Josh Copeland

Adviser spotlight, meet Josh Copeland, a financial adviser who is passionate about helping people achieve their financial goals

If you think financial advisers are all about number crunching and spreadsheets, Josh Copeland might just surprise you. One of the financial advisers at Become Wealth, Josh combines his love for finance with a deep passion for helping people to make confident, informed decisions about their financial future.

From Interest to Expertise: Josh’s Path to Financial Advice

Josh didn’t set out to be a financial adviser — it was a path he discovered through hands-on experience. In his final year of university, he joined an internship program that placed him with Become Wealth (then called Milestone Direct). From there, he worked his way up through administration, compliance, and adviser assistant roles, giving him a well-rounded understanding of what it takes to be an exceptional financial adviser.

His inspiration? A natural interest in finance and economics, coupled with a drive to help people navigate what can often seem like a complex and overwhelming world. Financial advice combines these two interests and gives him an avenue to help people to simplify and unpack what can be complex concepts.

“Helping people achieve their goals and hearing how grateful they are is incredibly rewarding,” Josh says.

A Logical Approach to Wealth Building

From experience with clients, Josh knows that financial success is less about luck and more about repeating smart decisions over a sustained period. His approach is rooted in understanding each client’s unique situation and crafting a tailored plan that aligns with their long-term goals.

Take, for example, a couple who came to Josh with strong incomes but uncertainty about how to build their wealth. Through his guidance, they secured their dream home, invested in property, and set up a flexible long-term investment portfolio — all while maintaining a focus on debt reduction. The result? They’re now on track to be mortgage-free in a few years, with multiple investment properties and a growing portfolio of assets that will support their financial future.

Josh understands that everyone's financial situation is different. That's why he takes the time to get to know his clients and their specific needs. He then develops a tailored plan to help them achieve their goals.

Empowering Clients to Take Control

One of the biggest misconceptions about financial advisers, Josh says, is their services are expensive luxuries. In reality, professional advice can often save people from costly mistakes and set them on a more efficient path to financial success.

For one client, this meant making a life-changing decision about a lump sum payout from an old work pension scheme. With Josh’s help, they used the funds to become debt-free, establish an investment portfolio, and create a more flexible and secure financial future.

For those in the wealth-building phase, Josh’s top three tips are:

1. Focus on growing your income. A higher level of income opens many more doors and gives you more investment opportunities.
2. Buy real estate as soon as possible.
3. Follow a few simple rules over a long period and focus on the things that you can control.

The Key to Long-Term Client Relationships

Josh knows that trust is the foundation of any great adviser-client relationship. “Being authentic, honest, and myself helps build trust with clients,” he says.

“You won’t get along perfectly with everyone, but people appreciate transparency.”

His approach is built on long-term relationships, not just transactions. Whether it’s guiding clients through major financial decisions or helping them stay the course during investment market fluctuations, Josh ensures his clients feel supported every step of the way. “Investments don’t always make money immediately,” he acknowledges. “The key is keeping clients focused on the bigger picture and tying everything back to their personal goals.”

Life Beyond Finance

Josh serves clients up and down the country from his home in Auckland.

When he’s not helping clients take control of their financial future, Josh enjoys spending time outdoors: running, hiking, skiing, and playing sports. Josh plays Australian Football League (AFL) competitively, previously having represented New Zealand. 

His passion for staying active mirrors his approach to financial planning: consistency, discipline, and the ability to adapt to changing conditions.

The Bottom Line: Josh Copeland

Josh knows building wealth doesn’t have to be complicated, it’s about following a few simple principles over time and focusing on what you can control.

For more updates and insights from Josh, you can connect with him on LinkedIn.

Josh is a financial adviser, registration number FSP765812. He has been registered since 1 November 2020. Josh holds the following qualifications: Bachelor of Business Studies (Finance and Economics), and New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services (Financial Advice) (Level 5).