Financial Planning: What Is the Right Price for Advice?

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Created: 14/Jul/2010
Updated: 25/Nov/2011

In an industry that has relied predominantly on commissions, setting the right price for financial advice may be fraught with difficulty. Following the federal government's ban on commissions for retail investment products, financial planners face a disconnect between the realistic cost of providing comprehensive advice, and what people think they should pay. In place of commission-based payments are three likely methods – a flat fee, a percentage-based amount or the more precarious pay-by-the-hour model. But with clients choosing a needs-only service, the number of planners is predicted to halve within 15 years. Experts suggest the key for clients and advisers is finding their perfect match.