Financial Freedom Plan

Are you on track to achieve the things on your wish list in life? Will you have financial freedom?

Are you worried about your current and future financial well-being, or does it overwhelm, confuse and frighten you?

Take a moment, close your eyes and dream.

Financial Planning Brisbane

What is on your wish list for life?

Depending where you are in life’s journey, Goals & Dreams Financial Planning Brisbane team will spend time finding out what is important to you and then put a plan together to help achieve these goals…

Wealth Management

We help you make smart decisions about your money.

We achieve this through a tested and successful process – the creation of your own wealth plan and assistance from our wealth management Brisbane team.  See our customer financial success stories…

Do You Need A Financial Plan For Your Future?

Our Financial Success Stories

Our wealth management team are pleased to provide scenarios from different age groups of clients, to show examples of what can be achieved when you take financial planning action and get assistance with your wealth management plan.

Amy & Adam are a young couple recently married. They are good savers and want to get ahead in life and are currently saving for their first home. The strategy we implemented for them resulted in tax savings (via salary sacrifice and salary packaging). The application of the tax reduction has resulted in increased savings towards their home.

We also ensured that they are adequately protected should any unforseen circumstance arise, via accident or illness. They now have peace of mind that the bills and future mortgage will be paid, as they now have Death and Disability cover, as well as income protection and trauma cover.

They have each established a Will and an Enduring Power of Attorney and now understand the importance of these legal documents.

We are also in the process of creating an investment portfolio for them for the long term, separate from their superannuation. They now feel confident and empowered that they are on track to achieve the things on their wish list. Amy and Adam made the comment that they “didn’t know what they didn’t know” before seeking professional financial advice

TWENTIESThe Doctors

Deb and Steve have 3 beautiful children and a very busy life. When we met they were struggling to make ends meet and felt they just weren’t getting anywhere. Sound familiar?

They both work full time and earn good incomes. We worked with them to analyse where the leaks in their budget were. These “leaks” were negating any potential for savings. Once they took ownership of their decisions and we guided them through the numbers, Steve and Deb now feel that they are working towards achieving their goals.

They were both buying their lunch each day and spending up to $20 (each) per day. As life was busy they also ate a lot of take away meals. One of the things on their wish list was to get fit and healthy. The impact of just buying their lunch once a week and take-away less often resulted in the family becoming healthier, (as they made their own healthy lunches) and the reduced spending gave them savings they hadn’t had before.

Their mortgage is now under control and they are on track to take the children to Disneyland, which previously just seemed like a pipe-dream. They promise to send a postcard!

THIRTIESMarried with Kids, mortgage, trying to keep their heads above water

Tracey and Geoff are in their mid-40’s and they are now fully focussed on enjoying life. This new found freedom is exhilarating, however they are also really looking at retirement in a different light, as it draws closer.

With the absence of school and university fees, they suddenly have surplus cash flow and want to enjoy the journey whilst ensuring the fun will last into retirement.

Within a short period of time, their mortgage was repaid, funds were going into superannuation for long term and we put another investment strategy in place to save tax and grow their wealth (should they wish to retire before they can access their superannuation investments (due to Government set retirement ages).

Now they have an overseas trip every second year and are on track to retire early. Woohoo!

FORTIESKids have left home and the nest is empty

When we met Jan and Michael, they were planning to retire in 15 years’ time. They wanted to travel, but did not feel that they would be able to do so until retirement.

They completed their “wish list” and one of the items in the long term section was a trip to New Zealand.  As we want our clients to enjoy the journey, we put plans and structure in place for them to make New Zealand happen sooner.

A postcard arrived from New Zealand 18 months later, with the comment “Thank you for giving us permission to take this holiday”.  They have since been to Europe and are currently planning a trip to Canada. In the meantime, their superannuation funds are growing nicely to provide the lifestyle they desire in retirement.

FIFTIESPre–retirees, enjoying more travel – really focussing on retirement

David and Gail retired at age 55 in 2002.  At this time David had $410,000 and Gail had $255,000 accumulated in superannuation.

Since then they have enjoyed a very comfortable lifestyle in retirement and travelled the world. At age 65 they were entitled to receive a part Centrelink Aged Pension and we helped them complete the initial paperwork to apply. We liaise with Centrelink on their behalf to provide portfolio updates etc. on an ongoing basis.

Their funds are in individual Account Based Pensions (ABP’s) and since commencement they have collectively taken pension/income payments totalling $547,000 and withdrawn a lump sum total of $114,500 (for holidays, new car etc). A total of $661,500 has been taken out of the collective “pot” (as at time of writing February 2015).

Value today is $664,855 (February 2015).

As the fund does not pay any tax on earnings they have received a total of $42,500 in refunds (retained within the ABP’s).

They have learnt a lot about investing over the years and feel very comfortable with the strategies we have applied for them.

Survived the Global Financial Crisis (GFC)

  • As a point of interest, their combined balances at the lowest point during the GFC = $467,500. They did not panic and stayed focussed on the long term and felt comfortable with the level of diversification they have in their portfolios. They knew that the dividends were still coming in from the various sources within the funds and these were applied to buy more units at lower prices.
  • Since then they have withdrawn an additional $241,500 and as mentioned above the current value is $664,855.
  • They are very happy that we remained firm with our long term strategy.
SIXTIES AND BEYONDEnjoying comfortable lifestyle in retirement. Travelling the world and enjoying life.

Phyllis had been a client for many years and as she grew older, her health began to fail.

We were able to assist with all the complex financial rules and regulations associated with entering an aged care facility, whilst continuing to maximise her Centrelink Aged Pension entitlement.

She now receives the daily care she needs and her family have peace of mind that her fees have been reduced, due to appropriate financial advice. Surplus funds also enable her to have her hair done every week and have access to other small luxuries, ensuring she is happy in her environment.

AGED CAREEntry into a Nursing home facility.