Since the Aged Care Act reforms took effect on 1 November 2025, navigating through the rules has become more complicated, often with anxious families making rapid decisions. The shortlisted advisers and practices have responded with community expos, referral pathways with hospitals and aged care providers, and education for the aged care and other support services that families often speak to first.
“Since the new Aged Care Act took effect, families have been coming to advice with more questions and a lot of conflicting information about what they’ll pay. What stands out across this year’s finalists is that the advisers haven’t waited for those families to find them. They’ve been working with hospitals, aged care providers and within their communities so families are referred earlier. Some have also built pro bono pathways for people who would otherwise go without advice. The earlier an accredited aged care adviser is involved, the more genuine choice a family has,” says Assyat David, Director of Aged Care Steps (ACS).
This year’s finalist list includes both 2025 category winners, Zachary Dodds CFP® of Muirfield Financial Services and Alteris Financial Group, but also includes some new emerging specialists.
2026 Aged Care Adviser of the Year finalists
Belinda Veriton, RFS Advice: A finalist in 2022 and 2024, Belinda has led the growth of RFS’s Elderly Care offering. She has spent considerable time vetting Support at Home providers across South East Queensland so she can guide families with confidence.
Leah Newman, Yield Financial Planning: Leah has more than 17 years in financial services, over eight of them specialising in aged care, and was a finalist in 2022 and 2025. In the six weeks before the reforms began, she and her team advised eight new clients and delivered every strategy paper ahead of the deadline.
Nathan Fradley FChFP, Fradley Advice: Nathan founded his advice business around complex life transitions, including aged care, divorce and estates. He describes his approach as “uncle-proofing”: giving clients a clear enough understanding to confidently explain their choices to family. He shares his expertise widely through podcasts and conference appearances.
Shaun Ganguly CFP®, Aged Care Financial Planning: Shaun started his practice, which works exclusively in aged care and retirement funding advice, after helping his own family through the system. His team works directly with care providers and Services Australia so families aren’t left to manage the paperwork alone.
Zachary Dodds CFP®, Muirfield Financial Services: Recognised in these Awards every year since 2022, Zac has spent the past year running community education sessions in retirement villages, aged care services and libraries. He has also built a structured pro bono pathway for families referred by hospitals and care providers.
All five ACS Aged Care Adviser of the Year finalists are Accredited Aged Care Professionals™.
Aged Care Advice Initiative of the Year finalists
Alteris Financial Group: A three-time winner in this category, Alteris responded to confusion over the new fees by educating the people families turn to first. The team presented on the reforms to around 500 advisers and ran sessions for aged care provider staff and the public.
Muirfield Financial Services: A finalist for the third year running, the Geelong practice grew its free annual Aged Care Expo to 48 stallholders. It also developed a simple referral tool that lets hospitals, charities and aged care providers request pro bono help on a family’s behalf. Referrals rose sharply once it was introduced.
RFS Advice: The Gold Coast practice broadened its aged care advice into a wider Elderly Care service. After extensive due diligence, it narrowed its preferred Support at Home network to ten providers. It also partnered with community radio station 4CRB on a public seminar.
Yield Financial Planning: Yield turned its free Aged Care eBook into an automated email series and rebuilt its aged care web page as a resource hub. It also built a dedicated aged care team that includes a Services Australia and Centrelink liaison officer. Demand has grown to the point where Leah Newman now focuses solely on aged care advice and business development.
Judging the applicants
Each of this year’s applications was reviewed and assessed by an independent panel of industry experts: Phil Anderson, GM Policy, Advocacy & Standards at FAAA; Sue Viskovic, Head of Consulting at VBP; and Andrew Inwood, Founder of CoreData Group.
Winners will be announced on Tuesday 17 November 2026. F