Trust + transparency

Our methodology

How we research, rank and present financial-planner providers across Australia.

Editorial independence

Find a Financial Planner is a consumer-first directory. Rankings are not for sale. Providers cannot buy a higher position. The order in which providers appear on listicles, best-of pages, and comparison tables is determined by the criteria below, nothing else. See how we make money for the revenue side.

How we score providers

Every listed provider is scored across four dimensions, weighted as follows:

  1. Credentials and compliance (35%). Current registration with the relevant Australian regulator, where applicable: AHPRA, FRACS, MARA, TPB, ASIC, ACECQA, NDIS Commission, CEC, CAV / Fair Trading. Lapsed registration triggers immediate delisting.
  2. Customer sentiment (25%). Verified reviews from Google Business Profile, ProductReview and registrar-published feedback. We weight by volume × recency × rating, capped so a 4.6-star provider with a thousand reviews outranks a 5.0-star with three.
  3. Information transparency (25%). Providers who publish clear pricing, qualifications, hours and service-area information score higher than those who hide it until enquiry. For schools we use ICSEA and published fee schedules; for medical specialists we use AHPRA registration class and college fellowship.
  4. Operational signals (15%). Years in operation, hospital affiliations or industry-association membership, and serious findings or sanctions in the regulator's public record (which subtract).

How we research providers

  • Public registers (AHPRA Specialist Register, ASIC, MARA, etc.) for credentials and registration class.
  • Provider websites for fees, services, hours and clinic addresses.
  • Verified review platforms (Google Business Profile, ProductReview) for sentiment, capped to recent reviews.
  • Direct submissions claimed and verified by the business owner via our claim-your-profile flow.

Numbers cited on this site (fees, ICSEA, success rates, etc.) link to the original source where the source is publicly published. Numbers without a verifiable source are flagged as estimates.

No lead funnels

Find a Financial Planner is a directory and information site, not a lead-broker. We do not match enquiries to providers in exchange for per-lead fees. We do not sell email addresses or browsing data. Providers cannot pay to receive enquiries from this site.

Updating + corrections

Provider data is reviewed quarterly, and updated immediately when a regulator finding, registration change or verified profile claim warrants it. To request a correction, email [email protected]. We aim to investigate within three business days and either correct the record (with a visible "Updated on [date]" note) or explain why the information stands.

Related

This methodology was last reviewed on 30 May 2026.