Before he was guiding Australians through retirement, Anthony Dhillon was encouraging them to push through their final set. Once a fitness instructor rising before dawn to support his clients’ health goals, he’s since dedicated nearly two decades to helping people plan for financial independence as a financial adviser, with the same commitment to structure, progress and personal outcomes.
At First Financial, we deliver retirement and financial planning services tailored to each client’s circumstances and aspirations. It takes a dedicated team to bring that to life, and we’re proud to support advisers like Anthony who have progressed through our professional pathway to become trusted experts. This is his story.
From exercise science to financial strategy
Anthony has always been goal-oriented and driven by a desire to help others achieve tangible results. “My undergraduate is in exercise science… I managed a personal training business in Melbourne for five and a half years. And I think we had a team of about 19 trainers,” he explains. The work was demanding but rewarding, and gave him early experience in leadership, client support and performance-focused planning—skills that would later prove valuable in an entirely different profession.
Working long and unsociable hours—starting at 3 or 4 am and finishing at 9 or 10 pm, often seven days a week—eventually became unsustainable. Anthony also felt he’d reached the ceiling in the industry, and that’s when he began to consider a change that would offer more balance.
With a long-held personal interest in managing his own finances, Anthony completed the PS146 qualification and began his financial advice career the very next day. He joined what is now First Financial in an entry-level technical role, and it was the beginning of a long and fulfilling new trajectory.
Starting over from scratch and growing with First Financial
Reflecting on the early days of moving between seemingly unrelated fields, Anthony admits, “I didn’t know anything from anything, to be honest.” But that quickly changed. In his first role as a technical analyst, now more commonly known as a paraplanner, he found that his drive and skillset translated well, and it soon became clear this was a career he could grow into.
Anthony had the opportunity to work alongside more experienced peers, which he credits as integral to his development. He appreciated the strong focus on precision and accountability from the outset. “We had to get this stuff right because we can’t muck up stuff for clients,” he says. That early discipline continues to inform how he delivers advice today, with a clear focus on responsibility, accuracy and care.
The behind-the-scenes focus gave Anthony a solid understanding of how advice is constructed, but he soon felt drawn to more personal interaction. “It was more technical… understanding the client scenario. I wasn’t in front of clients in that role, I was just doing all the work for other people and their smart ideas.” That foundation built his confidence, and over time, he shifted his focus to working directly with people. Today, those one-on-one conversations are one of the most meaningful parts of his day.
Working with generations of clients
Another profound aspect of staying with the same firm long term is the opportunity to support families across different stages of life. Anthony sees these connections as deeply personal and takes pride in participating in the transfer of wealth and intentions from one generation to the next, and sometimes beyond. “Your clients may pass away, but then their hopes and dreams and wishes are being looked after through their kids… And I know that when their kids are no longer here, they’re going to look after the grandkids.”
If you ask Anthony for a single standout client experience, he can’t narrow it down to just one. “It’s every conversation. It’s what you do. It’s implicit,” he says.
For him, the real impact lies in the consistency, being there over time and seeing the difference thoughtful financial planning can make in people’s lives.
The relationship between adviser and client is built on connection and confidence. Those who turn to us for retirement and financial guidance don’t just see a respected firm supporting them; they see someone who stands beside them. They rely on their adviser to act with care, sound judgment and a deep understanding of what matters most. As Anthony puts it, “It’s a massive responsibility to have the trust that your clients have in you.”
Work culture, legacy and the future of financial advice
Over the last 19 years, Anthony has seen First Financial grow from a small firm into a larger organisation with broader capabilities. While our name has changed, the commitment to strong client relationships has never wavered. With growth comes the need for greater consistency and clarity, and Anthony notes, “As the firm grows, so does the importance of strong communication and leadership.”
One of the major advantages of company growth is the flexibility it offers for people to evolve their careers over time. “Thankfully, within financial services, the range of roles is very broad… You can move in and out of different positions without leaving the firm.”
While Anthony’s primary focus is his clients, he remains mindful of the next generation of advisers and the importance of building lasting capability within the team. He views mentoring not as a formal process, but as something reflected in the way work is done and shared. “I do enjoy working with younger people… I’d like to think I’m good at what I do and have something to pass on, and hopefully I’ll have opportunities to do that… It’s about making sure there are people who can continue the work when I eventually step back.”
Anthony is a strong advocate for professionalism, education and ethics in financial advice. He believes ongoing learning is essential, not just to meet requirements, but to deliver real value to clients. As industry standards continue to rise, he sees this as a positive and necessary shift toward strengthening public confidence. “We can’t afford for people to lose faith in the advice process. That’s why education matters… you’re dealing with people’s wealth, and you have to take that seriously.”
Talk to the experts in personalised financial planning
Whether he’s helping a family plan their retirement or watching nine games of footy in a weekend, Anthony’s all in. That mindset has shaped not only how he supports the people he works with, but how he’s contributed to First Financial itself.
Anthony knows the impact of good advice reaches far beyond spreadsheets. It doesn’t matter if he’s courtside watching basketball or quietly giving blood plasma for the 250th time; his commitment to showing up for others carries through in every part of his life, including the conversations he has with clients every day.
If you’d like to learn more about our personalised financial and retirement planning services and how our team can support your goals, get in touch with us today. For those interested in exploring a future in financial advice, visit our careers page.
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