Introduction
People look for a Financial Advisor in Singapore when money decisions get complex—buying a home, starting a family, planning for retirement, or trying to balance protection, investing, and taxes without overpaying on fees.
This guide explains what to expect from financial advice locally, what it typically costs, and how to compare providers based on practical, real-world criteria.
Because reliable, public review data and individual advisor track records aren’t consistently published in one place, this list focuses on well-known, established, regulated options where basic service information is publicly accessible. Where details can’t be confirmed, you’ll see “Not publicly stated” rather than assumptions.
About Financial Advisor
A Financial Advisor helps you make structured decisions about your finances—usually across insurance protection, investments, retirement planning, education planning, and (sometimes) estate planning coordination. In Singapore, the term can refer to an individual representative or a firm regulated under the relevant financial advisory framework.
You may need a Financial Advisor when you want a complete plan (not just a product), when your income rises and your tax/portfolio choices start to matter more, or when life changes (marriage, children, property purchase, career switch) increase your financial risk and responsibility.
Average cost in Singapore varies widely. Many advisors are compensated through product commissions (common for insurance-linked recommendations), while others charge transparent advisory fees (fee-only planning). Typical market ranges can look like:
- Fee-based planning: often hundreds to a few thousand SGD depending on complexity (Varies / depends)
- Assets under advice/management models: often a percentage of assets (Varies / depends)
- Commission-based advice: the planning cost may not be billed directly, but product costs and ongoing fees can still apply (Varies / depends)
Licensing/certifications (Singapore): Financial advisory activities are regulated, and representatives typically need to be properly appointed and to meet required competency standards. Common professional designations (optional, not mandatory) may include CFP or other recognised credentials, but availability varies by advisor and is not universal.
Key takeaways
- A Financial Advisor can help integrate protection + investing + retirement into one plan.
- In Singapore, advice is typically regulated, but compensation models differ (fee-only vs commission vs hybrid).
- Always ask for fee clarity, product costs, and ongoing review scope before committing.
How We Selected the Best Financial Advisor in Singapore
We used the following criteria to select providers for this guide:
- Years of experience / longevity
- Established presence and continuity in Singapore (where publicly verifiable)
- Verified customer review signals (publicly available only)
- Review summaries are included only when confidently known; otherwise marked Not publicly stated
- Service range
- Ability to cover common needs: protection planning, retirement planning, investing, and periodic reviews
- Pricing transparency
- Clear explanation of whether the model is fee-based, commission-based, or hybrid (when publicly stated)
- Local reputation
- Widely recognised providers with a meaningful Singapore footprint
This guide uses only publicly available information when known. If a detail (pricing, specific hotline, named advisor experience) can’t be confirmed confidently, it is listed as Not publicly stated rather than guessed.
About Singapore
Singapore is a global financial hub with a high concentration of banking, wealth management, and insurance services. Demand for financial advice is driven by high living costs, property ownership planning, CPF-related retirement decisions, and a large market for protection and long-term investing.
Many residents seek advice that fits Singapore-specific realities—CPF integration, rising healthcare costs, insurance structuring, and goal-based investing for milestones like housing, education, and retirement.
Key neighborhoods commonly served (in-person and hybrid/online models vary by provider):
- Central Business District (CBD), Marina Bay, Raffles Place
- Orchard / River Valley
- Novena / Thomson
- Bishan / Toa Payoh
- Tampines / Bedok
- Jurong East / Bukit Batok
- Woodlands / Sembawang
- Punggol / Sengkang
Top 5 Best Financial Advisor in Singapore
#1 — Providend
- Rating: Not publicly stated
- Years of Experience: Not publicly stated
- Services Offered: Comprehensive financial planning (fee-based model), retirement planning, investment planning, insurance review (scope varies / depends)
- Price Range: Not publicly stated
- Contact Phone: Not publicly stated
- Contact Email (if available): Not publicly stated
- Website (if available): https://www.providend.com/
- Google Map or ProfessNow or Yelp Link
- Google Reviews Summary: Not publicly stated
- Best For (Budget / Emergency / Premium / Family-Friendly / etc.): Premium / Fee-based planning seekers
#2 — iFAST (iFAST Financial / iFAST Corporation)
- Rating: Not publicly stated
- Years of Experience: Not publicly stated
- Services Offered: Investment platform access, portfolio solutions, advisory support (offerings vary / depends), retirement and goal-based investing support (varies / depends)
- Price Range: Varies / depends
- Contact Phone: Not publicly stated
- Contact Email (if available): Not publicly stated
- Website (if available): https://www.ifast.com.sg/
- Google Map or ProfessNow or Yelp Link
- Google Reviews Summary: Not publicly stated
- Best For (Budget / Emergency / Premium / Family-Friendly / etc.): Platform-based investors / Ongoing portfolio access
#3 — DBS Treasures (DBS Bank Ltd)
- Rating: Not publicly stated
- Years of Experience: Not publicly stated
- Services Offered: Wealth planning and investment solutions, insurance and protection solutions (via distribution), portfolio review (varies / depends)
- Price Range: Varies / depends
- Contact Phone: Not publicly stated
- Contact Email (if available): Not publicly stated
- Website (if available): https://www.dbs.com.sg/
- Google Map or ProfessNow or Yelp Link
- Google Reviews Summary: Not publicly stated
- Best For (Budget / Emergency / Premium / Family-Friendly / etc.): Premium / Bank-led wealth customers
#4 — OCBC Premier Banking (Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited)
- Rating: Not publicly stated
- Years of Experience: Not publicly stated
- Services Offered: Wealth planning, investment products and portfolio solutions, insurance and protection solutions (via distribution), relationship-managed reviews (varies / depends)
- Price Range: Varies / depends
- Contact Phone: Not publicly stated
- Contact Email (if available): Not publicly stated
- Website (if available): https://www.ocbc.com/
- Google Map or ProfessNow or Yelp Link
- Google Reviews Summary: Not publicly stated
- Best For (Budget / Emergency / Premium / Family-Friendly / etc.): Premium / Relationship-managed banking clients
#5 — UOB Privilege Banking (United Overseas Bank Limited)
- Rating: Not publicly stated
- Years of Experience: Not publicly stated
- Services Offered: Financial planning support through banking relationship, investments and protection solutions (via distribution), periodic portfolio reviews (varies / depends)
- Price Range: Varies / depends
- Contact Phone: Not publicly stated
- Contact Email (if available): Not publicly stated
- Website (if available): https://www.uob.com.sg/
- Google Map or ProfessNow or Yelp Link
- Google Reviews Summary: Not publicly stated
- Best For (Budget / Emergency / Premium / Family-Friendly / etc.): Premium / Convenient one-bank relationship
Comparison Table
| Professional | Rating | Experience | Price Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providend | Not publicly stated | Not publicly stated | Not publicly stated | Premium / Fee-based planning seekers |
| iFAST (iFAST Financial / iFAST Corporation) | Not publicly stated | Not publicly stated | Varies / depends | Platform-based investors / Ongoing portfolio access |
| DBS Treasures (DBS Bank Ltd) | Not publicly stated | Not publicly stated | Varies / depends | Premium / Bank-led wealth customers |
| OCBC Premier Banking | Not publicly stated | Not publicly stated | Varies / depends | Premium / Relationship-managed banking clients |
| UOB Privilege Banking | Not publicly stated | Not publicly stated | Varies / depends | Premium / Convenient one-bank relationship |
Cost of Hiring a Financial Advisor in Singapore
The cost of hiring a Financial Advisor in Singapore depends heavily on the compensation model:
- Commission-based (common): You may not pay an explicit advisory fee, but product charges, embedded fees, and ongoing policy/investment costs can apply (Varies / depends).
- Fee-based / fee-only planning: You pay a stated fee for advice, typically based on complexity and scope (Varies / depends).
- Bank relationship models: Costs can be embedded in products and platform fees; certain tiers may require minimum assets or balances (Varies / depends).
Average price range (typical market positioning)
- Simple financial planning engagements: Varies / depends (often hundreds to a few thousand SGD)
- Ongoing portfolio advice: Varies / depends (often percentage-based or platform-fee based)
- Complex multi-goal planning (retirement + estate coordination + business needs): Varies / depends
Emergency pricing (if applicable) Financial planning is usually not an “emergency service” category like plumbing or towing. If you need urgent help (e.g., claim support, policy changes, time-sensitive investment actions), response speed depends on the provider and relationship tier. Not publicly stated for most providers.
What affects cost
- Scope of work (single need vs full plan across protection, investing, retirement)
- Advisor compensation model (fee-only vs commission vs hybrid)
- Asset size and complexity (multiple accounts, properties, businesses)
- Product types involved (insurance, unit trusts, bonds, structured products—varies by provider)
- Frequency of reviews (one-time plan vs quarterly/annual check-ins)
- Documentation depth (cashflow plan, needs analysis, retirement projections—varies / depends)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much does a Financial Advisor cost in Singapore?
It varies by model. Some advisors charge an explicit planning fee, while others are compensated via product commissions or platform fees. Always ask for a written explanation of all fees and ongoing costs.
How to choose the best Financial Advisor in Singapore?
Start with your needs (insurance review, investing, retirement, comprehensive plan), then compare compensation model, transparency, review process, and whether they can explain recommendations in plain language.
Are licenses required in Singapore?
Financial advisory activity is regulated. Representatives generally need to be properly appointed under the relevant framework and meet competency requirements. If unsure, ask the advisor which regulated entity they represent and what advisory permissions apply.
What questions should I ask before signing up?
Ask how they’re paid, what products they can and cannot recommend, total costs over time, what happens in a market downturn, and what ongoing reviews you’ll receive (and how often).
Is fee-only financial planning available in Singapore?
Yes, but availability varies. Fee-only firms typically charge for advice directly; whether that’s suitable depends on your budget and preference for separating advice from product sales.
Can a Financial Advisor help with CPF and retirement planning?
Many can incorporate CPF considerations into retirement planning. The depth of CPF modelling and advice varies by provider, so request a sample plan outline or a clear description of what’s included.
Do banks in Singapore provide Financial Advisor services?
Banks commonly provide wealth planning through relationship managers and advisory teams (often under exempt or regulated frameworks). Offerings differ by bank tier and eligibility requirements.
Who offers 24/7 service in Singapore?
Most financial planning is not offered on a 24/7 basis. Some larger institutions may have general hotlines, but advisor-level planning support depends on the individual or team and is Not publicly stated as a standard service.
Should I use one advisor for insurance and investments?
It can be convenient, but confirm whether the advisor is restricted to certain providers or product shelves. If you want broader comparisons, ask how many providers/products they can access and why they recommend specific solutions.
What documents should I prepare for a first meeting?
Typically: income and expenses, existing insurance policies, investment statements, CPF balances (if available), outstanding loans, and your goals/timeline. The more complete the picture, the better the advice fit.
Final Recommendation
If you want fee-based, planning-first advice, start by speaking with Providend and confirm scope, deliverables, and total cost upfront—this fits clients who prioritise structured planning and transparency over product-led conversations.
If you prefer integrated banking + investments + relationship support, consider DBS Treasures, OCBC Premier Banking, or UOB Privilege Banking—best suited for customers who value convenience, access to a broad range of bank-distributed solutions, and periodic reviews tied to a banking relationship.
If you want a platform-oriented approach with investment access and advisory support depending on your needs, iFAST can be a practical fit—especially if you’re comfortable managing investments with guidance rather than outsourcing everything.
Get Your Business Listed
If you’re a Financial Advisor in Singapore and want your details added or updated, email contact@professnow.com. You can also registe & Update yourself at https://professnow.com/.