A Better Alternative to Offshoring for Financial Planners

By Ben Surace (Co-Founder of CountHQ)

Financial Planners: I don’t believe you should have to do it all yourself. Neither do you.

We both know your true value lies in guiding clients through their biggest decisions. They look to you for confidence, trust and continuity. Your financial expertise.

But too often, you’re buried in paraplanning tasks and financial planning admin support. From drafting Statements of Advice to handling compliance, these jobs matter – but they also steal your time from where you’re needed most.

You’ve probably asked yourself: do I just work longer hours, hire more locally or look at outsourcing?

The best financial planners don’t try to do it all. They build a smarter Managed Resource Model that lets them focus on clients.

And the truth is, you don’t need to sacrifice precious client time for admin tasks. With the right support, you can have both.

I’ve seen how “traditional” financial planner offshoring lets Australian financial planners down

Most Australian financial planners know about offshoring. The Philippines, for example, has been a popular place to source paraplanners and admin staff. But here’s what I’ve seen time and again: the “traditional” offshoring model creates new challenges.

The most common pain points for offshoring for financial planners?

• Endless interview rounds that waste weeks.
• Staff who need full training in Australian systems.
• Zero continuity if someone leaves or goes on leave.
• Heavy oversight that eats up your time.

Adding capacity isn’t enough – without continuity and structure, traditional offshoring exposes you to disruption.

And when you’re in financial planning, those gaps aren’t just inconvenient. They risk client relationships permanently.

I want you to know there’s a smarter way: the Managed Resource Model

Here’s the better option to offshoring for financial planners: the Managed Resource Model.

Instead of handing you an offshore worker and still leaving you to figure it out, this model builds in the structure you need to run your business already from day one.

Here’s how it works:

• Pre-trained staff – our financial planning administrators and paraplanners already understand Australian systems.
• Fast integration – no long hiring rounds; you plug them into your workflows.
• Manager support – experienced leaders oversee your team members and provide technical guidance.
• Buddy staff – backup is already trained and ready to step in for continuity.

Managed resources aren’t just extra hands.
They provide you with resilience, continuity and the ability to serve clients without interruption.

That means you get the benefits of financial planning outsourcing without the typical risks.

I’ll show you why planners like you are making the switch

What Australian financial planners love about the managed resource model is simple: it mirrors the promises they already make to their clients – trust, continuity and long-term stability.

Here’s why more Australian financial planning firms are shifting to managed resources:

• Minimal oversight required – staff integrate fast with less hand-holding.
• Reduced training load – you set workflows, not basic skills.
• Technical support built in – managers and peers handle complex questions.
• Continuity guaranteed – buddy systems keep deliverables moving even during staff changes.
• Scalable capacity – expand or contract as your business evolves.

Just as you reassure clients you’ll always be there, your support structure should give you the same confidence.

Also: I take security and software as seriously as you do

One of the first questions I hear from Australian financial planners is: “But will they know our software?” “Will my data be safe with someone else?”

The answer is yes to both.

We work across all major financial planner platforms, including Xplan (Iress). For flexibility, we even have our own financial planning platform – though most firms prefer us to use theirs.

You don’t need to compromise on software or data security to scale your financial planning support team.

And because security is non-negotiable in Australian financial services, our operations are certified to ISO 27001. That means your data is handled under strict global standards in secure offices – never in a work-from-home setup.

With Australian-led oversight and strict quality control, you can rely on us with full confidence in both compliance and continuity.

I’d rather you try it first, no strings attached

I understand change feels risky. That’s why we let you experience it for yourself before committing.

With our risk-free first month, you can:

• Start with a trained paraplanner or administrator right away.
• Integrate them into your practice with minimal effort.
• Pay the fee without a lock-in contract for the month
• End the trial within 48 hours’ notice if it’s not the right fit.

You don’t have to leap blindly.
You can try, test and see the value before deciding.

That means you get the real-world benefits without the long-term risk.

I believe the future of your financial planning practice isn’t paperwork and admin

The financial planning profession is built on trust and human relationships. Your clients count on you for long-term guidance and you should be able to count on your support systems the same way.

With the managed resource model for Australian Financial Planners, you get:

• Stability and risk reduction.
• Pre-trained paraplanners and administrators who integrate quickly.
• Global standards of security and compliance.
• The ability to scale at pace without burning out.

This isn’t about handing off tasks. It’s about building the foundation that lets you focus on growth, client care and strategy.

Your success won’t come from doing more admin – it will come from freeing yourself to focus fully on your clients.

Let’s explore it together. Experience our Managed Resource Model without risk

I know you’ve got a lot on your plate. The last thing you need is another risky decision about who supports your firm. That’s why I’d rather have a simple, honest chat with you first.

With CountHQ, you don’t just get admin support – you get a complete, managed finance team solution. You can count on us.

And here’s my suggestion: let’s have a quick, no-pressure conversation.

Not a pitch – just me, listening to where your practice is at and sharing whether the Managed Resource Model could be the answer.

If it’s not right, you’ll know straight away. If it is, you can test it in a risk-free first month and see the impact on your time, your clients, and your confidence.