Comprehensive advice

Comprehensive advice

What is comprehensive advice?

Picture comprehensive advice as your financial roadmap that considers all aspects of your financial situation and objectives. Your financial planner will look at your personal circumstances and work with you to figure out your goals and needs, then develop a tailored plan to help you achieve them and assist with implementing the plan1.

When might you need comprehensive advice?

Comprehensive advice is popular among members who are:

  • Approaching retirement
  • Have surplus cashflow to invest; and
  • Want a plan to help them take the next step on their journey to financial independence.

It is also useful if you want a financial planner to:

  • Create a retirement plan for you, which may include a Transition to Retirement (TTR) arrangement
  • Figure out the most tax-effective way for you to grow your super as you move closer to retirement
  • Help manage your super contributions
  • Decide which investment option is right for you
  • Review the current state of your super
  • Help with estate planning
  • Offer advice on receiving the age pension

Where to get comprehensive advice

Choosing your own financial planner.png
Choosing your own financial planner

We recommend speaking to a licensed financial planner. If you need help finding one near you, contact the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA) or use the “Find a Planner” tool on their website.

What to generally expect when receiving comprehensive advice

When you choose a financial planner, you may receive comprehensive advice in three steps:

Attend the first meeting

Duration: 45 to 90 minutes


This is the getting-to-know-you stage. The planner can ask questions to understand your situation and your approach to spending, saving, and investing, as well as your plans for the future, how they can help you and explain the steps in the process, along with an estimate of how much it will cost.

If you are happy to move forward, the planner will ask for more information about your situation and goals and take it all on board so they can prepare a plan.

financial advice

The planner will prepare your financial plan

Duration: 4 to 8 weeks

Now that your planner has a complete picture of your situation, they can compare various strategies and may also consider a range of financial products that may be of benefit to you. Generally, the planner then prepares  a plan and arranges to meet with you again when it is ready.
financial advice

Attend the second meeting and any additional meetings

Duration: 45 to 60 minutes per meeting 

The planner then presents a financial plan to you in the form of a written statement of advice and explains how their recommendations can help you achieve your goals. This may involve opening or closing bank and investment accounts, making new investments, or applying for new products like insurance. Your financial planner can help you with any paperwork needed to get started.
financial advice
1 Super SA is not required to hold an Australian Financial Services License to provide general advice about its products. The information in this document is of a general nature only and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making any decisions about the schemes administered by Super SA, you should consider the appropriateness of this information in the context of your own objectives, financial situation and needs, read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and seek financial advice from a licensed financial adviser in relation to your own circumstances. Super SA and the State Government disclaim all liability for all claims, losses, damages, costs or expenses whatsoever (including consequential or incidental loss or damage), which arise as a result of or in connection with any use of, or reliance upon, any information in this document
The superannuation schemes administered by Super SA are exempt public sector superannuation schemes and are not regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) or the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). Super SA is not required to hold an Australian Financial Services Licence to provide general advice about a Super SA product. The information in this publication is of a general nature only and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Super SA recommends that before making any decisions about its products you consider the appropriateness of this information in the context of your own objectives, financial situation, and needs, read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), and seek financial advice from a licensed financial adviser in relation to your financial position and requirements.

Talk to us