Wealth Creation Blogs Worth Sharing.

The last few weeks have been extraordinary to say the least. We’re battling a world wide health crisis and we face uncertainty in many aspects of our lives.  It’s true that there are simply some things beyond our control and we will more than likely see many changes to our everyday lives for the remainder of 2020 and beyond. So, what can be done?  On the other side of this, many people will be left with dramatic financial stress, whether it be periods of unemployment, depleted cash reserves or battered superannuation balances.  And for many, timing will be an issue. Those who were weeks ago contemplating retirement may now need to change their plans. And those that are still accumulating for retirement have more than likely just seen their investments and superannuation return to levels of 5 or 6 years ago. Essentially the clock has be wound back in one way or another.  It may well be a good time to take stock and lay some foundations for when thing...

We have a solution  to avoid the old favourites: socks and jocks this Father’s Day.  As this weekend is Father’s Day, the focus should be on Dad.  You can purchase the actual book or the digital copy  so Dad can access year - round savings from his smart phone.  Part proceeds from your purchase, also helps a local Brisbane charity:  Be Uplifted Inc Breast Cancer Charity – so everyone wins!  Click here  to purchase Dad his Entertainment Book subscription. Another gift you could give Dad is encouragement.  To encourage Dad to have a conversation with a financial adviser about his super and insurances.  Why?  Maybe Dad has started a new job or had a promotion. Maybe Dad is nearing retirement? When our lifestyle changes or work situation changes, it affects your super + insurances. Reviewing these regularly will make sure Dad stays on track. Perhaps you know Dad has a few super funds hanging out there from prev...

Being retrenched from your job can be hard to accept. It is the sudden shock that catches most people but try not to take it personally. Redundancy is usually not about your personal performance; it’s the performance of your employer’s business, the industry sector in which you work, or even the global economy. Dealing with the key considerations below can help you take back control of your life and career. Take control Redundancy payment :  Genuine redundancy payments are given special tax treatment, including a tax-free amount related to years of service. Your lump sum payment might be your last pay packet for a while, so draw up a budget. This will help you identify areas where you can economise until you find a new job. Your financial adviser can help you work out the best use for any lump sum you receive. Mortgage :  If you have a home loan, contact your lender immediately. You may be able to adjust payments while you are out of the workforce. Centrelink :...

If you’re a contractor or maybe even a consultant to the resource industry, then you’re part of the “gig economy”. Perhaps, gone is the job for life, or even a job in the normal, employed meaning of the word. For you, work consists of short-term contracts or a series of one-off jobs. “Gigs” as the band down at the pub might put it. For some, gig work is a liberating choice that allows you to work your own hours, holiday when you like and work wherever you wish. For others it’s a necessity in a weak job market where under-employment and age discrimination is rife, and more companies choose to outsource specific tasks. A study found that 4.1 million Australians had freelanced in 2014/15, and it’s a trend more likely to grow than diminish. So if you’re a “gig worker” what can you do to make the most of your situation? It’s business If you’re happy picking up the odd jobs that fall into your lap for a little extra money, that’s fine. But if you are looking to earn a ...

I had the good fortune to share the mic with Sean Lavin and his Beneath the Surface podcast this week. Beneath the Surface: a podcast created to capture the stories of the people who make up the   global mining and related industries. Andrew O’Brien joins me for episode 6 of Beneath the Surface.  Andrew is a very unique character in the mining game - he’s a geologist, holds a site senior executive (SSE) ticket and is a certified financial advisor.  In this episode, Andrew and I talk all things finance in the mining industry. We discuss general financial education, tackle stereotypes and even dive head-first into the recent Royal Commission into misconduct in the banking, superannuation and financial services industry.   On top of all this, Andrew shares the biggest financial mistake that he sees miners make, and provides some fantastic advice to avoid the trap. I really enjoyed speaking to Andrew and am grateful for the knowledge and insights he share...

Working in the resources industry can be tough.  Remote locations, long hours and time away from family and friends can take its toll. The experience can of course be rewarding, particularly when it comes to income and the ability to plan for the future. However, it’s easy to become distracted especially when it comes to investing. Whether it be buying your first home, or in investment property, starting a share portfolio or investing your super, we are all at the mercy of the markets.  Property markets  down south are enduring a bit of a downturn at the moment, interest rates are low so money in the bank isn’t earning much and share markets around the world have been up and down. The fact is, markets are unpredictable. Just look at commodities.  Some of the biggest companies in the world have trouble predicting coal, iron ore and oil prices. Trying to predict the ups and downs is often impossible. The key is to remove emotion from your decisi...

Most of us are starting to think about getting back into work mode – or perhaps you are back at work already. Don’t worry, this is not going to be one of those “let’s look back over the last 12 months” chats where we remember which celebrities are no longer or who won major sporting events. What should you expect from the next 12 months? Well, nobody knows.  However, there is one certainty.  Markets will go up and markets will go down.   Consider this.  The Australian equities market is still approximately 18% below where it was 11 years ago so there’s plenty of upside just to get back to where it was.  In terms of your superannuation, you need to consider your time horizon, i.e . how long will it be invested for before you can access it. For a 35-year-old, they face another 30 years before they can access their super at age 65. Not only that, once they do retire at 65, they’re not going to take their super and spend it in one go....

The world’s ageing population has recently been described by the World Economic Forum as the financial equivalent of climate change.  A study of the world’s 6 largest global pension schemes (essentially the aged pension that governments pay those who have retired) in the US, UK, Japan, Netherlands, Canada and Australia found that by the year 2050 there will be a shortfall between what needs to be paid and what governments can afford of some $224 trillion. Governments simply won’t be able to afford to fund retirees via age pensions.  The main reason for this is the world’s ageing population, there’s an ever-reducing number of younger people in the work force generating income and taxes to fund the pension schemes that are designed to look after people when they retire. Traditionally, the three stages people would go through is they would become educated, work for 40 years or so, retire at 60- 65 and live off the pension until they died at say 70-75 at best. Mo...

A common misconception about income protection insurance is that it’s only for high-earners, but this isn’t the case. In reality, no one can afford to be without this safety net, regardless of the amount of income you earn. The only things certain in life are death and taxes—or so the famous saying goes. Thankfully, income protection insurance can add a positive guarantee to that list by safeguarding your quality of life, should an unexpected setback strike.  You can’t predict the future, but you can plan for it Nobody wants to consider an accident or illness impacting their health suddenly, but it’s a very real possibility. As well as changing your lifestyle, an unexpected illness could mean you need to take extended leave from work. It’s estimated that over 400,000 Australians suffer a heart attack sometime in their lives. i  Then there’s over 800,000 people of working age with disability, who were not working in 2015 alone. ii  It’s tempting to think th...

Say goodbye to the text and email back and forth tag game to find the perfect meeting time. Your job, your lifestyle, your family circumstance can change quickly.   Your super should reflect all your life changes as quickly as you do. In the new year, make it your resolution to have a check up on your latest super statement + insurances.   Just tap the Calendly link to book your 1 - hour mining super review with me.   Need a return Uber ex Brisbane CBD?   It’s on me.  Just let me know when you make your online Calendly appointment. The wet season in Queensland normally means December through to February is particularly slow.   That being the case, why not set aside an hour during your next hitch break to review your latest super statement?  Make a Calendly appointment with me for an online chat, a phone conversation or face to face appointment at our Hamilton Office for a coffee (I make a pretty mean latte)... ...