Revealed in the 2025 Financial Advice Report, Australians are generally re-engaging with financial advice, with memories of the royal commission fading away, with clients expressing high levels of satisfaction.
This is supported by other bodies of research throughout the year. The Financial Advice Association Australia’s (FAAA) Value of Advice Index highlighted that 88 per cent of advised Australians felt they had enough money for retirement, with 96 per cent believing that having advisers in times economic uncertainty helped them remain confident.
Russel Investments’ similarly named Value of an Adviser report also found high levels of satisfaction in advised Australians, stating that 90 per cent thought having an adviser made them feel more confident in their finances.
“The latest report shows that the number of adviser–client relationships have stabilised over the past year, with new client growth outpacing client attrition reversing a previous downward trend in the number of Australians receiving financial advice,” said Julian Cappe, head of research at Investment Trends.
“At the same time, advised Australians report higher satisfaction, stronger advocacy, and greater improvements in financial wellbeing.”
He added: “Advice that is clear and personally relevant builds the foundation for lasting trust.
“Australians are showing they want to work with advisers who deliver that clarity – it’s becoming the true differentiator in a market where confidence and relationships matter more than ever.”
However, the same data also revealed that a significant chunk of Australians are not benefiting from advice, with an ever-widening gap threatening to leave millions behind.
According to Investment Trends, 15.9 million Australian adults have unmet financial advice or guidance needs. The split is prevalent across the population, irrelevant of gender, with needs spilt between 8.1 million women and 7.8 million men.
“With nearly 16 million Australians still missing the guidance they need, the challenge is no longer demand but access,” said Cappe.
“Cost remains the single biggest barrier, and Australians are telling us they want guidance that is simpler, clearer and more affordable.”
“The opportunity for the industry now is to reimagine advice delivery models so they meet people where they are, helping to close the gap and ensure long-term sustainability for the sector.”
