Clients want confidence and control – not just returns, says Russell Investments
New research reveals what investors really value from advice – and how advisers can align more closely with expectations
Sydney, 29 August 2025 – Australians working with financial advisers say the greatest value they receive isn’t just investment returns – it’s confidence, control, and peace of mind, according to new research from Russell Investments, a global investment solutions partner.
Findings from the new 2025 Value of an Adviser Report, which surveyed 700 Australian investors (advised and unadvised) and nearly 200 financial advisers in Q2 2025, show that the emotional and behavioural benefits of advice are just as important as technical expertise — and may even carry more weight in client satisfaction.
Among advised clients:
- 89% say feeling confident and knowledgeable about their finances is the top financial benefit of advice
- 86% cite feeling more in control of their finances as the top emotional benefit
- 81% say they are extremely confident in achieving their financial goals — compared with only 28% before receiving advice.
“Advisers have always been technical experts, but this research shows their real competitive edge is helping clients feel calm, capable, and in control,” said Neil Rogan, Head of Distribution, Australia and New Zealand.
However, advisers and clients don’t always see value the same way. While 70% of advisers believe their main financial contribution is helping clients avoid costly mistakes during periods of market volatility, only 28% of clients agree.
A new lens: The Value of an Adviser Index
The Value of an Adviser Report – now in its eighth year – found financial advisers added at least 5.6% in value for clients over the past 12 months. In 2025, Russell Investments introduces a new Value of an Adviser Index, which ranks the report’s five traditional components of advice based on how strongly they drive client satisfaction (methodology below). The highest-scoring elements this year were:
- Technical and emotional expertise – Index score: 118
- Appropriate asset allocation – Index score: 113
These ranked ahead of:
- Tax-savvy planning – 92
- Behavioural coaching – 91
- Guidance on financial trade-offs – 88
“The Index shows us that in 2025, technical and emotional expertise, coupled with appropriate asset allocation are the main drivers of client satisfaction. Advisers who focus on these are best placed to deliver the most impactful outcomes,” said Rogan.
Advice delivers measurable financial outcomes
Beyond emotional benefits, the research confirms that advice contributes to real financial security and improved wellbeing:
- Earlier retirement: 42% of advised retirees stopped working before age 65 (vs. 20% of never-advised retirees, 80% of whom retired at 65+)
- A clear path forward: 86% of advised clients have a clear and structured financial plan in place.
- Control and peace of mind: 86% of advised clients say they feel more in control of their finances, and 81% report peace of mind about their financial future.
- “Advice is delivering measurable value, both in financial terms and emotional wellbeing. This is a strong foundation for advisers to build loyalty and referrals,” said Rogan.
Trust and fee transparency still matter most
The research also highlighted two essential drivers of client satisfaction:
- Trust emerged as the foundation of a positive client-adviser relationship.
- Fee transparency continues to be a challenge, with clients rating advisers lower than advisers rate themselves on clarity.
Bridging this gap with clearer communication, more client-friendly language, and consistent reinforcement of value can help advisers deepen engagement and satisfaction.
“We want to equip advisers with practical insights they can apply immediately,” said Rogan. “Helping clients feel in control of their financial future is not just a nice-to-have; it’s the core of the value proposition.”
A full copy of the 2025 Russell Investments’ Value of Adviser Report can be found HERE.
Media enquiries
Darren Snyder
darren@honner.com.au
0434 827 650
About Russell Investments
Russell Investments is a leading global investment solutions partner providing a wide range of investment capabilities to institutional investors, financial intermediaries, and individual investors around the world. Since 1936, Russell Investments has been building a legacy of continuous innovation to deliver exceptional value to clients, working every day to improve people’s financial security. The firm has US$332 billion (AUD $533 billion) in assets under management (as of 31/03/2025) for clients in 30 countries. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Russell Investments has offices in 17 cities around the world.
Russell Investments' ownership is composed of a majority stake held by funds managed by TA Associates Management, L.P., with a significant minority stake held by funds managed by Reverence Capital Partners, L.P. Certain of Russell Investments' employees and Hamilton Lane Advisors, LLC also hold minority, non-controlling, ownership stakes.
Important information
Issued by Russell Investment Management Ltd ABN 53 068 338 974, AFSL 247185 (RIM). This document provides general information only and has not been prepared having regard to your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision, you need to consider whether this information is appropriate to your objectives, financial situation or needs. This information has been compiled from sources considered to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.
To the extent permitted by law, no liability is accepted for any loss or damage as a result of reliance on this information. This material does not constitute professional advice or opinion and is not intended to be used as the basis for making an investment decision.
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Notes on Methodology
The 2025 Value of an Adviser Report is based on independent research conducted by Honeycomb Strategy in May 2025. The study surveyed 700 Australian investors (both advised and unadvised) and nearly 200 financial advisers. To qualify, investors needed a household income or total assets of $100,000 or more. Advisers typically had more than a decade of experience and 50–200 clients.
Russell Investments’ Value of an Adviser formula is made up of five key components:
- A = Appropriate asset allocation (1.3%)
- B = Behavioural coaching (3.1%)
- C = Guidance on choices and trade-offs (priceless)
- E = Technical and emotional expertise (priceless)
- T = Tax-savvy planning (1.2%)
The new Value of an Adviser Index builds on this framework by scoring each component based on its actual influence on client satisfaction, and given a score indexed to 100. In 2025, the top-rated drivers were emotional and technical expertise, and appropriate asset allocation.
Further detail available on request.