Financial Services SA Pty Ltd

09/09/2026

It is always a pleasure and a privilege to support my local community.

I’ve always believed that strong regional communities are built by people and businesses being prepared to get involved, whether that’s supporting local organisations, volunteering, sponsoring events or simply showing up. So sponsoring the Bundaleer Bilby Easter Egg Hunt this year was a no-brainer.

Events like this bring families together, create memories for our kids and help maintain the community spirit that makes regional South Australia such a great place to live and work. A core value of mine is supporting my community and I am a proud volunteer in many committees that support my local area, local businesses and the industry as a whole. What do you stand for? What do you value?

Thank you to everyone who helped bring the event together, you're the unsung legends. I’m proud to play a small part in supporting the community that has supported me for so many years.

07/09/2026

Most business owners know succession planning is important.

The problem? Knowing it needs to happen and actually having a plan are two very different things.

This article highlights that succession remains a major concern for businesses, yet many still don't have a concrete plan in place.

For family and farming businesses, putting the conversation off can create even greater challenges.

Who wants to take over?
Is the next generation ready?
What does a fair outcome look like for family members who aren't involved in the business?
Can the business financially support the transition?
And importantly—does everyone actually know what the plan is?

Succession doesn't need to happen tomorrow to start planning for it today.

The earlier you begin, the more time you have to explore your options, prepare the next generation and work alongside your accountant, solicitor and other professional advisers to build a pathway forward.

A succession plan shouldn't just exist in someone's head.

Get it discussed. Get it documented. And keep reviewing it as circumstances change.

Succession planning is a top concern across generations in family businesses, but concrete strategies are lacking, a survey by Grant Thornton has found.

06/09/2026

"One of the greatest compliments we receive at Financial Services SA is a referral from a client we've worked with.

For a business like ours, trust matters.

Whether we've worked alongside you on business planning, finance, succession or helped you navigate a challenging period in your business, we'd appreciate it if you could take a moment to share your experience.

Your review helps prospective clients—particularly farming families, family-owned businesses and regional enterprises—better understand how we work and the support we provide.

⭐ If you've worked with Financial Services SA, you can leave us a Google review here:
https://www.google.com/maps/place//@-33.2071524,138.6162612,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m3!3m2!1s0x6abc1b3e4b1fcdc7:0xadd8ac1cb0d7c2ec!12e1?entry=ttu

Thank you to our clients, professional partners and wider community for your continued trust and support.

https://www.google.com/maps/place//@-33.2071524,138.6162612,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m3!3m2!1s0x6abc1b3e4b1fcdc7:0xadd8ac1cb0d7c2ec!12e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDgwNS4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

★★★★★ · Business management consultant

02/09/2026

Australia's shortage of financial advisers raises a broader question for businesses:

Do you have the right professional support network around you?

This article discusses the FAAA looking internationally as part of efforts to address Australia's chronic adviser shortage.

For family-owned and agricultural businesses, access to experienced professional support can become particularly important as operations grow and decisions become more complex.

Business owners may need different expertise at different stages—from accountants and lawyers to appropriately licensed financial advisers, finance professionals, agronomists and succession specialists.

The important point is that these relationships shouldn't only be established when a major problem emerges.

A strong business planning process identifies:

• Where specialist expertise may be required
• Who should be involved in major decisions
• Where knowledge gaps exist
• What conversations need to happen before succession or transition
• How the professional team can work together around the business's objectives

One person doesn't need to know everything.

But a business owner should know where to find the appropriate expertise when it's required.

In an environment where skilled professional advisers are increasingly in demand, developing those relationships early can become an important part of long-term business planning.

A Financial Advice Association Australia submission to Jobs and Skills Australia recommending “financial adviser” and “paraplanner” be added to the 2026 Occupation Shortage List would open up pathways to recruiting from overseas to fill a significant and growing shortfall in the number of ad...

31/08/2026

AI is changing almost every industry, and financial services is no exception.

This AFR article looks at how AI could help make financial advice faster and more efficient.

There’s plenty to be excited about. Technology can help analyse information, improve processes and give businesses access to insights faster than ever before.

But there are some things technology can't replace.

Understanding the family sitting across the table.

Knowing the history behind a business.

Recognising that a succession decision isn't simply about numbers.

Understanding why one option might look good on paper but simply isn't right for that family.

We see AI as another tool that can support better business decisions, not a replacement for the relationships and understanding behind them.

Because when you're making decisions that could shape the next 10, 20 or 30 years of your business, context matters.

Industry insiders predict artificial intelligence will make financial advice faster and cheaper. Work is already underway to make it happen.

30/08/2026

Sometimes the hardest conversations are the ones that matter most.

In family businesses and farming families, disagreements can develop around succession, finances, property, partnerships or simply different ideas about what the future should look like.

When those conversations reach a standstill, mediation can provide a way forward.

At Phillip Dibben Mediation, I work with individuals, families and business owners to create a structured environment where everyone has the opportunity to be heard and the parties can work towards a practical outcome.

Mediation can assist with:

• Farm and business succession
• Family agreements
• Financial disputes
• Partnership disagreements
• Property settlements
• Leasing arrangements
• Workplace and small business disputes

With more than 35 years of experience across finance, agribusiness and farming businesses, I understand that these discussions are rarely just about numbers. There are relationships, histories, livelihoods and sometimes generations tied to the outcome.

The aim isn't necessarily for everyone to get everything they want.

It's to find common ground and work towards an outcome everyone can move forward with.

If there's a conversation your family or business has been struggling to resolve, mediation may help.

We guide a 7-step collaborative framework that amicably and cost effectively works through a fair and reasonable negotiation and dispute resolution.

27/08/2026

Your values might stay the same…

…but your priorities will change.

As businesses grow, families evolve and opportunities arise, it's worth taking the time each year to ask yourself:

✨ What matters most now?
✨ Do my goals still reflect my values?
✨ Is my business supporting the life I want to build?

Reviewing your WHY each year helps ensure your business plan continues to reflect the future you're working towards.

Because success isn't just about growing a business.

It's about creating a life you're proud of.

For many business owners, the response often begins with practical reasons: to support the family, grow the business or create financial security. But beneath those answers lies something even more important, your WHY. Your WHY is the reason behind every decision you make. It’s the foundation of y...

26/08/2026

“Never had it so good” is a pretty positive statement to hear from Australian farmers.

This article highlights growing optimism across parts of agriculture, with favourable conditions giving many producers greater confidence about what lies ahead.

And when things are going well, that's exactly when planning matters.

A stronger season can create an opportunity to:

🌾 Build cash reserves
🚜 Consider future capital expenditure
💰 Review debt and cash flow
📈 Invest back into the business
👨‍👩‍👧 Progress succession conversations
🎯 Revisit your longer-term business goals

Agriculture will always have its cycles. We've seen enough good years and difficult years to know conditions can change quickly.

The question isn't simply, “How well are we doing today?”

It's also, “How can we use today to put ourselves in a stronger position tomorrow?”

Good conditions create choices. Good business planning helps you decide what to do with them.

Record prices, surging global demand and a wave of homegrown technology have the industry more confident than it has been in years.

24/08/2026

Have we worked with you or your family?

Much of Financial Services SA has been built through relationships, referrals and the trust our clients place in us.

If we've helped you with your business planning, finance, succession conversations or simply provided some clarity when you needed it, we'd really appreciate hearing about your experience.

Leaving us a Google review only takes a couple of minutes, but it makes a real difference. It helps other farming families and regional businesses understand who we are, how we work and whether we might be the right people to have in their corner.

Leave Financial Services SA a Google review here:
https://www.google.com/maps/place//@-33.2071524,138.6162612,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m3!3m2!1s0x6abc1b3e4b1fcdc7:0xadd8ac1cb0d7c2ec!12e1?entry=ttu

Thank you to everyone who has trusted us to be part of their business journey. Your support, referrals and feedback mean a great deal to us!

★★★★★ · Business management consultant

22/08/2026

One of the biggest lessons I've learnt over the years is this:

Sometimes there isn't a perfect decision. Business owners often find themselves balancing competing priorities.

Family or growth.
Lifestyle or expansion.
Fairness or equality.

The goal isn't always to find the perfect answer. It's to make a decision that reflects your values and allows you to move forward with confidence.

When you know your WHY, even the hardest decisions become a little clearer.

For many business owners, the response often begins with practical reasons: to support the family, grow the business or create financial security. But beneath those answers lies something even more important, your WHY. Your WHY is the reason behind every decision you make. It’s the foundation of y...