What to Prepare Before a First Consultation
A first meeting with a financial adviser works best when you arrive with a few documents and a clear sense of what you want to discuss. You do not need a complete financial plan on day one, but a little preparation makes the conversation far more useful.
Start With Your Current Numbers
Bring a recent statement from each account you hold: superannuation, bank savings, term deposits, shares, and any managed funds. If you have a mortgage or personal loans, include the latest balance and interest rate. The adviser does not need every transaction, just the current position and the monthly payment amounts.
If you are unsure what to include, a simple list of assets and debts with approximate values is enough for the first meeting. The goal is to give the adviser a realistic picture of where you stand, not a perfect record.
Know Your Income and Expenses
Write down your take-home pay, any rental income, government payments, or other regular money coming in. On the expense side, list your rent or mortgage, utilities, insurance premiums, and everyday spending. You do not need a detailed budget, but a rough monthly figure helps the adviser understand how much you can realistically set aside.
People often overestimate what they can save. Having the actual numbers on paper keeps the conversation grounded and leads to advice that fits your situation rather than a generic suggestion.
Think About Your Goals Before You Arrive
What do you actually want to achieve? It could be paying off the mortgage in ten years, building a passive income stream, or making sure you can retire at sixty. Write down two or three goals and a rough time frame for each. You do not need exact figures, but a clear direction helps the adviser focus the discussion.
If you have no specific goals yet, that is fine too. Say so openly. The adviser can help you work out what matters most based on your age, income, and current savings.
Bring Questions You Have Been Putting Off
Most people arrive with one or two questions they have been meaning to ask for years. Maybe it is about whether to consolidate super accounts, how much to keep in an emergency fund, or whether salary sacrificing is worth it. Write these down before the meeting so you do not forget them.
There is no such thing as a silly question in a first consultation. If something has been nagging you about your finances, this is the right place to raise it. The adviser has heard it all before.
What to Leave at Home
You do not need to bring every tax return from the past decade or a folder of old insurance policies. The first meeting is about orientation, not paperwork. If the adviser needs more detail later, they will ask for it specifically.
Also leave behind any expectation of a guaranteed return or a quick fix. A good adviser will talk about trade-offs, time frames, and risk, not promises. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
After the Meeting
Before you leave, ask what happens next. Will you receive a written summary? Is there a follow-up meeting scheduled? What information does the adviser need from you before they can prepare a recommendation? Knowing the next step makes the process feel less open-ended.
If you are still deciding whether to work with an adviser at all, that is a reasonable outcome too. A first consultation is as much about you assessing the adviser as it is about them assessing your situation. Take notes, think it over, and only proceed if you feel comfortable.