Financial Adviser for High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs)
Optimise your portfolio for tax efficiency and intergenerational wealth transfer. James Hayes is an ASIC-licensed financial planner providing independent advice to High-Net-Worth Individuals with liquid assets worth at least AUD $1 million in Greater Sydney and the Sutherland Shire. He specialises in the management of substantial private wealth and sophisticated investment vehicles.
Financial Planner AFP® Verification (opens in a new tab)
- Licensed
- Unaffiliated
- Worth It
Get Your Urgent Questions Answered
High Net Worth Individuals face conundrums regarding asset protection and tax leakage. James Hayes provides answers regarding:
Tax Leakage
What is the annual cost of holding assets in personal names versus an investment company or a family trust, accounting for current Australian tax thresholds?
Investment Governance
Does the current portfolio allocation provide sufficient diversification across uncorrelated asset classes to protect against a systemic downturn in the Australian property or equity markets?
Intergenerational Transfer
What is the projected tax liability for beneficiaries if assets are transferred under the current estate structure, and what alternative vehicles could reduce this impact?
What to Expect
James Hayes applies a rigorous framework to oversee high-value financial ecosystems.
Entity Analysis
A comprehensive review of existing family trusts, private companies, and self-managed super funds (SMSFs) to ensure all entities are operating with maximum tax efficiency and asset protection.
Custom Portfolio Construction
Development of a bespoke investment mandate that prioritises long-term capital preservation and risk-adjusted returns, utilising wholesale investment opportunities not available to retail investors.
Strategic Philanthropy & Succession
Coordination of charitable giving strategies and formal succession plans to ensure the orderly transition of wealth and management responsibilities to the next generation.
Why HNWIs Partner with James Hayes
Precise Asset Structuring
Managing wealth over AUD $1 million requires more than basic investment advice. James focuses on the technical legal and tax structures of a portfolio, ensuring every dollar is held in the most efficient environment to prevent tax erosion.
Independent Financial Advice
James is not affiliated with any bank, private wealth firm, or investment product provider. This independence ensures that portfolio recommendations are based solely on performance data and fee transparency, free from institutional quotas.
Strategic Continuity
Sophisticated financial plans require years to execute. James provides a stable point of contact, ensuring the long-term vision of a family’s wealth is maintained without the turnover typical of large private banking departments.
Visual Strategy Mapping
James uses live modelling to present complex multi-entity structures in a simplified, visual format. Clients receive a clear overview of their total net position, including cash flow and tax liabilities across all family and business accounts.
Priority Access & Discretion
James operates with a limited client base to ensure high-touch service. Clients have direct access to him via phone, face-to-face meetings in the Sutherland Shire, or WhatsApp, so that complex queries are handled with speed and discretion.
Legislative Change Management
Changes to Division 296 taxes, trust legislation, and franking credit rules greatly impact HNWIs. James proactively monitors these developments to adjust investment structures before new laws take effect.
Testimonials
Client Experiences
I was attracted to James’s business by the online referees and comments and have since been very happy with the choice. James has been very patient and professional in rebuilding my superannuation portfolio and the results are pleasing. I very much appreciate his depth of knowledge and his personal skills.
Geoffrey Todd
We have found dealing with James a worthwhile experience as he listens to what you require and that investments are reviewed and information to us is clear. We found James helped our transition into retirement an easy experience and very grateful for his expertise. 5 stars all the way !!
Craig Pullen
James was incredibly helpful and prompt in his responses. Very accurate in the analysis of the real estate market and my personal, financial circumstances. In just a few hours we understood the best-case scenario, in my situation, and he guided me towards positive and reassuring final decisions to be made. He really placed my personal and financial needs first and we went from there. I really appreciated the honesty in his judgment and of course his valuable knowledge.
Marta Lentisco
Protect Your Capital and Your Legacy
Wealth over AUD $1 million requires a higher level of defensive planning. The strategies implemented today regarding portfolio structure and tax-effective succession will define the financial security of your family for multiple generations.
Questions
FAQs
James conducts a quantitative analysis of your superannuation balance to determine if assets should be moved into alternative structures, such as a family trust or a corporate beneficiary, to mitigate the impact of the additional 15% tax on unrealised gains.
Yes. James frequently acts as the central coordinator for a client’s professional team. He ensures that financial strategies are perfectly aligned with the accounting treatments and legal structures managed by your other specialists.
A PAF allows individuals to establish a formal vehicle for philanthropy, providing an immediate tax deduction for contributions while maintaining control over how the funds are invested and distributed to registered charities over time.
To be classified as a wholesale or sophisticated investor in Australia, an individual must generally have a qualified accountant certify that they have net assets of at least $2.5 million or an annual gross income of at least $250,000 for the last two financial years.
James provides a flat-fee proposal based on the number of entities involved and the complexity of the initial structural overhaul. Ongoing management fees are clearly disclosed in a Statement of Advice, ensuring there is no conflict of interest between asset growth and advisor compensation.