Adviser numbers declined by 164 in 2024/25

Mike Taylor

Managing Editor and Publisher

1 August 2025

At the start of 2025 there were signs and hopes that financial adviser numbers might recover and rise beyond 15,500, but the latest analysis of the Financial Adviser Register data has confirmed such optimism was premature.

The WealthData analysis reveals that the Financial Advisers Register (FAR) currently shows a total of 15,364 advisers, which is actually 109 down on the number which was recorded at the start of the year.

The better news, however, is that numbers have grown by 185 since the start of the financial year, although this followed a rash of exits in the run-up to June 30.

WealthData principal, Colin Williams said he believed the numbers for last financial year had finally solidified, showing a net loss of 163 advisers.

Key Adviser Movements for This Period

• Net change of advisers +9
• Current number of advisers 15,364
• Net Change Calendar 2025 YTD (-109)
• Net Change Financial YTD (2025/26) +185
• 31 Licensee Owners had net gains of 42 advisers
• 20 Licensee Owners had net losses for (-32) advisers
• 1 new licensee and zero ceased. Total new licensees for July are now at 14.
• 16 new entrants
• Number of advisers active in this period, appointed / resigned: 74.

Growth – Licensee Owners

• A new licensee commenced with four advisers who were previously at Akumin Financial Planning owned by Entireti & Akumin (Details given to members)
• Evans Dixon up by three, all advisers being new entrants
• Endeavor Asset Management also up by three, all three advisers are currently showing as also being authorised at Australia Pacific Funds Management
• Count also up by three with one adviser joining Count Financial Limited from TCM Financial Services, one joining Paragem from Latitude Private Wealth and one new entrant joining GPS Wealth.
• Smith Coffey Group up by net two, both being new entrants and both authorised at two Smith Coffey licensees (Smith Coffey Pty Ltd and Smith Coffey Securities Pty Ltd).
• ART Group (Australian Retirement Trust), also up by two, both advisers coming back after long breaks from advice.
• A tail of 25 licensees up by net one including; Viridian Group, Industry Super Holdings and AIA Company.

Losses – Licensee Owners

• Entireti & Akumin Group down by eleven, with four leaving to form a new licensee as mentioned above, the other seven are yet to be appointed elsewhere
• HCM Trading Holdings down by two, neither appointed elsewhere
• Telstra Super also up by net two, neither appointed elsewhere
• A tail of 17 down by net one each including Canaccord Group, Picture Wealth and MWL Group who have now lost seven advisers in the month of July and only have six remaining advisers.