. If something changes during the year and relates to your agreed scope, we’re available to help you work through it.

If the change creates an advice need outside your existing scope, we’ll discuss the options with you first. This may involve additional advice, a separate engagement or, where appropriate, a referral to another professional.

Any additional fees will be discussed and agreed before additional work is undertaken.

Towards the end of your engagement, we’ll review your progress, revisit your goals and discuss any opportunities, changes or advice needs for the year ahead.

If further financial planning would be valuable, we’ll provide a proposed scope of work and fixed advice fee for you to consider.

There is no obligation to continue. Each engagement is separately discussed and agreed based on your circumstances and advice needs at the time.

Yes. Finspire Advisers does not receive commissions or product-based incentives.

We do not sell financial products or have sales targets. Our recommendations are based on your goals, circumstances and what we believe is in your best interests.

Where appropriate, we can convert commission-paying insurance policies to a fee-for-service arrangement to ensure our advice remains aligned with our independence principles.

As independent financial advisers, we're free to recommend from a broad range of superannuation funds, investment providers and insurance companies without being influenced by commissions or commercial relationships.

We are strategy-led, not product driven.

Our first step is understanding your goals, circumstances and what matters most to you. Before recommending any changes, we review your existing superannuation, investments and insurance arrangements to determine whether they continue to meet your needs.

If your current products remain appropriate, we may recommend keeping them. Where alternative solutions may provide a better outcome, we research and compare a broad range of options before presenting our recommendations.

As independent financial advisers, we are not restricted to a limited list of products and are free to recommend solutions that align with your objectives.

Our focus is always on finding the right strategy first, then selecting products that support that strategy.

Yes.

We start by reviewing what you already have. If your current super fund, investments or insurance arrangements remain appropriate, we may recommend keeping them.

Where changes could improve your outcomes, we'll explain your options and provide recommendations tailored to your circumstances.

As independent financial advisers, our focus is on finding the right strategy for you, not changing products unnecessarily.

Yes.

We regularly work with members of industry funds, retail funds and defined benefit schemes across Australia.

This includes funds such as AustralianSuper, Australian Retirement Trust, Aware Super, UniSuper, HESTA, Hostplus, Cbus, Rest, Vanguard Super, Colonial First State and many others.

We also assist members of defined benefit schemes including State Super (SSS, SASS and Police Super), CSS, PSS, EISS and Military Super (MSBS).

Before recommending any changes, we review your existing superannuation arrangements to determine whether they continue to meet your needs and objectives. In many cases, there may be no need to change funds at all.

As independent financial advisers, our focus is on helping you make informed decisions about your super, regardless of which fund you're invested in.

We take a collaborative approach to financial decision-making.

We'll explain your options, discuss the opportunities and trade-offs, and provide clear recommendations tailored to your circumstances. Our role is to help you understand your choices and make informed decisions with confidence.

While we provide guidance and advice, the final decisions are always yours.

Your superannuation can make a significant difference to your retirement lifestyle. Getting the right advice can help you avoid costly mistakes, reduce unnecessary fees and make the most of the opportunities available to you.

At Finspire Advisers, we provide independent advice on superannuation, investments, contributions and retirement income strategies. We help you understand your options and make confident decisions about one of your most important financial assets.

Short Answer

There isn't a one-size-fits-all answer.

Retirement isn't about reaching a magic number. It's about understanding the lifestyle you want, the resources available to you, and how confident you can be that your income will support the life you want to live.

For some people, retirement may be possible sooner than they think. For others, a few small changes today could make a significant difference to their future.

The real value comes from understanding where you stand, exploring your options and making informed decisions with confidence.

The Better Question

Rather than asking "Can I afford to retire?", it can be more helpful to ask:

• What does retirement look like for me?

• How much income will I need?

• How long will my money need to last?

• What role will the Age Pension play?

• What are my options if I'm not quite ready to stop work?

Let's Explore Your Options

Retirement planning begins with understanding.

The Short Answer

The right retirement date is different for everyone.

Some people choose to retire as soon as they reach financial independence, while others continue working because they enjoy it or want additional flexibility.

The key is understanding how your retirement date impacts your income, lifestyle and long-term financial security.

The Better Question

Instead of focusing on a specific age, consider:

• What retirement lifestyle am I aiming for?

• Would a phased retirement suit me?

• What would retiring earlier or later mean financially?

• How much flexibility do I want?

Let's Explore Your Options

Understanding the trade-offs can help you make a confident decision.

The Short Answer

Possibly, but it depends on how much you spend, how your investments perform, and how long your retirement lasts.

Many Australians underestimate how long retirement may be.

A retirement lasting 25 to 35 years is no longer unusual.

The Better Question

Rather than asking whether your super will last, ask:

• How much income can I safely draw?

• What happens if markets fall?

• What role could the Age Pension play?

• How can I improve the longevity of my savings?

Let's Explore Your Options

Understanding your retirement income options can provide greater certainty.

The Short Answer

There is no universal target.

The amount you need depends on:

• Your lifestyle expectations

• Home ownership

• Expected retirement age

• Other investments

• Age Pension eligibility

The Better Question

Instead of focusing on a specific balance, ask:

• What income do I want in retirement?

• What assets do I already have?

• How much flexibility do I need?

Let's Explore Your Options

Retirement planning is about understanding your future income needs, not chasing arbitrary numbers.