Active Financial Consulting

Financial goal

Reducing debt

Debt can involve different products, rates, time frames and consequences. The right first step depends on whether you are planning ahead, reviewing lending or already experiencing financial difficulty.

A clearer first brief

What you may want to bring into view

  • Understanding the purpose and urgency of the review
  • Considering repayment priorities and cash-flow pressure
  • Exploring lending or consolidation questions carefully
  • Recognising when hardship support is needed

Start with the outcome

You do not need to arrive with every answer

AFC can help identify the category of support you may need, including when a lender, broker, adviser or free financial counselling service may be the more suitable contact.

Begin with the decision, change or concern that prompted you to seek support.

Related questions may point to more than one type of appropriately qualified professional.

Understand the conversation

A useful way to approach this goal

These are orientation points to help you prepare, not a recommendation about what you should do.

01

Separate a planned review from financial hardship

Someone looking to repay a manageable loan sooner may need different support from someone missing payments or unable to meet essential living costs. Being clear about urgency helps direct the enquiry appropriately.

If you are experiencing hardship, contact your lender's hardship team or a free, independent financial counsellor promptly. Consolidation or refinancing is not automatically suitable and can change costs, security and the time taken to repay debt.

02

Look at the whole effect of an option

A lower scheduled repayment does not necessarily mean a lower total cost. Fees, interest rates, loan term, secured versus unsecured debt and the treatment of existing facilities all matter.

AFC can facilitate introductions for appropriate lending or financial support. Any credit assistance, advice or recommendation comes from the relevant provider under their own scope and obligations.

  • Compare total costs and terms, not only the repayment amount
  • Ask what fees and risks apply before changing a facility
  • Do not delay seeking hardship or financial counselling support

Questions worth considering before you talk

There are no perfect answers. A few notes can simply make the first conversation more focused.

  1. 01

    Are repayments currently manageable?

  2. 02

    Is your goal to simplify, repay sooner or respond to hardship?

  3. 03

    Would changing a loan affect security, fees or the repayment term?

  4. 04

    Do you need immediate free financial counselling support?

Potentially relevant expertise

The right professional depends on the question

These categories may be relevant to this goal, but their inclusion is not a statement that AFC directly provides each service or that every category is suitable for you.

  • 01Lending and refinancing
  • 02Financial advice
  • 03Budgeting support
  • 04Financial counselling, where appropriate

Keep exploring

Related financial goals

A wider goal may bring several connected questions into view.

View all goals

Improving cash flow

Create a clearer view of money coming in, commitments going out and the next goal to prioritise.

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Financing a property

Find the right lending conversation for a home purchase, refinance or property investment goal.

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Navigating a major life change

Find an orderly financial starting point after separation, bereavement, career change or another major transition.

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