YouTube for Financial Advisors in Australia: The Complete Guide

If you're a financial advisor in Australia thinking about YouTube, you're probably asking yourself two questions: Is it worth the effort? And how do I do it without getting into trouble with ASIC?

‍

Good questions. We'll answer both.

‍

This guide covers everything you need to know about building a YouTube channel for your financial planning practice — from why it works, to what to say, to how to stay compliant under your AFSL. It's written specifically for Australian advisors because every other guide out there is built for the American market, referencing SEC rules and FINRA regulations that have nothing to do with you.

‍

We're Compound One. We're a done-for-you YouTube production agency that works exclusively with financial services firms. Our team built the system behind New Money (1M+ subscribers) and now runs YouTube channels for wealth advice firms like Wattle Partners. Everything in this guide comes from what we've seen work in the Australian market.

Why YouTube Works for Australian Financial Advisors

Most marketing channels for financial advisors are saturated. Google Ads for "financial advisor Sydney" will cost you $30-50 per click. Referral networks dry up. And content marketing through blog posts takes years to build meaningful traffic in financial services.

‍

YouTube is different — and here's why it works particularly well for advisors.

Trust Before the First Meeting

Financial advice is a trust-based service. Nobody hands over their retirement savings to someone they found on a Google Ad. YouTube lets prospective clients watch you explain complex topics, see your face, hear your voice, and decide whether you're someone they'd trust — before they ever book a meeting.

‍

By the time a YouTube lead contacts your practice, they've already watched hours of your content. They know your philosophy. They understand your approach. The first meeting isn't a pitch — it's a formality.

Compounding Returns

A blog post might get read a few times in its first week, then disappear. A YouTube video about "how much super do I need to retire in Australia" can generate views, and leads, for years. Every video you publish adds to a library that works for you while you sleep.

‍

This is the compounding effect that makes YouTube different from every other marketing channel. Six months in, your oldest videos are still generating views. Twelve months in, your channel is a lead-generation machine that doesn't require ad spend to maintain.

Zero Competition in Australia

Here's the part most advisors don't realise: almost nobody in Australian financial services is doing YouTube well. There are a handful of channels. Most are mediocre — poor audio, no strategy, inconsistent posting, or just recordings of webinars.

‍

If you're a financial planner in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, or any Australian city, the barrier to becoming the dominant YouTube presence in your market is remarkably low. Your competition isn't doing this. Which means the advisors who start now will own this channel for years.

Local SEO Benefits

YouTube is owned by Google. Videos rank in Google search results. When someone searches "financial advisor retirement planning Sydney", a well-optimised YouTube video can appear alongside — or above — traditional web results.

‍

This gives you visibility in two search engines simultaneously, and positions your practice as the authoritative voice in your local market.

What Australian Advisors Need to Know About Compliance

This is the section that doesn't exist anywhere else on the internet. Every YouTube marketing guide skips compliance entirely or references American regulations. If you hold an AFSL (or operate under one), here's what matters.

ASIC RG 234 — The Rules That Apply to You

ASIC's Regulatory Guide 234 governs advertising of financial products and advice. It applies to YouTube content. The key principles:

1. Don't be misleading or deceptive.

This sounds obvious but it has specific implications for video. You can't cherry-pick performance data, make unrealistic return promises, or present general information in a way that could be mistaken for personal advice.

2. Distinguish between general advice and personal advice.

On YouTube, you're almost always providing general information or general advice. Make this clear — both verbally in each video and in your video descriptions.

3. Include appropriate disclaimers.

Your AFSL number, a general advice warning, and your AFS licensee details should appear in every video description.

What You Can (and Can't) Say on YouTube

You can:

‍

• Explain financial concepts (superannuation, franking credits, insurance, retirement planning)
• Share general market commentary and investment education
• Discuss your firm's philosophy and approach
• Walk through case studies (with appropriate disclaimers and without identifiable client details)
• Compare product types in general terms (e.g. industry super vs SMSF considerations)

‍

You can't:

‍

• Provide personal financial advice to viewers
• Make specific product recommendations to the general public
• Guarantee or imply guaranteed returns
• Use misleading performance data or cherry-picked timeframes
• Forget to disclose your AFSL obligations

How We Handle Compliance at Compound One

Every script we write goes through a compliance review process before filming. We understand the boundaries because we work exclusively in this space. Our clients' compliance teams review scripts, and we build in standard disclaimers and general advice warnings from the start.

‍

This isn't something you should be nervous about — it's something you should have a system for. We've helped firms navigate this hundreds of times.

‍

For a deep dive into compliance, read our full guide here.

Content Strategy: What to Talk About

The biggest mistake advisors make is trying to create content for other advisors. Your audience is prospective clients — regular Australians who have questions about money.

Start With Questions Your Clients Already Ask

Think about the questions you get in every initial meeting. Those are your first 20 videos:

‍

• How much super do I need to retire?
• Should I salary sacrifice into super?
• What's the difference between an industry fund and an SMSF?
• How do franking credits work?
• When should I see a financial advisor?
• What does a financial plan actually include?
• How much does financial advice cost in Australia?

‍

These aren't just good video topics — they're the exact queries people type into Google and YouTube. When your video answers the question, you become the advisor they trust.

Australia-Specific Topics That Nobody's Covering

This is your advantage. US advisors dominate YouTube with content about 401(k)s and Roth IRAs — none of which is relevant to your audience. Here are topics where you'll face almost no competition:

1. Superannuation:

Contribution caps, preservation age rules, transition to retirement strategies, death benefit nominations

2. Age Pension:

Eligibility, assets test, income test, Centrelink interactions with super

3. First home buyers:

FHSS scheme, government grants by state, stamp duty concessions

4. Tax and franking credits:

How imputation works, tax offsets, deductions for investment properties

5. SMSF:

Setup considerations, compliance obligations, investment strategy requirements

6. Centrelink:

How super interacts with government benefits at different life stages

Content Formats That Work

Not every video needs to be a lecture. The financial advisor channels that grow fastest mix formats:

1. Explainer videos (5-10 min):

One question, one clear answer. These are your bread and butter.

2. Market commentary (3-5 min):

Monthly or fortnightly updates. Timely and shareable.

3. Myth-busting (5-8 min):

"Is [common misconception] true?" These get high click-through rates.

4. Day-in-the-life (5-10 min):

Behind the scenes of your practice. Builds personal connection.

5. Q&A compilations (10-15 min):

Answer 5-10 viewer questions in one video. Great engagement.

6. Long-form deep dives (15-30 min):

Comprehensive guides on complex topics. These perform well over time.

Production: How to Actually Make the Videos

Let's be practical. You run a financial planning practice. You don't have time to become a YouTuber. Here are your options.

Option 1: Do It Yourself

You can start with a smartphone, a lapel mic, and natural lighting. Seriously. Some of the most successful financial advisor channels started exactly this way. The content matters more than production quality, especially in your first 20 videos.

What you'll need:

‍

• A quiet room with decent lighting
• Any modern smartphone or a basic webcam
• A $30-50 lapel microphone
• Free editing software (DaVinci Resolve or CapCut)
• 3-4 hours per week for scripting, filming, and editing

‍

The downside: it's time-consuming, the learning curve is real, and most advisors stop after 10 videos because it takes too long.

Option 2: Hire a Done-for-You Agency

This is what we do at Compound One. You show up for one filming session per week. We handle everything else: strategy, scripting, filming, editing, thumbnails, SEO optimisation, and publishing.

‍

The result is a professional YouTube channel that grows consistently without eating into the time you need to serve your clients.

What Good Production Looks Like

Regardless of how you produce your videos, here's what matters:

1. Audio quality is non-negotiable.

Viewers will tolerate average video quality but they'll click away from bad audio in seconds.

2. Good lighting makes you look professional.

Face a window or invest in a basic ring light. Dark, shadowy video screams amateur.

3. Keep your background clean and intentional.

A bookshelf, office setting, or simple branded backdrop all work.

4. Thumbnails are as important as the video.

Your thumbnail is the billboard. Invest time in making it clear, readable, and clickable.

Real Results: What YouTube Did for Wattle Partners

We don't deal in hypotheticals. Here's what happened when a Melbourne wealth advice firm committed to YouTube with Compound One.

‍

Wattle Partners had no YouTube presence when they started with us. Within 12 months:

‍

• ‍1.6 million video views
• 400% increase in monthly high-net-worth leads
• First page rankings for competitive financial planning search terms
• A steady pipeline of inbound enquiries from prospects who had already watched multiple videos

‍

The leads that come through YouTube are different from any other channel. These people have watched hours of Wattle Partners' content. They understand the firm's philosophy. They arrive at the first meeting pre-sold on the relationship.

‍

That's what YouTube does for a financial advice practice — and it keeps compounding.

‍

Read the full Wattle Partners case study here.

How Long Does It Take to See Results?

This is the most common question we get — and it deserves an honest answer.

Months 1-3: Foundation

You're building your content library. Views will be low. Subscriber growth will be slow. This is normal. The algorithm needs data to understand your channel and who to recommend it to.

Months 3-6: Traction

Your best videos start ranking in YouTube search. You'll notice certain topics performing significantly better than others. Refine your strategy based on what the data tells you. Leads will start trickling in.

Months 6-12: Compounding

This is where it gets exciting. Your library of content is now working for you around the clock. Old videos continue generating views. The algorithm is recommending your content to new viewers. Leads become consistent.

Month 12+: Dominance

With 50+ videos published, you own your topic space on YouTube. Competitors who start now are 12 months behind you. Your channel is a moat.

Getting Started: Your Next Step

You've read the guide. You know YouTube works for Australian financial advisors. You know the compliance landscape. You know what content to create. Now you have two choices:

1. Go at it alone:

Use this guide as your roadmap. Start with the topics your clients already ask about. Film on your phone. Post weekly. You'll learn a lot and you might build something great — if you can stick with it.

2. Work with us:

We'll do the research, write the scripts, handle the filming and editing, manage the compliance review, and grow your channel — so you can focus on advising your clients. It starts with a free growth audit where we analyse your market and show you exactly what's possible.

‍

Get your Free YouTube Growth Audit today.