Benefits of partnering with us

Because they value long-term relationships, truly independent advice and consistently strong outcomes.

Many of our client partnerships span 10 to 25 years or more, reflecting deep trust built on predictable results that meet or exceed expectations.

As one of the fewer than 1% of genuinely independent financial advisers in Australia, our fee-for-service model ensures advice is unbiased and always in our clients’ best interests.

Our advisers bring nearly a century of combined experience and are recognised for their highly personalised, responsive service and ability to manage complex portfolios, including SMSFs, property and intergenerational wealth structures.

Clients consistently highlight our holistic approach to financial advice, where investment decisions are carefully integrated with tax, estate and retirement planning.

Above all, they appreciate a supportive, family-like experience and tailored guidance through every life stage—from wealth accumulation to retirement and beyond.

Independent Financial Advice

We believe in the value of Independent Financial Advice

To feel comfortable advice is in your best interests, it must be free of conflict of interests.

There are many financial planning firms that claim to be ‘independently owned’, but this does not mean they are truly independent financial advisers.

Strategy First Financial Planning has been operating since September 2005, under its own licence, charging a fee for service, rebating all commissions and providing impartial advice.

We have no influence from or association with financial product providers.

We do not accept commissions on any financial products.

The only way we are paid is by you, our clients, and it is a flat dollar fee. These costs are agreed upfront before any work is undertaken.

Since March 2021, we have met the legal definition of Independent Financial Advice, which was updated in the Corporations Act, post the Roal Commission.

The Definition of Independent Financial Advice

As per section 923A of the Corporations Act 2001 financial advisers can only call themselves “independent”, “unbiased” or “impartial” if they (and their associates) do not receive any of the following:

• commissions (apart from commissions that are rebated in full to the person’s clients)
• forms of remuneration calculated on the basis of the volume of business placed by the person with an issuer of a financial product
• other gifts or benefits from an issuer of a financial product that may reasonably be expected to influence the person.

To call yourself "Independent' you must rebate or avoid all commissions, not charge fees based on a volume of product sold and have no affiliation or ownership with any product manufacturer that could lead to a conflict of interest or a perceived conflict of interest.

The only fees we receive are directly from our clients which means we only work for you. We rebate all commissions on all products.

You can check out Superguide's list of Independent Advisers.

Experience 

At the heart of Strategy First Financial Planning are our five senior Financial Advisers, a formidable team who have combined experience of almost 100 years.

This depth of experience is not just a number. It's a reflection of the countless clients we've guided towards financial success, the complex personal & financial challenges navigated, and the evolving financial & legislative landscapes mastered.

Since its inception in September 2005, Strategy First has carved its own path in the Financial Planning industry.

Unlike many in our field, we operate under our own license, a symbol of our commitment to autonomy and our ability to tailor our services directly to the needs of our clients without external pressures.

Our fee-for-service model is designed with transparency and fairness in mind, ensuring that every dollar you invest in our services is a dollar towards unbiased, objective advice.

We believe in putting your interests first, which is why we rebate all commissions back to you.

Our approach is simple yet revolutionary: provide impartial advice that genuinely serves the best interest of our clients, and do so with integrity, dedication, and an unwavering focus on achieving their financial goals.

This philosophy is the cornerstone of our firm and the reason behind our enduring success.