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Top Financial Advisers in Auckland

Picking the right Auckland-based Financial Adviser is very important. Our guide explains how to find one, what you will pay, the questions to ask as well as listing our top five options.
Updated 25 July 2024

This guide walks you through what a Financial Adviser is, who uses them and how they are paid, along with some tips of what to ask them should you decide to meet with one. We've listed what we to consider to be the top five financial advisors in Auckland. 

This guide covers:
Disclaimer: The inclusion of any financial advisor on MoneyHub is not financial advice in any form, and our list below is not a recommendation. The exclusion of any financial advisor from our list does not suggest their service is inferior to those included - our guide is journalistic in nature. Please undertake your own research and due diligence before contacting and/or investing with any Auckland financial advisor. 

More information: We now publish and update Mary Holm's original Financial Adviser list (exclusive to MoneyHub)

Christopher Walsh, MoneyHub's Founder and Head of Research, shares his views on financial advisers:

"I'm often asked about my view on financial advisers. Of course, I can't and won't comment on anyone individually. However, I respond by proposing one question:
  • Did the financial adviser suggest putting your money with many different managers and asset classes (e.g. a diversified investment)? Or did they want to tip all your money into one fund/fund manager and then send you 'updates'?
  • If it's the latter, I would ask them to explain why they're not following a diversified approach (as outlined by the FMA). They may say the funds are "diversified" but how do you know?
  • Many financial advisers are fantastic and provide a valuable service. But with any profession, some underperform. I've seen it all in my career - expensive, poor-performing funds and investments structured in somewhat of a 'heads I win, tails you lose' way that always seems to disadvantage the investors. 
  • Whatever you decide to do with your money, remember - diversification protects you from a single investment going wrong and losing a significant percentage (or even all) of your money.

Important: Please ask how the financial adviser is being paid. You'll need to read what they send you and ensure you understand it. For example, are you paying them a percentage of your investment yearly? Or are the people they invest your money with paying them? The distinction is important.

This list of Auckland financial advisers is published as a starting point to assist your search - it's not a definitive list by any means. We wish you the best of luck and ask you to remember that no one cares about your money more than you. If something doesn't feel right or you're uncomfortable, you're under no obligation to proceed.

Investment needs to be free of emotion - even if you have a great relationship with a financial advisor, your money is the number one priority, and you must be careful with who gets to invest it".
Christopher Walsh
MoneyHub Founder

What is a Financial Adviser?

Financial Advisers are professionals who advise on financial planning, insurance, investing and other financial services. They are qualified and usually (but not always) members of Financial Advice New Zealand or similar professional organisations.

Know this first:
  • There are a range of Auckland financial advisers available, but some are aligned with a limited number of products from product providers, while others have a wide range of products which they consider when recommending financial advice.
  • It is important you ask the question at the beginning of the process about the depth and variety of the range of products and providers which they consider in the process of giving advice.
  • Throughout your life, you're likely to make different investments and buy different financial products at different times. The purpose of a financial adviser is to help you make the right decision about what investments and products are best for you.

Who Uses a Financial Adviser?

While data is difficult to find, it is reasonable to believe that most Financial Adviser clients tend to be 40+ years of age with a healthy amount of money to invest. Younger New Zealanders are unlikely to seek out Financial Advisers, focusing instead on KiwiSaver contributions, buying a house and investing in bank products and/or managed funds as primary investment options.

When do I need to use a Financial Adviser?

If you are considering investing in complicated financial products and need advice, a Financial Adviser may be familiar with what you are looking at. Financial Advisers working in Auckland usually provide guidance for the following:
  • Investments and Retirement Planning: Managed funds and investment trusts 
  • Insurance: Personal and business insurance
  • KiwiSaver: Selecting the right provider, switching to a more suitable scheme and contribution consultation 
  • Financial Planning for all ages and stages of life

How much does a Financial Adviser cost, and how are they paid?

In most cases, meeting a Financial Adviser won't cost anything - they work on commission. What you pay usually depends on what you invest - very few Financial Advisers charge an upfront fee (there is a list of fee-charging advisers here). If you invest $100,000, it is possible your adviser will be paid around $250-$500 per year by the investment platform you select (representing a 0.25% to 0.50% commission, which isn't uncommon). 

Warning - You may not be advised on the most cost-effective investment available in the market. However, you can expect them to select the right product for your circumstances.

How do I find a Financial Adviser?

  • First of all, talk to your family and friends and ask them if they have used a Financial Adviser in your area. This is a good starting point and make sure to ask about their experience (good or bad).
  • ​It is likely you will want to see more options, and Financial Advice New Zealand (previously the Institute of Financial Advisers) lets you search by region for a local Financial Adviser.
  • Following that, Googling "Financial Adviser (and the name of your location)" is a great place to start - be sure to look for Google Reviews of any adviser you shortlist. 
  • Our list below has a selection of trusted Auckland-based Financial Advisors. 

What questions should I ask a Financial Adviser?

The New Zealand Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has a must-read list. We suggest printing it off and going through it, line by line. While this is a complete list of questions to ask and consider, we recommend always asking for an explanation if you don't understand something when meeting with a Financial Adviser. Generally, the FMA's list covers:
  1. How do I know what you’re recommending is the best option for me?
  2. What are the risks of this investment?
  3. What will I pay?
  4. What information will I receive about my investments?
  5. How can I get my money back?

More information: We now publish and update Mary Holm's original Financial Adviser list (exclusive to MoneyHub)

Trusted Auckland Financial Advisers

We have listed some long-standing Auckland financial advisory firms, all of whom have advisors who hold a number of relevant qualifications and a member of industry affiliations. 

Important: The list below does not constitute financial advice. When looking for a financial advisor, remember that all registered financial advisors are listed on the Financial Markets Authority website. But being qualified does not guarantee results:
  • Former Dunedin financial adviser Barry Kloogh was an authorised financial advisor. He was also running a ponzi scheme.
  • Ross Asset Management is another example of financial advisory gone wrong. When this happens, investors are the people who lose the most.
  • While almost every authorised financial advisor is a professional in every sense, you must always understand what you're investing in and make sure you understand the documents sent.
  • MoneyHub routinely receives complaints about certain 'independent financial advisors' who pitch the idea of investing 100% of someone's money into one fund or fund manager. Such a suggestion seemingly disregards the basic principles of investment diversification. We're not impressed.

More details about financial advisors are available on these helpful websites:

The Private Office (Auckland CBD)

Services offered:
  • The Private Office is a truly independent financial advice business.  They work with successful individuals and families who want a disciplined and structured approach to their personal finances.
  • Clients include business owners, executives, professionals, entertainers, migrants and people who have come into sudden money.  Their services include long term financial planning, investment planning, portfolio management, KiwiSaver, UK and Australian Pension Transfers and Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) portfolios.

Advisors:
  • A team of four – their profiles and work history can be found here

Fees: The Private Office has a transparent fee structure which is outlined here in a PDF:
  • A one-off fee for the construction of an overall financial strategy based on the time and complexity involved.
  • A monitoring fee (based on the portfolio size). This fee is deducted monthly at an annual rate from your portfolio’s cash account.
  • Ongoing administration and custodial fees are also charged, as well as specific fees for specific KiwiSaver funds investment programs.

Insights:
  • The advisers publish regular blog posts which commentate on wealth management, financial planning and investment strategies, as well as behavioural economics.

Contact Details:

Stuart Carlyon (Parnell)

Services Offered:
  • Stuart Carlyon offers clients a financial planning service; their service starts by listening to you and preparing a clear plan that will help you achieve your goals and give you peace of mind. They take the time to get to know you and your overall situation. 
  • Stuart Carlyon provides a boutique, fee-based service coordinated with investment, tax and legal specialists.
 
Advisers:
  • The team is listed on their website and includes Susanna Stuart, Deborah Carlyon, Mark Patton, Tanaz Jardine and Shahul Dhoray - each hold either the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) qualification.
 
Fees:
  • An initial consultation involves a meeting to discuss your present situation and what you hope to achieve. Financial plans reflect the scope of the advice required and the complexity of your situation. They provide a plan fee estimate in an engagement letter after the first meeting.
  • For investment portfolio clients, they charge a retainer fee which covers investment monitoring, administration and reporting; general financial advisory services; and liaising with other professionals such as accountants and solicitors.
 
Insights:
  • The advisers publish regular newsletters focused on money and life - a rich fabric of art, travel and finance.
 
Contact Details:

Strategic Wealth Management (Auckland CBD)

  • Services offered: Financial Planning, Investment Management, KiwiSaver and Australian Super
  • Advisors: Three, all following their prescribed 10-step investment philosophy
  • ​Fees: Strategic Wealth Management states "we aim for full transparency regarding the fees, costs and risks associated with investing" (but you'll need to contact them to find out what fees you'll pay.
  • Insights: The advisor team publish regular blog posts with financial market commentary
  • ​Address: Level 4, MasterCard House, 136 Customs Street West, Auckland 1010
  • Phone number: (09) 213 3310
  • Website: swmgroup.co.nz

Axiome Consultants (Devonport)

  • Services offered: Investment planning and portfolio management.
  • Advisors: Axiome Consultants Ltd is a chartered accounting practice with an investment management specialisation; clients include high net worth individuals, companies, trusts and charities.
  • ​Fees: Contact Axiome Consultants to discuss.
  • Insights: The advisor team publish regular blog posts and quarterly updates with financial market commentary
  • ​Address: 16 Wynyard Street, Devonport, Auckland 0624
  • Phone number: (09) 445 2134
  • Website: axiome.co.nz

Quartz Wealth (Takapuna)

  • Services offered: Private wealth is the focus
  • Advisors: Five
  • ​Fees: Quartz Wealth states that they "charge an annual fixed fee for the service level that you choose, and a reduced percentage based fee on any investment products you need". This means you'll pay an annual fee for their service, and an ongoing fee which is a percentage of your total investment. How much this is depends on what assets you invest into.
  • ​​Address: Level 3‚ 159 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna Auckland 0622
  • Phone number: (09) 486 9785
  • Website: quartzwealth.co.nz
  • Email: [email protected]

Become Wealth Ltd

  • Services offered:
    • Wealth-creation and retirement planning to help New Zealanders become wealthy. This includes non-investment services such as mortgage broking and personal insurance
    • Become Wealth are trusted as the official financial advice provider to members of groups including major government departments, and NZX and ASX listed companies
    • 10-year track record
    • Dual-licenced, with FAP and Discretionary Investment Management Services (DIMS) licences
  • Team: a nationwide team of five fulltime advisers are standing by, their bios are listed online
  • Fees: are transparently displayed online, and in disclosure information
  • Insights: Become Wealth publish a regular blog, which encompasses all areas of wealth creation and sustainment, financial literacy, financial products, lending, insurance, and behavioural economics.
  • Contact details:

Rutherford Rede (Freemans Bay)

Services Offered:
  • Rutherford Rede is a privately held advisory practice that specialise in providing personalised financial planning and transparent, evidenced-based wealth management.
  • Established in 1992, they are one of the longest serving independent advice firms in New Zealand, and one of the few practices accredited by the Centre for Fiduciary Excellence (CEFEX) for following the standards of global best practice.
  • They have no financial relationships with investment providers, allowing them to offer truly independent advice, free from commercial conflicts of interest.  
  • They work with successful individuals and families, trusts, foundations, charities, and Iwi.
  • They offer specialist services in estate planning, UK and Australian pension transfers, tax efficient portfolio design, and socially responsible portfolios (SRI).
  • Rutherford Rede are signatories of United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI).
Advisers:
  • Rutherford Rede has a team of 10 advisers with 100+ years of industry experience, supported by dedicated paraplanning and operations teams.  
  • The advice team includes Jocelyn Weatherall, Richard Knight, Henry Ford, William Sargent, Chris Tran, Adam Thompson, Craig Offwood and Patrick Fogarty.
  • Rutherford Rede holds a DIMS (Discretionary Investment Management Service) and FAP (Financial Advice Provider) license.
Fees:
  • Rutherford Rede charge an ongoing advice and monitoring percentage based fee that scales (reduces) as your assets grow.
  • Depending on circumstances and complexity, a one-off initial planning fee may be charged.
Insights:

What can I do if I got the wrong advice from a Financial Advisor?

If you feel you've been incorrectly advised, you have a right to complain. You cannot complain about the performance of an investment, only the way you were advised. Traditionally few people have done so, unsure and embarrassed by how the investment has turned out and then putting it down to experience.

The best approach is to complain to the Financial Adviser first - explain why you think the advice you received was wrong and collect as much paperwork and emails as you can find to support your argument. 

If you don't get a favourable response, you can complain to the Ombudsman service. The Financial Markets Authority and the NZ Government both set out excellent guides on who to complain to.

Remember, when it comes to investing, 'low risk' isn't the same as 'no risk'. 'Low risk' can still see you lose your money, and provided the Financial Adviser has explained this fact, there are no grounds for complaint. But if you were advised that a product you invested in could not lose money, and then you did, you have been incorrectly advised.
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