Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about working with BLS Financial, from your first meeting to ongoing advice.
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99% Referred by Someone Trusted
Community-Minded Since 2000
- Getting started
- Superannuation
- Life & Disability Insurance
- Income & Health Insurance
- Financial Management
Your first meeting is free and informal – we’ll get to know you, understand your situation, and explain how we work. No obligation, no paperwork required, just a conversation to see if we’re a good fit.
Just bring yourself (and your partner if you have one). While it’s helpful if you have super statements, insurance details, or loan information, don’t stress if you don’t – we can track down most information ourselves.
No. The first meeting is completely free with no obligation. We want to make sure we’re the right advisers for your situation before you commit to anything.
Usually 60–90 minutes. We want enough time to understand your situation properly and answer your questions, but we won’t keep you longer than necessary.
Yes. If you’re in a relationship, both partners need to be involved and engaged in the advice process. Financial planning affects both of you, so we work with couples as a team.
If we’re a good fit and you decide to move forward, we’ll gather detailed information about your finances, create a comprehensive plan, and then help you implement it. If we’re not a good fit, we’ll be honest about that too.
We meet with you each year to review your plan, discuss any life changes, and adjust strategies as needed. Think of it as a financial health check-up to make sure you’re still on track.
Each year, we provide you with a Fee Disclosure Statement that summarises the advice services we provided and the fees you paid. It consolidates information you already receive from various sources into one easy-to-understand document.
We discuss fees in your first meeting once we understand what you need. Our fee structure is transparent – no commissions, no hidden costs. You’ll know exactly what you’re paying for and why before you commit.
We can help with specific issues, but we always look at how that issue connects to the rest of your financial life. Fixing one thing in isolation can create unintended problems elsewhere, so we take a whole-picture approach.
Super is a tax-effective investment structure designed to help you save for retirement. Even though you generally can’t access it until you retire, it’s still your money, and you can normally control where and how it’s invested.
Yes. We’ll search for any lost or unclaimed super across all Australian funds and track down accounts you might have forgotten about from old jobs. Most people are surprised by what we find.
Usually, yes – consolidating saves you from paying multiple sets of fees and insurance premiums. But we’ll review your specific situation first, as sometimes there are good reasons to keep super in separate funds.
Your redundancy payment and super are separate. The redundancy payment itself can only be paid as a lump sum, but how you handle it (pay off debt, contribute to super, invest) depends on your age, tax situation, and goals. We’ll help you structure it tax-effectively.
Yes, if you’re employed. Salary sacrificing can save you tax while boosting your retirement savings. We’ll calculate whether it makes sense for your income level and show you exactly how much you’d save.
We monitor employer super contributions for our clients. If your employer isn’t paying on time or at the correct rate, we’ll chase it up for you – you shouldn’t have to police your own employer.
Generally no, unless you meet specific conditions like severe financial hardship, permanent disability, or reaching preservation age (between 55-60 depending on your birth year). Transition to retirement pensions allow limited access from age 60 while still working.
Life insurance pays a lump sum to your family if you die or are diagnosed with a terminal illness. If anyone depends on your income financially – partner, kids, mortgage – you probably need it.
Life insurance pays when you die. TPD (Total and Permanent Disability) pays if you become permanently disabled and can never work again. Both pay lump sums, but for different situations – you often need both.
It depends on your situation. Inside super means premiums are paid from your super balance (no cash flow impact), but there may be tax on the benefit. Outside super uses after-tax cash flow, but benefits are generally tax-free. We’ll recommend what’s right for you.
Enough to pay off debts, replace lost income, cover kids’ education, and maintain your family’s lifestyle. We calculate this based on your specific situation – not a generic formula or what the insurance company wants to sell you.
You can still get insurance, but it may cost more or have exclusions. We work with multiple insurers to find the best coverage for your situation, and we’ll be upfront about what’s achievable.
Income protection pays up to 75% of your income (plus super contributions) if you can’t work due to illness or injury. It’s ongoing monthly payments while you recover, not a lump sum like life or trauma insurance.
It depends on the policy. You can choose benefit periods ranging from two years to age 65. You also choose a waiting period (14 days to two years) before benefits start – shorter waiting periods cost more.
Trauma insurance pays a tax-free lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a serious illness like cancer, heart attack, or stroke. Unlike TPD, you don’t need to be permanently disabled – just diagnosed. It helps cover medical costs and financial stress during recovery.
Yes, they cover different situations. TPD only pays if you’re permanently disabled and can never work again. Trauma pays when you’re diagnosed with a critical illness, even if you eventually recover and return to work.
It depends on your age, health, occupation, smoker status, and how much cover you need. We’ll design a policy that balances adequate protection with what you can actually afford – no point having insurance you can’t maintain.
We’ll help you navigate the claims process, gather documentation, liaise with the insurer, and make sure you get what you’re entitled to. Insurance claims can be complicated – we’ll handle it for you.
We’ll review your debts, help you prioritise repayments (highest interest first), create a realistic budget, and explore options like debt consolidation or using your mortgage offset. We can also negotiate with creditors if needed.
It depends on interest rates, your tax situation, risk tolerance, and goals. We’ll model both scenarios and show you the numbers so you can make an informed decision based on your circumstances, not generic advice.
Yes. If your cash flow is tight or you’re spending more than you earn, we’ll sit down and create a spending plan that balances income and expenses, with hopefully a bit left over for savings or treating yourself.
Don’t rush into decisions. We’ll help you understand how different options (pay off debt, invest, boost super) affect your tax, retirement, and long-term wealth. Big financial decisions require proper planning, not emotional reactions.
We’ll analyse your current super, projected savings, expected expenses, and Centrelink entitlements to show you whether you can retire when you want to. If there’s a gap, we’ll show you what needs to change to close it.
That’s exactly why we do annual reviews. Job changes, family changes, health changes, market changes – your financial plan needs to adapt when your life changes. We’ll adjust your strategy as needed.
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Still have questions?
We’re happy to answer any questions you have before booking a meeting. Give us a call or send us a message and we’ll get back to you within one business day.