Starting from scratch is scary. When you’ve spent most of your adult life in a partnership, it’s overwhelming to suddenly be alone and responsible for everything. And, for many women, managing their new financial situation is a daunting prospect. Engaging a Financial Adviser is a great idea – but everyone knows they are expensive. Right?

Yes, financial advice costs money. You’re paying someone to use their knowledge and expertise to help you do something you don’t know how to do yourself. So, think about the value you will gain from speaking to an adviser. What do you actually get for your money?

Sue from Malvern is a 52 year old single professional woman with a good income. During her marriage, she was not involved in managing their money and left all financial matters up to her husband. After years of exclusion from financial decisions, she now laughs ‘a man is not a plan’. Living her new life as a single woman, Sue currently rents her home, has $200k in the bank and absolutely no idea what to do next.

Sue has goals. First, she’d like to buy a small unit. And, with retirement in the not too distant future, Sue dreams of being financially responsible and independent.

But how?

This is where financial advice comes in. Sue is in the perfect position to benefit from the knowledge of an experienced adviser who understands her individual needs. Someone who can get to know her, then create a plan for her money and a strategy to get her where she wants to be. But she’s worried about the cost.

‘Look it’s so expensive, that is completely ridiculous to spend that amount of money and I will never justify paying that much’.

It’s hard to quantify the value of advice, but it’s is important to understand what you are paying for. A good financial adviser will:

· understand your personal and financial circumstances and goals

· create a strategy to suit your needs

· put your plan in place

· help you prepare for life’s unexpected events

· set you up to achieve your goals

· help you become financially independent

· show you how to live and retire on your terms

· review and adapt the strategy when your circumstances change

So, in reality, yes it does cost money to engage an adviser, but over the long term you will gain so much more. Advisers provide knowledge and education, they help you protect yourself and show you how to take control of your financial wellbeing.

If you’re not sure how to get the most out of your finances, call Natallia and take the first step to financial strength and independence.