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What do Toilet Paper and the Stock Market have in common? When you are uncertain about something, you make ...

Obviously there are concerns around the impact that the coronavirus is having on investment markets but one ...

As we approach Christmas and the New Year, how are investment returns looking for 2020? Will they be the same ...

We would all like to think that we are familiar with common scams, and that our money is going to be safe. ...

There has been lots of talk about the tax cuts that have started in July this year, however if you have ...

For those on Centrelink payments you’ve probably heard the term ‘deeming rates’. This is an important ...

For many, superannuation will likely represent one of the biggest assets they have. Making additional ...

Life insurance is one of those concepts we don’t really want to think about. For some people it seems like ...

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s first Federal Budget focuses on reducing the tax burden for the majority of ...

The Federal Government passed legislation in December 2017 which allows people aged 65 and over who have sold ...

As part of the 2017/18 budget, the Government approved legislation for the First Home Super Saver Scheme ...

You’ve made the decision to retire; the last day of work has come; the cake is eaten and your desk is ...

Many people rely on Centrelink’s age pension when they retire. However, sometimes the rules around getting ...

It’s incredible to think we’re in the last couple of months of the 2017/18 financial year. We’re at the ...

The March quarter saw one of the worst starts to the calendar year since the global financial crisis (GFC) in ...

Scott Morrison has released his third budget, which includes tax cuts and a road to surplus.  In all there ...

The recent volatility in the global stock markets inevitably has clients asking, “what should I be ...

The Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal is the largest and longest running Christmas Appeal, now celebrating their 30th ...

It has now been 10 years since we experienced the global financial crisis (GFC) and on this anniversary it is ...

  There are few words more exponentially life changing than ‘I’m pregnant.’ For some ...

Self Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSF) are still actively being setup by Australians. But there are growing ...

The issue of Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) is a question that regularly comes up when guiding clients ...

Looking at where various market economies are heading for the balance of 2017 and into 2018, we offer the ...

On Tuesday 9 May, the Federal Government handed down its Budget for the 2017–18 financial year by the ...

As advisers, we get an interesting insight into the spending habits of our clients and their attitudes towards...

Ok, so there has been a lot of talk about the superannuation changes along with a lot of newspaper column ...

Centrelink Changes on January 2017 We have communicated to you earlier regarding these changes and they are ...

The Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal is helping to show others that they are not alone by collecting gifts for those ...

President Obama proclaimed in the midst of vote counting yesterday that ‘whatever happens, the sun will rise...

Like a lot of industries, financial planning is riddled with terminology that can leave a lay person ...

When it comes to investing, there is a myriad of choices. Even within different pools of investments, such as ...

There are certain times of the year that generate a flurry of consumer and business activity. Christmas, New ...

As you are no doubt aware Britain voted to exit from the European Union by a margin of 52% to 48%, with a ...

Britons vote on Thursday on whether to quit the 28-nation European Union, amid warnings from world leaders, ...

Tracking our superannuation growth more closely is something we know is necessary, but for most people, it can...

We have joke around the office about the fear of missing out or FOMO, as it’s now commonly referred to in ...

With the footie season well underway, I know my wife finds it quite comical listening to the rhetoric and ...

2016-17 Federal Budget In his budget speech, the Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison put forward a number of ...

With the federal budget upon us, it’s an ideal time to run a check through your financial house, in ...

Your first thought about having a conversation about aged care wouldn’t necessarily be to contact your ...

Short of something unexpected happening, returns moving forward on investments will not be in the double digit...

The gender gap remains a real issue when it comes to financial planning. All you need to do is look at the ...

It’s been 16 years of financial advising.  4000+ clients served. And surprisingly, I am not too bitter and ...

There is a big, colourful jar of jellybeans sitting on the table. It is full to the brim. There are three ways...

We were driving back from a friend’s house on Valentine’s day. Littered on both sides of the road were...

A recent article in the Australian Government Department of Human Services’ “News for Seniors” set out ...

When working with clients, I start out by asking the following question: “Who have you learnt the most on ...

Time and time again, we see people approaching the purchase of an investment property with the wrong ...

How much insurance cover is enough? This is a question we get asked a lot when talking with our clients around...

In a bit of belated news from last year our one and only Gino Saggiomo, was awarded the annual prestigious ...

Here I was.  Sitting in a camp chair nestled amongst the sand dunes with my 3 ½ year old on the last day of ...

Recent Market Volatility The New Year has not started well for markets. The current equity market weakness, ...

We all have an intimate relationship with food.  Our daily lives revolve around it.  Not only from a ...

I caught up with a newly married couple the other day for a preliminary consultation. A normal question I ask ...

So what exactly is a will? In simple terms, a will is a document that comes into fruition after your demise to...

After several months of anticipation and speculation, the US Federal Reserve has finally moved interest rates ...

A “bucket list” in the traditional sense is a list of awesome things to do before you kick the bucket. ...

The magical day has arrived. The magical moment of cradling your newborn child in your hands. As you gaze into...

It’s once again that special time of year. The Melbourne Cup has been run. The weather is warming up and the...

After years of working with couples, a consistent theme has emerged. Generally one person in a relationship ...

I attended an event for the Melbourne Cup last week. The general banter in the crowd was about the “hot ...

A client asked me about salary sacrificing his car. He had just started a new job with the State Government ...

How is it that someone who in their right mind knows they shouldn’t buy something? They quite clearly ...

Interest rates are low. Very low.  And most people think this is a wonderful thing. But do we understand why ...

A long term client of Rothgard started a new job with a large institution. He had no choice but to enrol in ...

Owning a business is just another investment. The reason it is so emotive for people (including myself) is it ...

“Do you really want to leave an inheritance?” I asked my client Fred in our meeting. Fred was in his mid ...

Case Study – Personal Budgeting In an earlier post, we profiled Steve & Mary whom we worked with ...

When I think of financial planning, what is it that we are really trying to do? The simple answer is ...

Background The past few weeks have seen increased volatility and sell offs across global risk markets such as ...

We keep hearing that there is a potential bubble in the market and property prices are overheated. I am out in...

A few years ago, I had a client ask me to speak to his 22 year old son around his financial matters. The ...

Problems. We all have them! But for a financial planner, understanding the problems that our clients face on a...

Not sure if you need a financial planner or financial advisor? What’s the difference?  In reality, you ...

Markets have reacted favourably after Greece agreed to the demands of European creditors in exchange for a ...

I had a phone call from a lady who recently lost her husband. She was in her late 40’s and had contacted us ...

Trust.  It is a powerful word. Throw money into the equation and you really want to make sure there is trust....

Australian Superannuation Funds have issued a warning to people wishing to transfer their UK Pension Funds to ...

We felt it may be beneficial to give you an understanding of the current financial crisis in Greece and how it...

Paying tax is good. You should be paying more tax. Being in a position where you are paying lots of tax is a ...

I got a phone call on the way to work the other day from Jim. Jim is a long term client who is looking to ...

The house behind us is for sale. As you do, you live in the neighbourhood, and I wanted to have a sticky beak....

One of our advisors was chatting to a client the other day. The question came up. “I want to spend $50,000 ...

Having kids is a pretty wonderful time of life. The satisfaction you get as a parent seeing your kids smiling ...

If you’re like most Australians, you’re busy paying the bills and saving for retirement, as well as ...

Time is such a finite resource. It isn’t until you are a little further on in life that you come to this ...

Having a young family is not an easy phase of life. There is so much change in such a short period of time. In...

Steve & Mary Family Status: Married for 5 years with 2 young children Income Status: Business owners with ...

The 0.25% cut saw the Australian stock market rally 1.5% on the day to 5707. Does this mean the market will ...

 We are delighted to share the news that our Managing Director and Senior Adviser, Ross Vanderwolf has ...

Dopamine is a chemical neurotransmitter that helps control the brain’s reward and pleasure centres. In other...

The line “as rich as Croesus” is littered through literature in works as bizarrely diverse as Alexandre ...

We’re all familiar with the role of financial advisers in helping us to make wise choices with our money but...

Self Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSF) are becoming increasingly popular with Australians who want to take ...

From 1 January 2015, new Centrelink/DVA rules will come into effect, meaning account-based pensions commenced ...

While a thorny issue at times, it’s often worth having a discussion around inheritance. Letting people know ...

We are proud to announce both Ross Vanderwolf and Gino Saggiomo have been included in the list of ...

Before you climb Mt Everest, you have to reach Base Camp. Before you reach Base Camp, you have to reach Lukla....

Women may be financially behind the eight ball when it comes to their salaries, but that doesn’t mean you ...

As happens every year or so, some finance commentators (whose profession is to commentate – not invest) are ...

Research has shown that the more often couples argue about money, the more likely the relationships are to end...

Parent – “We can’t get that, it’s too expensive.” Child – “Why don’t you just get more money ...

The terms ‘rich’ and ‘wealthy’ can be used interchangeably and they mean different things to different...

The Reserve Bank of Australia has left interest rates on hold at 2.5% this month. This means the cash rate has...

In one of the more highly anticipated Federal Budgets, the Government announced major changes that could ...

Is your business giving you the lifestyle you’ve always dreamed of? Are you able to spend the time you want ...

A question we are often asked is ‘what will my retirement age be? ……… I hear I can’t retire until ...

Whether you are happily in a de facto relationship or in the process of getting out of one, taking for granted...

As your spring chicks grow up and fly the coop, a big empty nest in your autumn years need not be inevitable ...

The biggest financial asset for most people is not their family home, their superannuation or a car but the ...

It may have taken a brilliant mathematician, such as Albert Einstein, to declare that “compound interest is ...

With interest rates at a 30 year low, everyone is looking for a better rate than their bank is offering. If ...

When putting together your investment strategy, it’s helpful to keep in mind the age-old saying that “the ...

The desire for greater control and flexibility of one’s retirement savings continues to be a major driver ...

So, a few days into the US Government shutdown we have a quick look at what this means and how it came to ...

The unbreakable bond the fictional Kerrigans had with their airport-perimeter house in iconic Aussie flick The...

With just weeks to go until the end of the financial year, it’s time to make sure your finances are as tax ...

A small mole on his leg seemed innocuous enough to Peter, but with a history of melanoma in his family, he ...

Forget the search for El Dorado; investors these days are looking for something more tangible. They want the ...

Whether you are single and carefree or supporting a family on your own, there are many things you can do to ...

Self managed superannuation fund trustees may covet the control and investment flexibility they have to ...

Generally speaking, good debt is debt that is tax deductible, while bad debt is generally not. Ensuring the ...

After several years in their bunkers, Australian investors are beginning to look beyond the safe haven of cash...

Common sense may say that the time to invest is when markets are down, but the reality is that most investors ...

Baby Boomer John 65, looks back on a lifetime of financial decisions to provide some valuable tips to future ...