Be Finspired.

Your Trusted Financial Planners in Newcastle

Independent Financial Planners servicing Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens and the Hunter Valley.

🗝Our Mission

To be Australia’s trusted Independent Financial Planners, empowering everyday Australians to achieve their financial goals with confidence.

We provide holistic, fee for service financial advice— No Commissions, No Hidden Fees, No Pressure. Our services include retirement planning, investment advice, superannuation strategies, life insurance and specialist advice on defined benefit schemes, all tailored to your unique goals and objectives.

Whether you're planning for retirement, growing your wealth, or seeking financial clarity, we’re with you every step of the way.

We offer appointments in person at our Lake Macquarie office, at your home, or virtually anywhere in Australia.

🌟 Our Vision

To be the most trusted financial planners for everyday Australians—including professionals, business owners, and public sector employees—by delivering high-quality, independent financial planning with complete transparency.

We operate on a fee-for-service basis: No Commissions, No Hidden Fees—just honest, personalised advice. Our vision is to empower our clients to make confident, informed financial decisions through long-term relationships, expert guidance, and genuine support.

We are committed to fostering lasting financial well-being, helping our clients navigate life’s key milestones—retirement, marriage, buying a home, starting a family, and enjoying time with children and grandchildren.

🤝 Our Promise to You

We promise to put your financial wellbeing first—always.

Your journey begins with a complimentary initial appointment, where we take the time to understand your goals, values, and concerns.

We’re committed to delivering a personalised financial plan that’s easy to understand and tailored to your circumstances. Our goal is to ensure you feel informed, supported, and confident every step of the way. Because your success is our success.

💼 Why Choose Us?

✨Independent Advice: Strategy-led, not product driven.

✅ Fee-for-Service Only: Transparent, fixed-fee advice—no commissions, no hidden fees, no pressure.

🤝 We Partner With Your Product: We work with your existing super fund, investment products or insurance provider where possible. No pressure to switch unless it benefits you.

📍 Local & National Reach: Based in Lake Macquarie, we offer in-person appointments locally and virtual services Australia-wide.

🎯 Holistic, Goal-Driven Planning: We focus on your life goals, not just your finances—delivering tailored strategies for retirement, wealth creation, and financial clarity.

Meet our team

Independent Financial Adviser Newcastle

  • Born and raised in Lake Macquarie, Chris is a trusted financial planner with over 14 years of experience helping individuals and families achieve financial freedom. He specialises in retirement planning, defined benefit schemes, and wealth creation strategies tailored to clients in Newcastle, Maitland, Cessnock, Port Stephens, and surrounding areas.

    Chris began his career in financial services in 2008 and has since held key roles at Aware Super, StatePlus Financial Services and JSA Group, where he developed deep expertise in pre-retirement and retirement planning. He is a leading adviser on defined benefit schemes, including SSS, SASS, CSS, PSS, Local Government Super (Active Super) and Military Super including MSBS and DFRDB.

    With a background in asset consulting and strategic financial roles, Chris brings a holistic approach to financial planning. He believes that great financial advice starts with empathy, trust, and understanding, and he takes pride in helping clients turn their goals into achievable plans.

    Chris holds a Bachelor of Finance from the University of Newcastle, an Advanced Diploma in Financial Services (Financial Planning), and a Certificate IV in Mortgage and Finance. He is an Associate Financial Planner and proud member of the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA).

    Outside of work, Chris enjoys an active lifestyle with his wife and three daughters in Lake Macquarie. Whether it’s travel, camping, bushwalking, or cheering at Netball and Athletics, family time is always a priority, often joined by their adventurous family dog.

    If you're looking for a financial planner in Lake Macquarie or Newcastle who combines deep technical knowledge with genuine care, Chris is here to help you plan with confidence.

Independent Financial Adviser Newcastle

  • Rickie Latimore & Chris Keating founded Finspire Advisers because they recognized the value of a transparent advice model and its benefits for clients. We realised that Independent Financial Planning was not accessible to everyday Australians.

    Since starting Finspire, Rickie has witnessed firsthand the positive impact of Independent Financial Planning on clients’ financial well-being and happiness. Clients know exactly what they are paying for and what they are receiving, which fosters trust and clarity.

    Unlike many financial planners, Rickie is paid solely by his clients for the services he provides. There is no hidden fees or commissions. What you see is what you get.

    Rickie is a proud Independent Financial Planner with over 10 years of experience in helping clients achieve their financial goals. He has developed a passion for guiding clients through their financial journeys at any stage of life, from buying their first home to preparing for retirement. Rickie provides the expertise to make informed decisions, ensuring clients have the confidence to spend wisely and sustain their future plans.

    Rickie is committed to delivering unbiased, Independent Financial Planning to the people of the Hunter region and throughout Australia. He sets a new standard for transparency and integrity in financial planning.

    Rickie’s investment philosophy is simple: keep it straightforward, focus on high-quality investments, and reduce complexities. He believes life is too complicated to be worrying about your investments every day. This approach helps clients achieve their financial goals without unnecessary stress.

    Rickie is a family man. Growing up on a Farm in Taree, building his career in Newcastle, Rickie now resides in Valentine, Lake Macquarie with his loving family. On weekends, you can find him spending quality time with his wife and kids and driving his four boys to and from their sporting events.

    Rickie holds a Graduate Diploma in Finance, a Graduate Certificate in Finance, a Graduate Certificate in Finance, and a Diploma of Financial Planning.

    I would love to have a chat with you over the phone to discuss your financial goals.

    Please contact me today for a complimentary appointment.

    Email rick@finspire.com.au or call us on 02 4072 4450.

Independent Financial Adviser Newcastle

  • Rachel has been working in the financial planning industry since 2016. Before joining the team, she worked mainly as a Paraplanner, but also assisting in all aspect of the advice process. Now, she works mostly in the background to help ensure that the plans our financial advisers put into place come to life for our clients. Her current role as Practice Manager, sees her working with third party product providers to implement the advice that Rick and Chris provide. In addition to this, she also works as our Paraplanner, writing advice documents for our advisers to present to their clients.

    Rachel grew up in Western Sydney and moved to the Hunter Valley at the end of 2013 to be with her then partner, and now husband. Together, they have two beautiful daughters with whom they love spending time outdoors and travelling in their caravan.

    Rachel holds a Bachelor of Business and Commerce and an Advanced Diploma of Paraplanning.

Independent Financial Adviser Newcastle

  • Judit has worked in various roles from client service officer to financial planner in a public sector super for over a decade. She has gained a wealth of knowledge working with clients, assisting them achieving their retirement goals. 

    Currently working with Rick and Chris as a Client Service Officer, which she particularly enjoys and finds refreshing being involved in their clients’ implementation and most of the back-office tasks.  Judit lives in Lake Macquarie Bonnells Bay with her daughter and husband and has a Hungarian background. Enjoys boating and camping, has a passion for anything travel.  Holds a Bachelor in Business and Economics, Diploma in Financial Services, Advance Diploma in Financial Planning and Masters in Financial Planning, she is a member of the Financial Advice Association Australia.

  • Angela has worked in the superannuation industry for over 20 years. She has worked in various roles from an administrator to business analyst and project manager. Angela has an extensive knowledge of superannuation, retirement pensions and defined benefits.

    Angela is currently working as a Client Service Officer and Paraplanner and loves working for Independent Financial Planners who have their clients’ best interests as their sole focus.  Angela enjoys seeing clients’ goals become a reality, whilst working with an amazing team of people.

    Angela grew up on a dairy farm in Gloucester and now lives in Valentine with her family. She loves spending time relaxing back on the family farm in the fresh country air, letting her children experience a love of animals, adventure and wide-open spaces.

    Angela holds a Bachelor of Commerce and an Advanced Diploma of Business Administration.