Financial
Roadmap
A clear, personalised path to your financial goals.
23 November, 2021
Do I need a financial adviser?
First Financial Team
Your money is important. You work hard to earn it and you need to make sure that it is going to support your lifestyle and help you achieve your goals. Seeking professional advice can be beneficial when you want to maximise your wealth building opportunities, and this is when you might ask yourself, ‘Do I need a financial adviser?’
No matter your age or your personal situation, a financial adviser can help you put plans in place and provide you with fundamental guidance on how to secure your financial future.
“Financial peace of mind doesn’t just happen… it takes planning, it takes long-term commitment and starting too late usually means either you’ll do something silly, take shortcuts that can end in disaster… or you just won’t get to where you thought you would.” ~ Ben Rossi, Principal and Managing Director.
Today we discuss exactly how a financial adviser can help you.
What does a financial adviser do?
Essentially, a financial adviser – or financial planner – provides professional advice about wealth management and personal monetary matters. They can help you make decisions about specific aspects of your finances, such as superannuation, retirement planning or investment management.
They create a unique strategy that aligns with your personal financial goals. And this strategy becomes a path for you to follow… you need to stick to the plan for it to succeed, but your adviser is there to help you feel confident about the process and keep you on track.
Some of the most common tasks a financial adviser undertakes include:
- Assessing your current financial position and helping you set specific goals
- Developing a detailed plan that focuses on areas such as preparation for retirement, growing investments, managing superannuation, personal insurances or effective tax minimisation
- Offering advice relating to financial issues that can occur such as loss of income, divorce or death of a partner
- Setting up investment portfolios and managing your assets.
Grow your wealth, plan for the future
Building wealth is something everyone can achieve if they start early enough and use a systematic, structured approach. Many people believe that to see a financial adviser you need to already have a significant amount of money… but the truth is, you just need to get started.
Implementing a well devised plan will set you on the pathway to wealth and can help you feel confident about your financial future.
Understanding your spending requirements will highlight areas that you can save and once you do start saving you need to make sure you utilise those funds effectively. A financial adviser can help identify opportunities to maximise asset growth.
Find the right combination of assets
The other area where a financial adviser can be extremely helpful is in determining the most appropriate combination of assets for your needs. If you want to develop an investment portfolio, you need to be mindful of protecting your wealth while also targeting growth.
High yield investments might sound great but there could also be significant risk involved. A professional adviser should talk to you about your circumstances and your attitude to risk to make sure you are comfortable with the selected asset classes and build a suitably diversified portfolio for you.
Achieve peace of mind
Ideally, your financial adviser will get to know you very well. They will be aware of your goals and they will have the ability to give you truly personalised advice.
When you are worried about something, they’ll be there to provide you with an ear to listen and with professional advice appropriate for your unique situation. They’ll act as a sounding board and respond in a way that resonates with you and is relevant to your financial position. This kind of peace of mind is invaluable in times of uncertainty.
Speak to our team of professionals
Here at First Financial, we believe it’s important to remember that wealth building is a journey… not a single event. Long-term gains are far better than short-term wins and a committed financial adviser can help you keep focused on the future.
Our team of Financial Advisers can help support you now and well into the years to come. If you’d like to discuss your current financial situation with someone, please contact us today. Read more Financial Planning articles.
YOUR FINANCIAL JOUNEY
Building your financial future
Every client journey begins with a conversation. We look closely at where you are now, what matters to you, and what’s possible. Then we structure our advice to match.
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Tax
Efficiency
Proactive strategies to maximise your tax savings.
Personalised
Investing
Tailored plans aligned with your goals and risk profile.
Ongoing
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Regular guidance to keep your plan on track.
CLIENT STORY
Jan
Life Stage:
Retired
Background:
Jan's husband managed the finances until entering aged care. Jan gradually stepped into the financial picture with First Financial’s support.
- Needed financial guidance after business sale
- Lacked experience managing complex finances
- Sought consistent income and long-term structure
- Wanted a familiar, reliable relationship
- Provided long-term support through several transitions
- Helped structure income reliably for retirement
- Empowered Jan through education and reassurance
- Delivered calm advice through both grief and growth
“The money just comes in. I don’t have to think about it. And I know they’re always there. They’ve always been there in the background, just quietly making things work.”
CLIENT STORY
Tim and Adam
Life Stage:
Early retirement and working professional
Background:
When Tim received an overseas medical settlement, he and Adam had just 14 days left in a 90-day window. They needed clear guidance, fast. A referral led them to First Financial.
- Only two weeks left to meet urgent legal and financial deadlines
- Wanted to preserve capital while setting up income for the future
- Needed a plan that supported both retirement and ongoing work
- Hoped to find advice that felt personal, not transactional
- Managed every moving piece, from legal documents to super rollovers
- Designed a strategy that supported both Tim’s retirement and Adam’s career
- Offered clear guidance with steady follow-through, with no stress or pressure
- Built in ethical investing and flexibility, without sacrificing performance
“We’re in totally different life stages, but First Financial built a strategy that supports us both. From urgent legal steps to ethical investing, they handled every detail with calm, care, and real expertise. It’s financial freedom without compromise, and we couldn’t have done it without them.”
CLIENT STORY
Lyn
Life Stage:
Retired widow
Background:
Lyn stepped into financial management for the first time after her husband's passing. With patience and care, First Financial supported her through grief, learning, and empowerment.
- Had never managed finances before
- Was overwhelmed after her husband’s passing
- Needed plain-English explanations and patience
- Sought emotional support and practical clarity
- Offered caring, respectful advice at her pace
- Rebuilt confidence with diagrams, stories, and reassurance
- Supported gradual decision-making around retirement
- Remained a trusted constant through major transitions
“After my husband passed, I was completely unsure where to start. First Financial gave me the space to learn, to ask questions, to grow confident. They drew a diagram that I still have. And now, I sleep well at night knowing I’ve got someone in my corner.”
CLIENT STORY
Graeme and Craig
Life Stage:
Retired and semi-retired
Background:
Referred by friends helped through aged care, Craig sought secure financial guidance after inheriting funds.
- Invest inheritance securely without high risk
- Maintain a modest lifestyle with confidence
- Building trust for someone new to advice
- Accessible, personalised advice
- Provided a low-risk strategy with regular income
- Reassured with steady, market-aware updates
- Established trust through responsiveness and warmth
- Delivered calm, expert support through all transitions
“We feel very secure with First Financial, the income just comes in, and we know everything is being looked after. It’s not just safe, it’s smart. We’ve recommended them to others because we genuinely believe in the team.”
CLIENT STORY
John
Life Stage:
Retired business owner
Background:
After decades of running a successful pharmacy, John sought financial guidance to simplify decision-making and support long-term planning.
- Navigated the sale of a long-held business
- Wanted simple, honest advice after burnout
- Needed a hands-on adviser he could talk to
- Desired financial guidance aligned with lifestyle goals
- Crafted a strategy that supports relaxed, post-work life
- Offered approachable, plain-English advice
- Maintained an ongoing, trustworthy relationship
- Provided flexibility with investments and cash flow
“I feel genuinely supported by First Financial. I can ask anything, and there’s no pressure, just clear advice and real care. The money’s growing, I’m not stressed about it, and I feel completely at ease for the first time. I don’t miss work, but I’d miss the support I get from First Financial.”
CLIENT STORY
Larry and Virginia
Life Stage:
Newly retired
Background:
As retirement neared, Larry and Virginia were ready to enjoy travel, family, and freedom, without uncertainty. A friend recommended First Financial, and from the first meeting, they had a clear plan, a safety net, and people they trusted.
- Wanted to travel and enjoy retirement without second-guessing finances
- Needed a structured income plan with buffers for the unexpected
- Valued guidance that felt honest and human, not overcomplicated
- Needed people they could call and count on
- Created a reliable income stream with a set-aside safety net for the unexpected
- Gave them the freedom to travel and spend meaningfully with family
- Kept advice simple, thoughtful, and tailored to what mattered to them
- Built a lasting partnership based on trust
“We’ve travelled the world, Europe, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, without once stressing about the money. They made everything feel simple and gave us the confidence to live well. We feel secure because we know exactly where we stand, and that peace of mind means everything.”
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