Advice confidence rebounds, but nearly 16 million Australians still miss out: Investment Trends 2025 Financial Advice Report

Key points

• Confidence rebounds: Satisfaction and advocacy among advised Australians has risen over the past year, reflecting stronger trust, clearer communication and improved value perceptions.
• Advice gap persists: Despite these gains, 15.9 million Australians still go without the financial guidance they need, with women slightly more affected than men.
• Technology reshapes engagement: Digital and AI-powered tools are transforming how Australians engage with advice, driving the rise of hybrid advice delivery models.

Investment Trends has released its 2025 Financial Advice Report, revealing how Australians are re-engaging with financial advice amid rising satisfaction but persistent accessibility challenges. The research explores how Australians want to receive advice, the barriers preventing them from accessing it, and how technology is reshaping engagement across the industry.

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. At the same time, advised Australians report higher satisfaction, stronger advocacy, and greater improvements in financial wellbeing.

“Advice that is clear and personally relevant builds the foundation for lasting trust,” said Julian Cappe, Head of Research at Investment Trends. “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.”

The research also highlights that access to advice remains limited. While demand for guidance is strong, 15.9 million Australian adults have unmet financial advice or guidance needs. The unmet need of Australians is prevalent across the population, irrelevant of gender, with unmet needs split between 7.8 million men and 8.1 million women.

“With nearly 16 million Australians still missing the guidance they need, the challenge is no longer demand but access,” said Julian Cappe, Head of Research at Investment Trends. “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.”

Technology is also reshaping how Australians engage with advice. Many are exploring digital and AI-powered tools for budgeting, managing cash flow, tracking and managing super investments, and adjusting super settings. These tools are most often used to learn or plan rather than to make final decisions, reinforcing that trust and human oversight remain central to effective advice.

“Digital tools are transforming how Australians begin their advice journey,” Cappe said. “They’re helping people take control and build confidence – but technology alone can’t replace human judgement. The firms that succeed will be those that blend digital capability with trusted expertise to deliver guidance that’s both accessible and personal.”