Comprehensive advice

Comprehensive advice

What is comprehensive advice?

Picture comprehensive advice as your financial roadmap that considers all aspects of your financial situation and objectives. Your financial planner will look at your personal circumstances and work with you to figure out your goals and needs, then develop a tailored plan to help you achieve them and assist with implementing the plan1.

When might you need comprehensive advice?

Comprehensive advice is popular among members who are:

  • Approaching retirement
  • Have surplus cashflow to invest; and
  • Want a plan to help them take the next step on their journey to financial independence.

It is also useful if you want a financial planner to:

  • Create a retirement plan for you, which may include a Transition to Retirement (TTR) arrangement
  • Figure out the most tax-effective way for you to grow your super as you move closer to retirement
  • Help manage your super contributions
  • Decide which investment option is right for you
  • Review the current state of your super
  • Help with estate planning
  • Offer advice on receiving the age pension

Where to get comprehensive advice

You can get comprehensive advice in two ways: by choosing your own financial planner or taking advantage of the financial planning services available through Industry Fund Services (IFS), which we can arrange for you.

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Choosing your own financial planner

We recommend speaking to a licensed financial planner. If you need help finding one near you, contact the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA) or use the “Find a Planner” tool on their website.

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Choosing an IFS planner

Call the Super SA Advice Administration Team on 1300 162 348 between 9:00am and 5:00pm (local time) on Monday to Friday and let them know you want to make a booking. They will confirm the appointment details via email and attach a form for you to complete before your meeting2.

What to generally expect when receiving comprehensive advice

When you choose a financial planner, you may receive comprehensive advice in three steps:

Attend the first meeting

Duration: 45 to 90 minutes


This is the getting-to-know-you stage. The planner can ask questions to understand your situation and your approach to spending, saving, and investing, as well as your plans for the future, how they can help you and explain the steps in the process, along with an estimate of how much it will cost.

If you are happy to move forward, the planner will ask for more information about your situation and goals and take it all on board so they can prepare a plan.

The planner will prepare your financial plan

Duration: 4 to 8 weeks

Now that your planner has a complete picture of your situation, they can compare various strategies and may also consider a range of financial products that may be of benefit to you. Generally, the planner then prepares  a plan and arranges to meet with you again when it is ready.

Attend the second meeting and any additional meetings

Duration: 45 to 60 minutes per meeting 

The planner then presents a financial plan to you in the form of a written statement of advice and explains how their recommendations can help you achieve your goals. This may involve opening or closing bank and investment accounts, making new investments, or applying for new products like insurance. Your financial planner can help you with any paperwork needed to get started.

How much comprehensive advice generally costs

If you choose to receive comprehensive advice, your financial planner will let you know what the full fee is once  you have agreed on your financial goals. Depending on the complexity of your situation, you could expect the cost to be between $1,500 and $4,000 – for singles and couples.

The cost of financial advice is generally paid to your chosen financial planner. If you choose to use a planner from IFS you may be able to deduct the fees from an eligible Super SA account, so there are no out of pocket costs.

1 Super SA is not required to hold an Australian Financial Services License to provide general advice about its products. The information in this document is of a general nature only and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making any decisions about the schemes administered by Super SA, you should consider the appropriateness of this information in the context of your own objectives, financial situation and needs, read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) available at [link] and seek financial advice rom a licensed financial adviser in relation to your own circumstances. Super SA and the State Government disclaim all liability for all claims, losses, damages, costs or expenses whatsoever (including consequential or incidental loss or damage), which arise as a result of or in connection with any use of, or reliance upon, any information in this document.

2Fees apply. Super SA has engaged lndustry Fund Services (IFS) (ABN 54 007 016 195 AFSL No. 232514) to facilitate the provision of limited scope and comprehensive financial advice to members of the superannuation schemes administered by Super SA. Advice is provided by financial planners who are Representatives of IFS. Fees may apply. Further information about the services can be found in the relevant IFS Financial Services Guide, a copy of which is available from your IFS financial planner or by calling Super SA on 1300 162 348. IFS is responsible for any advice given by its Representatives. Super SA and the State Government do not recommend, endorse or accept responsibility for products or services or products provided or recommended by third party organisations, including IFS and do not accept liability for any claims, losses, damages, costs or expenses whatsoever caused by the products and services or products provided or recommended by IFS (or any other third-party organisation).
The superannuation schemes administered by Super SA are exempt public sector superannuation schemes and are not regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) or the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). Super SA is not required to hold an Australian Financial Services Licence to provide general advice about a Super SA product. The information in this publication is of a general nature only and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Super SA recommends that before making any decisions about its products you consider the appropriateness of this information in the context of your own objectives, financial situation, and needs, read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), and seek financial advice from a licensed financial adviser in relation to your financial position and requirements.

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