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Working With WSP: An Introduction

How we help you build, protect, and enjoy your wealth — through evidence-based advice tailored to your circumstances.

Client Introduction | March 2026

Helping you make and protect wealth — honestly, ethically and justly.

We don't operate as a production line. We don't funnel people into pre-set solutions. And we don't believe your financial life should be shaped by trends, templates, or pressure.

Our real strength is in relationships — being available when you need us, knowing your situation well enough to respond meaningfully, and helping you build capability and confidence rather than dependence. Your needs will change over time, and we adapt as your circumstances do.

Read more about our philosophy →

The Total Portfolio Approach

We recognise that everyone's financial situation is unique. Our approach integrates your complete wealth picture with flexible service levels to create genuinely personalised advice.

The Service Cube™

The level of advice and services you want or need at any given point in your financial journey. Life isn't linear—sometimes you need intensive advice, sometimes just maintenance. The Service Cube adapts to where you are right now, and changes as you do.

The Wealth Pyramid™

A conceptual and technical analysis of your complete financial position—at a point in time or across your lifetime. From foundations (cash flow, protection) through accumulation to distribution, the pyramid ensures nothing is overlooked.

The Wealth Pyramid™ and The Service Cube™ are registered trademarks of WSP (June 2002, renewed through 2032)

Foundations First

Before moving to investments or complex strategies, you'll want to ensure the fundamentals are sound. What that looks like varies by person and circumstance—it might involve cash reserves, disaster planning, insurance protection, debt management, structures for tax effectiveness and credit security, or estate planning. Not everyone needs everything. This isn't a tick-box exercise—it's making sure your foundations will hold when life gets complicated.

Our Investment Process

When investment advice is appropriate, our process builds on industry-standard Strategic Asset Allocation but adds layers of research, adjustment, and personalisation. Click any step to learn more.

From Assessment to Your Portfolio

1
FinaMetrica
Risk Tolerance Assessment
2
Delta Factors
Valuation & Efficiency Research
3
WSP Adjustment
Availability, Flexibility & Capacity
4
Total Portfolio
Your Unique Circumstances

Step 1: FinaMetrica — Risk Tolerance Assessment

A straightforward questionnaire—can be completed in about 15 minutes, even on your phone. But don't let the simplicity fool you: it's psychometrically validated and used by advisers worldwide.

What it measures

Your genuine risk tolerance—how you actually respond to investment scenarios, not what you think you should feel. There's often a gap between intellectual understanding ("I know markets go up and down") and emotional reality ("I can't stop checking my balance"). FinaMetrica identifies where you genuinely sit.

What you receive

A detailed report showing your risk tolerance score, how it compares to the broader population, and what it means for portfolio construction. This becomes the starting point—not the end point—of our conversation about your investments.

Important distinction: Risk tolerance (measured here) is about psychology. Risk capacity (your financial ability to bear losses) is different—we assess that separately in Step 3.

Step 2: Delta Factors — Valuation & Efficiency Research

Formerly Farrelly's Investment Strategy—one of Australia's most respected independent research houses. Delta provides quarterly analysis of asset class valuations, return expectations, and portfolio efficiency.

Why this matters

Most managed funds and super products use Strategic Asset Allocation—set percentages in each asset class, rebalanced periodically. It works, but it largely ignores current valuations. Are shares expensive or cheap right now? What returns can we realistically expect over the next decade given where prices are today?

What Delta provides

Rigorous scenario analysis—not just the "most likely" outcome, but a range of possibilities including less probable but impactful events. Their research helps us understand whether current market conditions warrant adjustments to standard allocations, and what returns are reasonable to expect.

Note: Delta's research informs our thinking; it doesn't dictate it. We use their analysis alongside other inputs to form our view.

Step 3: WSP Adjustment — Availability, Flexibility & Capacity

This is where we bring practical reality and your complete situation into the picture.

Investment availability

Not all investments are available in all structures. Your super fund might not offer certain options. A particular managed fund might be closed. We work within what's actually accessible to you.

Flexibility

How easily can allocations be changed? What are the costs of switching? Some structures are nimble; others are cumbersome. This affects how we build and maintain your portfolio.

Risk capacity

Distinct from risk tolerance. You might be comfortable with volatility, but if you need that money soon, your capacity to bear a 30% drop is limited regardless of your preferences.

The gap matters: Someone with high risk tolerance but low risk capacity needs a more conservative portfolio than their questionnaire alone would suggest. We make that adjustment here.

Step 4: Total Portfolio — Your Unique Circumstances

The final layer transforms a model portfolio into your portfolio by considering your complete financial picture.

Existing assets: What you already own outside this portfolio—property, other investments, business interests
Tax position: Your marginal rate, capital gains considerations, franking credit value
Entity structures: Personal, super, trust, company—each has different implications
Income requirements: Do you need this portfolio to generate income now, or is growth the priority?
Life stage: Accumulating, transitioning, or drawing down?
Personal preferences: Ethical considerations, sector preferences, things you simply don't want to own
The result: A portfolio that reflects not just your risk profile, but your complete situation—integrated with our Service Cube (how you want to engage with us) and Wealth Pyramid (your overall financial structure).

Our Service Models

We offer flexible service arrangements that adapt to your needs. Click on any option below to learn more—or tell us what's happening in your life and we'll highlight what typically fits.

What's happening in your life right now?

Fees shown are current as at March 2026. Service fees and hourly rates are reviewed periodically and may change. Always check wsp.com.au for the latest fee information before making decisions.

Contact

$660 (12 months)

Your file stays open. Pro app with automatic data updating. We're available at short notice if something comes up.

What's included
  • Pro version of the app with automatic institutional datafeeds
  • Annual data check — we contact you to confirm that the information in your financial app and our records is still accurate and current (this is an admin update, not an advice meeting)
  • Our name retained on your accounts with institutions
  • File kept open and maintained — ready to step up quickly if needed
This suits you when:

Things are stable, but you want us actively maintaining your file and available at short notice. The administrative effort of keeping your position current is handled.

Report

From $1,650

Formal documentation of your position. Cashflow analysis, projections, summaries—factual and general, not personal recommendations.

What's included
  • Cashflow reports and analysis
  • Retirement goal projections
  • Position summaries and net worth statements
  • Scenario modelling

Reports are factual and general—they inform rather than recommend. This distinction matters: a report gives you clarity on where you stand; a recommendation requires formal advice documentation.

This suits you when:

You need clarity on your current position. You're planning ahead or want something documented. You're not necessarily seeking a recommendation—you want to understand the numbers.

Advice

From $2,640 ($330/hr)

Personal recommendations. Strategy documents. Statements of Advice. Professional guidance applied to your specific situation.

What's included
  • Statements of Advice (SoA) and Records of Advice (RoA)
  • Strategy documents and recommendations
  • Implementation support
  • Complex situation analysis

Charged on a time basis for full transparency — you know exactly what you're paying for. Adviser time at $330/hr; administrative support at $110/hr. Minimum engagement typically starts from $2,640.

This suits you when:

You're facing major decisions or life transitions. Complex situations requiring professional judgment. You need someone to work through the options with you and make specific recommendations.

Moving between service levels isn’t about climbing a ladder—it’s about matching what we do to what life has put in front of you. A period of stability calls for Contact; a period of change may call for Advice. The right level is whatever fits your circumstances now.

Investment Management Approaches

When investment advice is appropriate, we offer different levels of involvement. Click to explore—or tell us what suits you.

What kind of involvement are you looking for?

The Advised Approach

We manage a pool of funds under predefined strategies. You step back; we handle the ongoing decisions.

An amount of money—whether in super, an investment account, or another structure—is placed under our advice. We manage those funds according to an agreed strategy or approach: asset allocation, rebalancing, investment selection.

This is the most hands-off option. There's no broader review of your other assets or ongoing input required from you. It's simply: this pool of money runs under this strategy, and we look after it.

This suits you when:

You want professional management without needing to be involved in the detail. You're comfortable delegating investment decisions within agreed parameters.

Between the Flags

For funds where your options are limited—industry super, corporate funds, or restricted investment menus.

Many people have money in industry funds, corporate superannuation, or other arrangements where the investment options are limited and a fully tailored strategy isn't possible. You can't always get the exact allocation or investments you'd choose if starting from scratch.

In these situations, we review what's available and help you understand how your current exposures fit—or don't fit—within your risk profile, return expectations, and preferences. We work with what you've got, making the best of the options available.

This suits you when:

You have super or investments where the options are restricted. You want to know whether what you're in makes sense given your situation, and what adjustments are possible within those constraints.

Directed

You participate in the investment process—in full or in part. Collaborative, hands-on, tailored to how you want to engage.

Sometimes called "Private Client" or "Bespoke." You're involved in the portfolio decisions—whether that's discussing individual investments, debating allocation choices, or simply wanting to understand and approve each move before it happens.

The level of involvement is up to you. Some people want to co-pilot every decision; others want to understand the strategy deeply but leave execution to us. We adapt to how you want to work.

This suits you when:

You want to be part of the conversation. You have views on investments, or you simply want to understand what's happening with your money rather than delegating entirely.

Learn More

WSP Website

Our main website with information about our team, services, and approach to financial planning.

Visit wsp.com.au →

Michael's Musings

Thoughts on markets, investing, financial planning philosophy, and the intersection of money and life.

Visit michaelsmusings.com.au →

Investment Strategy Profiler

An interactive tool to help you understand different investment approaches and risk profiles.

Open Profiler →

WSP Information Hub

Interactive guides on topics from housing affordability to portfolio construction — explore the tiles at your own pace.

Browse the Hub →

Our Proprietary Frameworks

The Wealth Pyramid™ and The Service Cube™ are WSP's proprietary frameworks developed over more than two decades of practice. Together, they ensure we address both your complete financial picture and your evolving need for advice and service. These frameworks have been registered trademarks since June 2002, reflecting our long-term commitment to evidence-based, client-centred financial planning.

Ready to Get Started?

Whether you're new to WSP or already part of our community, we're here to help you take the next step.

New to WSP? Get in touch and we’ll find the right starting point for your situation. Existing client? Let’s review whether your current service level still fits.

Important Information & Disclaimers

General Advice Warning

This document contains general information only and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Before acting on any information contained in this document, you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your objectives, financial situation, or needs. We recommend you obtain financial, legal, and taxation advice before making any financial investment decision.

About Our Services

Service pricing and availability may change. All fees are inclusive of GST where applicable. Investment management services are subject to separate agreements and disclosure documents. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Third-Party Tools

FinaMetrica risk profiling is a product of FinaMetrica Pty Ltd. Delta Portfolios research is provided by Delta Portfolios Pty Ltd (ABN 60 688 845 150). WSP is not affiliated with these providers beyond using their services.