Financial Advisor in Melbourne, Independent Advice in Bayside
Forest Wealth’s Melbourne office is at Office 1/321 Charman Road, Cheltenham VIC 3192, on the Charman Road retail strip, a short walk from Cheltenham station and minutes from Westfield Southland.
It is our first Victorian office and gives Melbourne clients the same independent, face-to-face financial advice we have provided across Sydney for years.
Forest Wealth was named 2025 Advice Practice of the Year. We hold our own Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL 700376), so our advice is based on what is right for you, not on commissions, product relationships, or bank ownership.
Our Melbourne advisers work with families, professionals, business owners, and retirees across Bayside, Kingston, and the south-east, from Brighton and Sandringham through Mentone, Mordialloc, and Bentleigh, down to Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula.
Free initial consultation. No obligation.
Financial Planning for Bayside and Melbourne’s South-East
Bayside and Kingston have a specific financial profile. Owner-occupier rates are high, home equity is substantial, and a large share of residents are within ten to fifteen years of retirement. The question we hear most often at our Cheltenham office is not “how do I build wealth” but “do I actually have enough, and how do I turn it into an income?”
The clients we see fall into three broad groups.
Pre-retirees and retirees
People in their fifties and sixties with strong super balances and significant home equity who need a drawdown strategy, Age Pension modelling, and a clear picture of what their money can sustain over thirty years.
Established professionals and families
Dual-income households in Brighton, Hampton, Bentleigh, and Mentone who are contributing to super, paying down a mortgage, and carrying insurance they have never had reviewed, and who want to know if the whole structure is actually working together.
Business owners and self-employed
Tradespeople, medical and allied health practitioners, and retailers across Moorabbin, Cheltenham, and Highett who need advice covering both the business structure and their personal financial plan.
We also work with families managing an aged care transition for a parent, a Victorian-specific process where getting the RAD, DAP, and Centrelink means test decisions right can change the outcome by tens of thousands of dollars.
Financial Planning Services Available in Melbourne
Retirement Planning
Building a personalised retirement income strategy, account-based pensions, transition to retirement, Age Pension eligibility, and long-term cashflow planning so your money lasts as long as you need it to.
Superannuation Advice
Reviewing your current super fund, consolidating multiple accounts, maximising contributions before retirement, and aligning your investment strategy to your timeline and risk tolerance.
SMSF Advice
Establishing and managing a self-managed super fund for Melbourne clients who want greater control over their retirement savings, including trustee obligations, investment strategy, and annual compliance.
Investment Management
Tailored investment portfolios built around your goals, income needs, and risk tolerance, across shares, managed funds, and cash, with regular reviews to keep your strategy on track.
Insurance Advice
Life insurance, income protection, total and permanent disability (TPD), and trauma cover reviewed objectively, structured inside or outside superannuation based on what is right for your situation.
Aged Care Financial Advice
Helping Melbourne families plan for residential aged care costs, understand the RAD vs DAP decision, and navigate the Centrelink means test with confidence.
Estate Planning Advice
Ensuring your assets pass on the way you intend, binding death nominations, beneficiary strategy, testamentary trusts, and coordination with your estate planning solicitor.
Centrelink Advice
Maximising your Age Pension entitlements and understanding how your super, investments, and income interact with the Centrelink means test.
Cashflow Management
Mapping where your money actually goes, building a surplus, and directing it toward the goals that matter, debt reduction, super, or investment.
Business Financial Planning
Financial planning for self-employed Melbourne residents and small business owners, business structures, tax minimisation, buy-sell agreements, and succession planning.
Areas We Serve from Melbourne
Our Cheltenham office serves clients across Bayside, Kingston, and Melbourne’s south-east:
Bayside: Cheltenham, Brighton, Brighton East, Hampton, Sandringham, Black Rock, Beaumaris, Highett
Kingston: Mentone, Parkdale, Mordialloc, Aspendale, Chelsea, Moorabbin, Dingley Village, Clarinda, Heatherton
Glen Eira and inner south-east: Bentleigh, Bentleigh East, McKinnon, Ormond, Caulfield, Carnegie, Murrumbeena
Monash and south-east: Oakleigh, Oakleigh South, Clayton, Clayton South, Springvale
Frankston and Mornington Peninsula: Frankston, Seaford, Carrum, Mount Eliza, Mornington
We also meet clients by video call anywhere in Australia. For clients in New South Wales, our Chatswood, Hornsby, and Sutherland offices are also available.
Meet Jon Scukovic, your Melbourne Financial Advisor
Jon Scukovic is the financial planner based at Forest Wealth’s Melbourne office. He holds a Master of Commerce in Finance and Financial Planning (MComm Fin., FinPl) and has worked in the financial services industry since 2007.
Jon started his career in risk and compliance, and that grounding shapes how he advises today. It is where his focus on the quality of advice comes from.
“Quality is what matters most. With my background starting in our industry in 2007 within risk and compliance, I am passionate about the quality of advice my clients receive.”
Jon works with individuals and families across Melbourne on retirement planning, superannuation, and long-term wealth building. His approach is to understand a client’s goals, circumstances, and aspirations first, then build a strategy around them.
“My goal is to help clients feel confident about their financial future by providing advice that is clear, personal, and aligned with what matters most to them.”
Outside the office, Jon is kept busy by his wife and three young sons. He runs, swims, and both plays and coaches basketball. He is a passionate Hawthorn supporter in the AFL.
Jon is an authorised representative (AR 1264055) of Forest Wealth Holdings (ABN 88 697 620 858, AFSL 700376) and is registered on the ASIC Financial Adviser Register.
Forest Wealth was named 2025 Advice Practice of the Year.
What Our Clients Say
“We have really appreciated the professional advice and planning, with our transition to retirement portfolio, the whole process over the past 8 years has been clear, concise and easy to follow. The team are always very accessible for any advice, queries and follow up details.”
Steve Walsh
“Professional, knowledgeable and supportive. Clear advice and excellent service.”
Belinda Gilpin
Reviews from our Google profile
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Forest Wealth’s Melbourne office?
Our Melbourne office is at Office 1, 321 Charman Road, Cheltenham VIC 3192, on the Charman Road shopping strip. It is a short walk from Cheltenham station on the Frankston line, and a few minutes’ drive from Westfield Southland and the Nepean Highway. Street parking is available on Charman Road.
Do you charge for the first meeting?
No. The first meeting is free and carries no obligation. It is a conversation about your situation and goals so both sides can decide whether we are a good fit before any fee is discussed.
How much does financial advice cost in Melbourne?
Fees depend on the complexity of your situation. We quote a fixed fee in writing before any work begins, so you know the cost upfront. We do not accept commissions on investment or superannuation products.
Are you independent, or owned by a bank?
Forest Wealth is not owned by a bank, fund manager, or insurer. We hold our own Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL 700376) through Forest Wealth Holdings, and our recommendations are not tied to any institution’s product list.
Can I see a Melbourne adviser without coming into the office?
Yes. We meet clients by video call and phone across Victoria and Australia. Many clients do the first meeting in person at Cheltenham and then switch to video for annual reviews.
Do you advise on self-managed super funds?
Yes. We advise on whether an SMSF suits your circumstances, help establish the fund, build the investment strategy, and manage trustee and compliance obligations year to year.
What areas around Melbourne do you cover?
We work with clients across Bayside, Kingston, Glen Eira, Monash, and Frankston, including Brighton, Hampton, Sandringham, Beaumaris, Mentone, Mordialloc, Bentleigh, Moorabbin, Oakleigh, and the Mornington Peninsula.
Book a Meeting at Our Melbourne Office
We offer a free initial consultation with no obligation. Come and see us in person at Office 1, 321 Charman Road, Cheltenham, a short walk from Cheltenham station.
Melbourne Office (Cheltenham)
Office 1/321 Charman Road, Cheltenham VIC 3192
Phone: 1800 31 41 51
Email: support@forestwealth.com.au
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm | Saturday by appointment