Independent Financial Advice in Canberra
I'm Andrew Saikal-Skea, an Independent Financial Adviser based in Canberra.
Only around 1% of financial planners in Australia are independent. We are proud to offer strategic independent advice which means that we don't charge commissions, aren't controlled by product manufacturers and aren't restricted to a limited range of financial products. We also don't charge asset-based fees. This means that there are no conflicts of interest that could influence your advice.
We provide expert strategic advice and support to Canberra's professionals, executives, military, business owners and retirees.
As a client, we start by understanding your current position and any decisions or challenges that you are facing.
Then we work together to design and implement a plan that achieves your goals and objectives.
Wide range of advice areas
We help clients accumulate wealth to achieve their goals, transition into retirement and enjoy their retirement with their minds at ease.
Topics we advise on are:
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Superannuation
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Retirement planning
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Defined benefits including the PSS, CSS, MSBS and DFRDB
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Self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs)
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Investments
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Family trusts
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Tax planning
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Insurance
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Estate planning
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Social security
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Financial modelling
There is a range of options to access advice including through a single engagement or a recurring partnership.
Qualified to deliver the best outcomes
I have been supporting clients with financial advice for over a decade after moving to Canberra from Scotland.
Prior to founding Saikal-Skea Independent Financial Advice, I served as a financial adviser and leader at one of Australia's largest industry funds and a boutique advisory.
I hold the Certified Financial Planner® and SMSF Specialist Adviser® designations along with a degree in Business Management and a Master's in Applied Finance.
We also have an experienced and talented support team based in our office here in Canberra.
Our Advice Process
Complimentary Introductory Call
The first step toward advice is to have an introductory call with us.
During this call we can discuss your situation and the advice you are seeking. In addition, it's an opportunity for you to ask me any questions you have, ahead of booking a Discovery meeting with Andrew.
You can book a complimentary call by following the link below.
Discovery Meeting
The Discovery Meeting lasts around 90 minutes.
The purpose of this meeting is to gain a good understanding of any decisions you are facing, along with your broader goals, objectives and current situation.
We can also explain financial concepts through general advice, although this is usually a small part of this meeting.
At the conclusion of this meeting, we can let you know whether personal advice would be beneficial for you and what the cost and scope of that advice would include.
The cost of this meeting is $500 (inc GST).
Personal Advice
If we believe you would benefit from personal advice and you decide to engage us as your financial advisers, we will provide a plan to achieve your goals.
First we conduct a deep analysis of your position and identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
We can then partner to ensure you are in a peak position and have the highest probability of achieving your goals.
If you need advice around a single issue or event, we can advise on a project basis.
Associations we belong to
Client Testimonials
Neil
If a 6-star rating was available, I would give it to Andrew and his team without hesitation. After years of self-guided (poor) financial decisions, and a couple of bad experiences with non-independent financial advisors, my wife and I contacted Andrew in early 2022, after noting that he is an independent advisor who is also recommended by the ADF Financial Services Consumer Centre.
From the very first meeting onwards, we have been extremely impressed with every aspect of Andrew's services. Firstly, he has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the ins and outs of financial planning. This may seem like a given for a financial advisor, but based on my previous experiences, Andrew is on another level in terms of his up-to-date knowledge of legislative changes, investment and savings strategies, and planning for the future.
Secondly, and to us most importantly, he is focused on helping us to achieve our specific financial goals, rather than guiding us down a well-worn pathway of financial products and insurance which is unfortunately all that many advisors can offer.
Julie
Even though I am currently living overseas, Andrew has ensured that we are able to discuss my retirement plan for when I return to Australia.
He phones me at a set time taking into consideration the time difference.
He adjusts his advice according to changes in my situation.
Lyn
Andrew has been exceptionally conscientious in providing a service to me.
Andrew was able to understand the factors affecting my current circumstances and made very useful recommendations.
He is clearly very knowledgeable as a financial advisor and I felt I could trust him. I would certainly recommend him to others.
Contact and find us
CONTACT US
500 Terry Francois Street, San Francisco, CA 94158