Paul Benson

Practice Principal, Financial Planner, Author, Columnist & Podcast Host

Paul Benson is the founder and principal financial adviser at Guidance Financial Services, and one of Australia’s trusted voices in financial advice. 

For more than two decades, Paul has helped Australians make confident decisions about retirement, superannuation, investing, inheritance, divorce, business succession and major life changes. 

Paul’s interest in investing started as a teenager, when his grandfather gifted him a small parcel of CSR shares. That early experience sparked a lifelong interest in how smart financial decisions can create more choice, security and freedom over time. 

He is the author of Financial Autonomy: The money book that gives you choice, host of the Financial Autonomy podcast, and the expert behind the Ask an Expert column published across The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald network every Sunday. Through his work, Paul has helped thousands of Australians better understand their money, their options and their future. 

A two-time finalist for Certified Financial Planner of the Year, Paul brings deep technical expertise without the ego. Clients come to him for straight answers, clear strategy and the confidence that someone experienced is helping them think through the decisions that matter. 

Outside of work, Paul is a Formula 1 fan, regular swimmer and runner, fly fisherman, and proud dad to two musician sons whose live gigs are a regular highlight.