Our Process

We follow a defined financial planning process so that you can achieve all of the benefits of financial planning advice. Of course, everyone is different, with different circumstances, needs and goals. We treat every client as an individual, but by following a defined process, you know what to expect from us.

The initial advice process covers our first appointment all the way through to the implementation of your financial plan. We do this by:

A stepped process is used:

1. Understanding each other.

• Information gathering / fact-finding.

Helping you understand where you are and how we can help you is a vital part of the financial planning process. Our first meeting will revolve around getting to know you. We will gather and collate personal and financial information which will be instrumental in providing you with a personalised plan to meet your needs. We will also provide you with a Financial Services Guide detailing who we are, what we can do for you and other important information.

• Identifying your objectives

Integral to the planning process is the identification of your needs, and attainable goals and objectives, such as:

• What is important to you and your family?
• Where are you now, and what are your most urgent needs?
• Where do you want to be and what would you like to achieve in the future?
• Who else do we need to consider in your creating your plan? (ie spouse, family members, business partners, etc)
• What other issues do we need to consider in creating your plan?
• What is your current investment experience and attitude towards investing?

2. Preparation of a financial plan

Your Principal adviser will work closely with you to help you understand how a plan can get you to where you want to be. We will explore your options, assess your situation and investigate the options that may be appropriate for you. Our analysis may include:

• Superannuation and Retirement Planning.
• Growth and/or Income needs.
• Insurance need analysis.
• Cash flow management
• Estate Planning needs (relating to financial planning)
• Debt management

In creating your financial plan we may recommend suitable financial planning strategies that could include:

• Salary Sacrifice.
• Superannuation and Investment solutions.
• Transition to retirement strategies.
• Centrelink strategies.
• Self-Managed Super Funds
• Estate Planning solutions

We will present you a plan with clearly identified recommendations relating to your goals and objectives. Where necessary we will prepare and include financial models to assist in the explanation of our recommendations. We will also provide appropriate documents such as Product Disclosure Statements as required.

We will also discuss how you would like to move forward and how we can help make this happen, including how often we will meet and how we should communicate.

3. Putting your plan into action

• Implementing Your Plan

We will help you understand how and when everything will happen. Once you have approved our advice, we will begin implementing your personalized recommendations as efficiently and as quickly as possible.

This may include:

• Setting up new investments or transferring existing ones
• Consolidating or rolling over your superannuation accounts
• Establishing regular investments or superannuation contributions
• Establishing insurance policies and arranging medical appointments where required.
• Establishing margin loans facilities
• Discussing your estate planning requirements

We will keep you informed along the way. Implementation may take anywhere from a few days to months, depending on the complexity of your situation. During this time we will keep you informed on our progress.

To ensure implementing our plan goes as smoothly as possible, we may also work with other individuals and organisations such as your accountant, Solicitor, Superannuation funds, insurers, Centrelink and the ATO (with your permission of course).

4. Keeping you on track

• Reviewing Your Plan

This service is a tailored partnership designed to keep you informed and on track to achieve your goals. It should also ensure the actions we put in place remain appropriate year on year.

Ongoing services are a vital part of our relationship and can include:

• Personal Financial coach, we will ensure that you stay focused and keep on track with your agreed plan. We will ensure you remain focused on the big picture to help you achieve your personal financial goals and aspirations.
• Regular reviews of your financial goals annually or bi-annually (depending on your ongoing advice service) to continue understand your world and to review your plan based on changes to your situation.
• Identifying opportunities, information on potential new solutions and opportunities based on access to in-house research and analysis that we will discuss with you.
• Ongoing communications, our team will keep in touch throughout the year with relevant information and market commentary that may be of interest to you.

Sometimes, life takes us in unplanned directions. When you need a little extra help on top of our initial or ongoing advice, just ask us to provide you with some additional advice. We are there to help you – whatever the occasion.