Best Financial Advisors in Wellington
We assessed 13 financial advisors in Wellington and ranked the top 5 on their public review record: rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The 10 listed below hold 582 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 26 July 2026. How we rank →
Before you hire
Financial advisers in NZ must be licensed under the Financial Markets Conduct Act. Check their licence on the Financial Service Providers Register, ask how they are paid (fee-for-service or commission), and confirm they are required to act in your best interest, not just recommend suitable products.
Top 5 Financial Advisors in Wellington
The top 5 financial advisors in Wellington are DUX Financial Services, Velocity Financial, FoxPlan, Harness Financial, and BrokerIntel, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you choose.
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1
DUX Financial Services
★ 5.0 163 reviews +6 Top5 Score 173 +15★ 163DUX Financial Services guides first-home buyers through mortgage applications, pre-approvals, and settlement, often handling complex cases that banks leave unresolved. Their advisers follow up meetings with detailed written notes and stay reachable across years-long client relationships.
Reviews most often describe: First-home buyers and long-term financial planning clients
- ✓ Post-meeting notes sent by email
- ✓ Mortgage help when bank won't act
- ✓ KiwiSaver and insurance in one plan
location_on 1/60 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington
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2
Velocity Financial
★ 5.0 166 reviews +6 Top5 Score 172 +25★ 164 1★ 2Velocity Financial gets first home buyers to settlement by working directly with banks on tricky applications, even when clients are overseas or under financial pressure. Their advisers cover mortgage structure, KiwiSaver, and insurance in one relationship, so clients rarely need to start over when circumstances change.
Reviews most often describe: First home buyers navigating complex mortgage approvals
- ✓ Guides clients through KiwiSaver setup
- ✓ Structures loans around client goals
- ✓ Handles bank negotiations directly
location_on 38 Vivian Street, Te Aro, Wellington
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3
FoxPlan Wellington
★ 4.9 59 reviews Top5 Score 154 +35★ 57 1★ 2FoxPlan walks first home buyers through mortgage applications, KiwiSaver structuring, and insurance in a single ongoing relationship. Advisors set concrete goals and measurements with clients rather than handing over a generic plan.
Reviews most often describe: First home buyers needing mortgage and financial planning
- ✓ Sets goals with measurable targets
- ✓ Explains financial concepts in plain English
- ✓ Covers mortgage, KiwiSaver, and insurance together
location_on Level 8/138 The Terrace, Wellington Central, Wellington
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4
Harness Financial
★ 5.0 39 reviews +3 Top5 Score 149 +15★ 39Harness Financial takes sceptical clients through complex insurance and KiwiSaver decisions with two-hour intake sessions and plain-language explanations. Advisors have gone into bat with insurers on clients' behalf during claims, which goes beyond the initial advice relationship.
Reviews most often describe: Individuals wanting personalised insurance and investment advice
- ✓ Two-hour first appointments common
- ✓ Advocates for clients during claims
- ✓ KiwiSaver results tracked over time
location_on Level 8/95 Customhouse Quay, Wellington Central, Wellington
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5
Julia Berner at BrokerIntel Financial Planning/Advice
★ 5.0 34 reviews -1 Top5 Score 1465★ 34BrokerIntel gets first-home buyers to settlement by building a personalised savings and borrowing plan from the start, not just processing paperwork. Julia works through loan structuring, KiwiSaver, and insurance together, so clients leave with a broader financial roadmap rather than just a mortgage approval.
Reviews most often describe: First-home buyers navigating Wellington's property market
- ✓ Explains loan options without jargon
- ✓ Ongoing loan management after settlement
- ✓ Creates step-by-step savings pathway
location_on 36 Reuben Avenue, Brooklyn, Wellington
Before you choose a financial advisor in Wellington
Drawn from 162 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.
What does a financial advisor typically cost in New Zealand? expand_more
Fee structures in New Zealand fall into three main types: hourly rates, flat fees, and commissions paid by product providers. Hourly rates run from around $150 to $400, while a full financial plan often costs between $1,500 and $5,000. Mortgage and insurance advisers are frequently paid by commission from lenders or insurers, at no direct charge to you. Under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013, any commission or fee must be disclosed to you before advice is given.
Does a financial advisor need to be licensed in New Zealand? expand_more
Anyone providing financial advice to retail clients for payment in New Zealand must hold, or operate under, a Financial Advice Provider (FAP) licence issued by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Individual advisers who do not hold their own licence must be formally authorised under a licensed provider's FAP. You can verify whether an adviser or their firm is licensed by searching the Financial Service Providers Register (FSPR) at the Companies Office website, which is free and publicly accessible. If an adviser cannot produce their FAP licence details or does not appear on that register, they cannot legally give you financial advice.
How do I know if the advice is tailored to my situation, or just a product recommendation? expand_more
Genuine tailoring starts with a thorough fact-find: reviewers who felt well-served described sessions where the adviser asked about their goals, risk tolerance, and life circumstances before presenting any options. In one case an adviser told a client directly that they did not yet need a financial adviser, which is a clear signal of advice-first thinking rather than product-first selling. Under New Zealand disclosure rules, any adviser recommending a product must tell you upfront what commission or other benefit they receive from that recommendation, so ask for that disclosure in writing before agreeing to anything.
What are the warning signs of a financial advisor you shouldn't use? expand_more
- –An adviser who presents only one product or provider without explaining why alternatives were ruled out is not giving you full advice.
- –Poor responsiveness after the first meeting is a red flag: at least one reviewer described months of ignored emails and unfinished work after payment was taken.
- –Vague or verbal-only explanations of fees and commissions signal that the adviser may not be meeting their legal disclosure obligations.
- –Advice that feels identical to what anyone off the street would receive, with no reference to your income, debts, family situation, or goals, suggests a cookie-cutter approach.
- –An adviser who cannot supply their Financial Advice Provider (FAP) licence number or does not appear on the Financial Service Providers Register (FSPR) is not legally permitted to advise you.
What should you ask before hiring a financial advisor? expand_more
- –Ask how they are paid: flat fee, hourly rate, or commission from a lender or insurer, and request written disclosure of the exact amounts before signing anything.
- –Ask which banks, insurers, or investment providers they have access to, because an adviser with a limited panel may not be able to find you the most competitive option.
- –Ask whether they will present multiple options with the pros and cons of each, or whether they will deliver a single recommendation.
- –Ask how often they will contact you after the initial engagement, and what their process is when your circumstances change significantly.
- –Ask for their Financial Advice Provider (FAP) licence number and verify it on the Financial Service Providers Register (FSPR) before your first paid appointment.
Financial Advisors ranked 6 to 10 in Wellington
They scored below the top 5 on the same public review record.
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6
Retirement Taylor Made
★ 5.0 32 reviews Top5 Score 1455★ 31 4★ 1Retirement Taylor Made takes people with no savings knowledge and builds them a clear, personalised retirement plan they actually understand. They meet clients at home or a cafe, explain options in plain language, and stay available for questions well after the initial work is done.
Reviews most often describe: KiwiSaver setup, switching, and retirement planning
- ✓ Meets clients at home or cafe
- ✓ Transfers overseas retirement funds to NZ
- ✓ Upfront about fees
location_on 151 Karepa Street, Brooklyn, Wellington
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7
SAVVY WEALTH
★ 5.0 28 reviews Top5 Score 1435★ 27 4★ 1Savvy Wealth builds tailored retirement and investment strategies for clients navigating complex situations, including UK pension transfers to New Zealand. Their adviser takes time to walk clients through each step clearly, leaving them confident about the direction of their finances.
Reviews most often describe: Retirement planning and investment portfolio structuring
- ✓ UK pension transfers to NZ
- ✓ Customised retirement income plans
- ✓ Calm, clear explanations of complex options
location_on Level 8/95 Customhouse Quay, Wellington Central, Wellington
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8
New Zealand Financial Planning
★ 5.0 27 reviews Top5 Score 1435★ 26 4★ 1New Zealand Financial Planning works with clients across major life changes, from growing families managing mortgages to people transitioning into retirement or contracting. Their adviser will tell you to stay with your current insurer when that is the right call, rather than pushing a switch.
Reviews most often describe: Families and individuals planning long-term financial security
- ✓ Tailors advice to current life stage
- ✓ Explains findings in plain language
- ✓ Helps with policies even without earning a fee
location_on Level 9/342 Lambton Quay, Wellington Central, Wellington
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9
NZ Funds Private Wealth Wellington
★ 5.0 23 reviews Top5 Score 1425★ 22 4★ 1NZ Funds Private Wealth guides clients through retirement planning by mapping current KiwiSaver projections against wealth targets and identifying ways to close the gap. Advisors like Bonard and Matt take time to explain portfolio decisions in plain terms, so clients reach retirement feeling settled rather than uncertain.
Reviews most often describe: Long-term investors planning confidently for retirement
- ✓ Retirement income gap analysis
- ✓ Adviser-led annual portfolio reviews
- ✓ Unhurried Q&A on investment decisions
location_on Level 3/40 Johnston Street, Wellington Central, Wellington
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10
Lyford Investment Management Ltd (Lyfords)
★ 5.0 11 reviews Top5 Score 1325★ 11Lyfords takes the time to understand a client's full situation before recommending any product, and has told clients directly when they did not yet need a financial adviser. Their advisers explain complex topics, including UK pension transfers and KiwiSaver strategy, in plain terms that clients with no investment background can follow.
Reviews most often describe: People navigating retirement planning and investment decisions
- ✓ Honest enough to turn away premature clients
- ✓ UK pension transfers to NZ
- ✓ Detailed written reports after consultations
location_on 174 Hutt Road, Petone, Lower Hutt
Related Wellington rankings
About this ranking
How are the top financial advisors in Wellington chosen? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for financial advisors in Wellington. Each one is scored on its public rating and review record. Businesses outside the area, or whose reviews describe a different line of work, are left out. See how we rank for the full method.
How often are rankings updated? expand_more
Every category and city is recrawled on a rolling cycle, about once a month. This page was last checked on 26 July 2026.
Can a business pay to appear in this list? expand_more
No. Top 5 and Also Recommended positions are merit-only and cannot be purchased. Verifying a business is free. A subscription adds a website link on the card, a public profile page, and competitor and ranking history in the owner's dashboard, none of which affects ranking position. See what a subscription includes.
Why isn't my business listed? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for financial advisors in Wellington. The usual reasons for missing out are a Google Business category that does not match, too few reviews to score near the top, or an address outside the area we cover. At the last update, the smallest review count among the 10 businesses listed here was 11. Check where you rank or read how rankings work.