James Beard

I'm James Beard, founder and financial adviser at Saint Financial Planning in Warrnambool.

I grew up on a dairy farm just outside Warrnambool and began my career in financial planning in 2008. After spending several years working in Melbourne and gaining experience across a range of financial planning businesses, I returned home with my family and established Saint Financial Planning.

My approach to financial advice is pretty simple: help people understand where they are, work out where they want to go, and put a practical plan in place to get there. I believe good financial advice should be easy to understand, focused on strategy rather than products, and give people greater confidence and choice in their lives.

I particularly enjoy working with people approaching retirement who want to know whether they're on track, how much they can comfortably spend, how to make the most of their super and investments, and what they can do now to improve their position before they finish work.

Just as importantly, I don't believe building wealth should mean putting your life on hold. The goal is to find the right balance between preparing for the future and enjoying the things that matter to you today.

I try to make financial planning straightforward and approachable, without unnecessary jargon or complexity. I want my clients to understand the advice they're receiving, why we're doing it, and feel comfortable asking questions along the way.

I’ve deliberately kept Saint Financial Planning small and personal. Clients deal directly with me throughout the advice process and on an ongoing basis, rather than being passed between different advisers. This allows me to understand each client’s situation properly and provide consistent advice as their life evolves.