Online Financial Planning Services in Australia – How to Choose Safely
Summary
Online advice works well for most planning needs, including strategy discussions, portfolio reviews, and document walkthroughs. The same AFSL licensing, Statements of Advice, and disclosures apply as in‑office. Choose in‑person for highly sensitive conversations, complex family dynamics, or when you prefer paper and a whiteboard. James offers both, with fees in dollars.
Free eBook How Online Financial Advice Works (Instant Download)
〰️
Free eBook How Online Financial Advice Works (Instant Download) 〰️
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Who Online Advice Suits and Who Should Book In-person
- What Works Well Online and What Lands Better Face to Face
- Benefits of Online Financial Advice
- Drawbacks and Workarounds
- Safety And Privacy of Online Financial Advice
- When to Choose Online Over In-person
- A Quick Decision Guide
- How Online Meetings Run with James Hayes
- What to Prepare for an Online Meeting
- Online vs In-office (Side-by-side Summary)
- Work with James Hayes
- FAQs
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Introduction
Online financial advice has moved from novelty to normal. For many NSW households, video meetings deliver the same regulated advice, the same Statement of Advice, and the same audit trail you would expect in‑office – with better scheduling, and faster follow‑through. The licensing, documents, and obligations are identical either way.
James Hayes offers online and in‑office meetings, and is comfortable on Zoom, WhatsApp, and similar apps. Use this guide to decide when to choose online, what should still happen face to face, how security works, and how to prepare for a smooth first meeting.
A free resource prepared by James for those of you deliberating online financial planning services: How Online Financial Advice Works.
Who Online Advice Suits and Who Should Book In‑person
Online meetings suit time‑poor professionals, pre‑retirees coordinating with adult children, and anyone outside the Sutherland Shire who still wants to work with a Sydney adviser. They also suit limited‑scope engagements, like fine‑tuning contributions, reviewing a portfolio, or preparing an inheritance checklist.
In‑person meetings are often better when several high‑stakes decisions intersect at once, when family dynamics require a calm room, or when technology adds stress. Complexity signals include multiple entities, blended families, or confusion around contributions, pensions, or custody of assets – these benefit from a longer, whiteboard‑led session.
What Works Well Online and What Lands Better Face to Face
Most financial advice tasks translate cleanly to video. Some conversations feel clearer across a table. Use the table below as a practical lens.
Before you scan the rows, note that the regulatory standard – AFSL supervision, Statements of Advice, fee disclosure, and annual consent – is the same regardless of meeting format.
| Topic or task | Online – strengths | In-person – strengths |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery & scoping | Faster scheduling, screen-share for data collection templates. | Comfortable for long stories, complex family or business structures. |
| Strategy modelling | Live spreadsheet walkthroughs, quick version control. | Easier on a whiteboard when priorities compete. |
| Portfolio reviews | Screen-share reports, fee tables, and rebalancing notes. | Suitable if you prefer printed packs and margin notes. |
| Super & contributions | Clear timelines, caps tables, and payroll steps on screen. | Helpful face to face if multiple funds or employers are involved. |
| Insurance needs | Application staging and structure explanations on video. | Sensitive health details may feel easier in person. |
| Estate alignment | Briefs for your solicitor, document checklists via portal. | Best in person when several family members attend. |
| Implementation | E-signing, portal uploads, and status tracking. | Paper execution if you prefer wet signatures. |
| Ongoing reviews | Regular cadence, quick issue triage between meetings. | Annual deep-dive with whiteboard and printed packs. |
Free eBook How Online Financial Advice Works (Instant Download)
〰️
Free eBook How Online Financial Advice Works (Instant Download) 〰️
Benefits of Online Financial Advice
Choosing video has practical upsides. For many clients, these are decisive.
Online meetings reduce travel and allow quick follow‑ups.
Screen‑sharing improves clarity because your adviser can point to the exact figure, fee, or clause.
Secure portals and e‑signing support faster implementation.
And you still receive the same Statement of Advice and review packs you would get in office.
If you prefer evidence before committing, you can request anonymised Statements of Advice, redacted review reports, and a one‑page investment method via email – online or otherwise. Good processes look the same on paper as on screen.
Drawbacks and Workarounds
Video can fatigue some people. Tech hiccups happen. Some clients find rapport builds faster in person. If you are uneasy sharing sensitive health details or family matters online, it may be better to meet at the office first, then switch to online once the plan and service cadence are set.
When documentation is heavy – multiple entities, trustee roles, historic platforms – the first deep‑dive may land better across a table. After that, most reviews shift comfortably to video with clear packs and timelines.
Safety and Privacy of Online Financial Advice
Licensed advice has operational standards that apply to both online and in‑person service. Ask your adviser to confirm custody, execution steps, professional indemnity cover, and the privacy and cyber settings for portals and email. Request this in writing as part of your decision file.
Simple safeguards you can apply:
Verify the adviser on ASIC’s Financial Adviser Register, confirm AFSL and AFCA. Keep screenshots with dates.
Use the adviser’s secure portal for statements and IDs, and prefer e‑signing over attachments.
Decline unexpected links, and ask to reconfirm any bank detail change on a live call.
Request a written summary of where assets are registered, how cash is handled, and turnaround times.
You can reinforce security on your end, and none of it requires technical expertise.
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When to Choose Online Over In‑person
Use triggers rather than habit. If your goals are clear, the scope is defined, and your documents are ready, online will save time without giving up quality. If the stakes are high, rules are unfamiliar, or several money choices interlock, consider one longer in‑person mapping session, then move online for reviews.
A Quick Decision Guide
This isn’t a test – it helps you pick a mode that fits the work ahead. Read the prompts, then glance at the checklist.
If you answered “Yes” to at least three online prompts, start online. If you ticked mostly in‑person, book the office. Hybrid works too.
Online Prompts
You want faster scheduling and screen‑shares for numbers.
You are comfortable with a portal and e‑signing.
Your scope is focused, or you are reviewing an existing plan.
Family members join from different locations.
You prefer shorter, more frequent check‑ins.
In‑person Prompts
You are pre‑retiring with multiple funds, entities, or estate decisions.
Family dynamics need a calm room.
You like printed packs, whiteboards, and extended sessions.
Technology adds stress and distracts from decisions.
Your first engagement will span several linked topics.
How Online Meetings Run with James Hayes
The flow mirrors in‑office service – you are choosing the room, not a lighter standard.
15‑minute triage call: Confirm fit, scope, and what to prepare. Complimentary.
Discovery & whiteboard session: On Zoom or in the office; priorities, constraints, and timelines.
Written proposal: Fees in dollars, inclusions, and a timetable for the Statement of Advice.
Implementation: Portal uploads, e‑signing, and status updates. Custody, turnaround times, and contacts are documented.
Reviews: Annual, half‑yearly, or quarterly; video or in‑office. You receive a pack covering performance, fees paid, changes, and next steps.
Typical upfront fees when proceeding range from $2,200 to $6,600, based on scope and complexity. You receive quotes and inclusions in writing before you commit.
What to Prepare for an Online Meeting
Preparation makes online meetings efficient.
Bring digital copies or upload your documents to the portal before the call.
Have recent super and investment statements, loan summaries, insurance schedules, two recent payslips, your last tax return, estate documents, and a short paragraph describing your scope and questions.
This turns a first call into a plan outline quickly.
Online vs In‑office (Side‑by‑side Summary)
Decisions are easier with a single view. Review the table, then choose a mode per meeting.
| Dimension | Online meeting | In-office meeting |
|---|---|---|
| Speed & access | Faster booking, no travel, easy to include family interstate or overseas. | Limited by distance and diaries, useful when a long session is needed. |
| Clarity of documents | Screen-share portfolios, fees, and SoA sections; easy version control. | Printed packs if you prefer paper and margins; whiteboard for trade-offs. |
| Implementation | Portal uploads, e-signing, status tracking documented in writing. | Paper forms if required; signing in office when preferred. |
| Security | Same AFSL rules; confirm portals, custody, and cyber measures in writing. | Same AFSL rules; front-desk checks, and in-room identity verification. |
| When ideal | Reviews, portfolio updates, contribution changes, inheritance checklists. | Complex pre-retirement design, family decisions, multi-entity mapping. |
Work with James Hayes
Prefer to start online, then meet in the office for the deep‑dive – or the other way around? Book a free 15‑minute triage call to choose the right format, confirm fees in dollars, and lock in dates.
FAQs
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Yes. My team uses a secure portal for uploads, e‑signing for most forms, and screen‑shared walkthroughs of Statements of Advice. The same AFSL obligations, documents, and fee disclosures apply. If a situation warrants paper or a long whiteboard session, we’ll book the office at a convenient time.
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We confirm identity, use secure portals rather than email attachments, and document custody, execution steps, and turnaround times in writing. You should verify my registration on ASIC’s Financial Adviser Register, and confirm AFCA membership. If you prefer to discuss sensitive matters in person, we’ll book the office.
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If several decisions collide – retirement timing, contributions, pensions, estate alignment– a long, in‑room mapping session often helps. Once the plan is set and the review cadence is clear, most follow‑ups shift well to video without losing quality or momentum. We’ll choose the format together.
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Fees are based on scope, not the meeting room. You’ll receive a quote in dollars, with inclusions and an all‑in view for year one and steady state. Typical upfront fees when proceeding range from $2,200 to $6,600, depending on complexity. We confirm everything in writing.
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Upload recent super and investment statements, loan summaries, insurance schedules, payslips, your last tax return, and estate documents. Add a short paragraph describing priorities and questions. This preparation lets us map the plan in one session, then move quickly to a written proposal.
Disclaimer
The information in this article is provided as a general guide only. It does not constitute personal financial advice and should not be relied upon as such. Readers should seek advice from a licensed financial adviser before making any financial decisions. James Hayes and his associated entities accept no responsibility or liability for any loss, damage, or action taken in reliance on the information contained in this article. Links to third-party websites are provided for reference purposes only. We do not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of their content.