The Benefits of Working With Us
We help you make informed, confident decisions with clarity and purpose — turning plans into progress and opening the door to your next chapter.
Speak to us todayWe’re Based in Adelaide, South Australia
Our core team brings years of experience supporting people through important life decisions, offering thoughtful, personalised guidance aligned with your unique goals.
Our mission is to guide you through life’s financial chapters with clarity and confidence. We work with you one-on-one to create strategies that ensure you’re well-prepared for whatever comes next.

Mel Nicholson
Mel is a qualified Financial Planner who is passionate about supporting clients to improve their financial wellbeing and feel confident about their financial decisions.
She takes a holistic approach to financial wellness, recognising that financial needs change through different stages of life. Mel works with clients to provide clear, practical financial planning advice tailored to their goals, whether they are building wealth, preparing for retirement, or navigating life transitions.
Separately, Mel also operates as a Mortgage Broker, assisting clients with their lending needs. In this role, she helps clients navigate the home loan process with clarity and confidence, supporting them through property purchases, refinances, and changes to their lending arrangements.
Mel is known for her approachable, supportive style and her ability to explain complex concepts in simple, easy-to-understand terms. She values strong relationships and works closely with clients to ensure they feel informed and supported as they move through each chapter of life.

David Maddern
Dave has been involved in the finance industry for more than 35 years, beginning his career in 1982 with the former Savings Bank of South Australia at the BankSA branch in Streaky Bay. In 2000, he joined the BankSA Financial Planning team and completed a Diploma of Financial Planning.
After 32 years with BankSA, Dave made the decision in 2014 to move away from the bank advice channel and establish his own business. This allowed him to focus on providing traditional, client-focused service and building strong, long-term relationships.
He has extensive experience assisting clients with financial strategies to improve their position, including retirement planning, transitioning into retirement.
As Dave moves toward retirement, he has stepped back from his role as a financial planner and now supports Next Chapter Financial Planning in administration and paraplanning roles, enjoying a slower pace while continuing to contribute his knowledge and experience.

Adam Prior
After finishing high school in 2007, I jumped straight into the workforce as an electrician and spent the next 18 years building a solid, hands-on career. Over time, I realised my real passion lay in finance and helping people make smart decisions about their future. I transitioned into mortgage broking in late 2025 and haven’t looked back. I’m genuinely excited to help people achieve their property goals and grow alongside them.

Jordan Cosma
During Year 10, I completed a week of work experience that sparked a strong interest in finance. After finishing Years 10 and 11, I knew a career in finance was the path I wanted to pursue. This ultimately led me to step away from Year 12 and begin my professional journey with Next Chapter Financial Planning. I started this year as an Admin Assistant, where I’m learning the foundations of financial planning and gaining hands-on experience in the industry. My goal is to continue building my skills and knowledge, with the ambition of becoming a financial advisor in the future.
Let’s Work Together
Whatever your circumstances or goals, we will look for a financial solution that’s right for you. Send through a quick enquiry and we will be in touch.
Why work with us?
We help you navigate your options, cut through complexity, and move forward with confidence. From start to finish, we manage the process so your decisions feel clear, considered, and aligned with where you’re heading.
Why seek Guidance?
Because informed decisions today create stronger outcomes tomorrow.

When should you see us? What can you expect?
You can connect with us at any stage of your journey — whether you’re just getting started, considering your next move, or reviewing an existing arrangement to make sure it still fits your needs.
You might be building savings for your first step, exploring how to make better use of what you already have, or simply wanting to check that your current setup is still working in your favour. We offer obligation-free conversations, at a time and place that suits you.
When we meet, we take the time to understand your situation, priorities and what really matters to you. That might include flexibility for future plans, access to funds when you need them, or the ability to support lifestyle changes, investments or renovations down the track.
From there, we explore the options available, compare what’s out there, and guide you towards a solution that aligns with your goals- always with your best interest front of mind. Our focus is on finding what’s right for you, not pushing a particular provider.