Start the new financial year off on the right foot with a complimentary Financial Planning consultation with a Financial Adviser for up to 2 hours.

Ever wanted to talk to a Financial Adviser or get a second opinion on your investment strategy?  This is a great opportunity to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee while you chat about your financial situation with a senior adviser - with no obligation.

Contact us on 5445 6044 to book your appointment.

Hear a SMSF Accountant & Financial Adviser Debate!

Times are changing - more than ever people are demanding greater flexibility over their own investment options in super. Self Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) now account for the biggest slice of the super pie in Australia - ahead of the popular industry super funds.1

Taking advantage of an on-shore tax haven (for the over 60's)
Combined with the tax concessions available in super; the tax free status of all withdrawals once you turn 60 and the asset protection that super provides, it's clear why superannuation is attracting more and more interest.

How does it work?
Almost anyone can have their own SMSF.If you prefer to maintain control over your investments rather than leave it in the hands of the institutions, then a SMSF may be appropriate for you. Okay - there are a LOT of rules to consider along the way... but operating your OWN fund is an option available to anyone and need not be as complicated as some would have you believe!

Want to purchase an investment property?
It's easy to understand the interest in SMSFs when you consider that you could use your existing super funds as a deposit on an investment property; take out a mortgage; and purchase your next investment property in superannuation - with the rent and your 9% super guarantee contributions funding the loan!

How big is YOUR TAX refund?
One of the features of a SMSF is taking better advantage of the tax system in Australia. With good planning in your own super fund you could be paying NO tax and still receive a tax refund from the ATO in retirement.

Not yet 60?
Whether retired or not, why wait until age 60? A 55 year old can live TAX FREE from their superannuation and create a tax free estate plan.

So why NOT self manage?
A lot of the benefits of superannuation can be obtained WITHOUT having to manage your own fund. ES&A offer a unique position on this argument as one of our senior Advisers DOES have a SMSF and the other does NOT. As Financial Advisers we get paid for our investment and financial advice only (regardless of which super fund you choose) and have actively recommended clients invest in ALL forms of super - from opening industry super fund accounts to helping clients open their own self managed super funds.

The Great Debate
On Tuesday, 13th April at 6pm, ES&A will be holding a seminar that will debate the pros (there are several!) and cons (rarely discussed but must be considered and could change your mind) on starting and operating your own self managed super fund. We have invited a guest speaker - an independent SMSF Accountant - to help answer questions and debate the merits of operating a self managed super fund.

We will also discuss some of the investment‘basics' that we believe all investors should know and how to manipulate these rules to suit you - regardless if your super fund is self managed or not.

Attendance is FREE and the seminar is expected to go for approximately 3 hours with a hot supper served at half time.

Bookings - which are essential - can be made by ringing Cathy on 5445 6044 or logging onto our website.

1 APRA Quarterly Super Performance publication for December quarter 2009.

DURING MARCH AND APRIL YOU CAN HAVE A COMPLIMENTARY APPOINTMENT WITH A FINANCIAL ADVISER FOR UP TO 2 HOURS - AND PAY NOTHING!

Ever wanted to talk to a Financial Adviser or get a second opinion on your investment strategy? This is a great opportunity to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee while you chat about your financial situation with a senior adviser - with no obligation.

WORKING LESS - BUT DOING MORE

If you are thinking of working less and doing more of the things you want to do in life - then (regardless of your age) you are entering a new phase of your life which some call the 3rd age. It is a very exciting time of life - but it does not necessarily mean ‘retirement'.

Trust that you can be so happy in the twenty years leading up to your 60's that when you get there the last thing on your mind will be your retirement. It's a very big mistake to get ‘working for a living' mixed up with not being able to do the things you want to do in life - in fact that sort of thinking doesn't even make good economic sense.

DON'T UNDER ESTIMATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO

Don't underestimate the importance of the work that you do - no matter what it is. It might be true that you have allowed your work to dominate your time and energy in order to provide you with an income.....but it may also be associated with your personal identity and purpose for living - sometimes without you realizing it. Ask yourself the following and answer yourself truthfully.

• Who do I wish to be over the next 20 or 30 years?
• Do I want to be like I am now?
• Do I want to continue to evolve?
• Do I expect only to decline?
• Which assets do I want to keep?
• What new assets do I want to acquire?
• What income will I require and where will it come from?
• What other assets do I have besides financial ones?

THE FACTS

The great majority of Australians will not have enough money to fund their retirement - but even if they had enough to fund their retirement 10 times over - it may not be enough to make sure they enjoy the later part of their life.

For example Australian billionaires Kerry Packer and Richard Pratt would have had no problem funding their retirement and both had enough money to buy themselves a platinum medical service as well - but it couldn't keep them going. It took Packer to age 68 and Pratt to 74.

That's because the reality is that the gift of continuing good health is just that - a gift - of inheritance, self care and freedom from accident.

OUR NEXT MEETING

The ‘3rd Age' provides us with the opportunity to come to grips with our individual human life, both what it has meant and what it will continue to mean.

Our next group discussion meeting will be all about planning your transition to the 3rd Age and even if you are beginning the process 15 or 20 years ahead - it means you will be planning for ‘change'.

We at ES&A understand that some changes are threatening to people as they get older and provoke a natural resistance - but before you dismiss some of the things we have talked about in this article or think to yourself - "this is not really for me" be honest enough to ask yourself, "Am I simply avoiding facing up to some of this stuff because I don't want to confront it - because it makes me feel uncomfortable?"

It is ok to have a financial plan - but you need to know what it is you want out of the second half of your life - and it might be an idea to know what it is you don't want to happen to you as you get older as well.

If you are interested in attending our next meeting it is at 6pm in our Buderim offices on Tuesday 16th March. The meeting is free and is expected to go for approximately 3 hours with a light supper served at half time.

Bookings which are essential can be made by ringing Cathy on 5445 6044.

SHE FOUND 'THE BEST DOCTORS' WHEN SHE NEEDED THEM MOST.

If you or your family contract a critical illness it can not only be life threatening it can be financially crippling - but there could be a solution to the problem. If you are interested read on...

*Mary was 33 and had completely lost her sight over a period of months. She was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor requiring emergency open head surgery - a procedure both dangerous and disfiguring. The location of the tumor required the optic nerve to be cut and permanent blindness would result. She turned to Best Doctors in the hope they could find an alternative treatment.

Thanks to Best Doctors she discovered she did not have a life threatening tumor but rather she had sarcoidosis, a treatable inflammatory condition. For final determination and expert advice on treatment the assessment was forwarded to a Rheumatologist from the Best Doctors Global Network who confirmed sarcoidosis.The Rheumatologist immediately phoned Mary's surgeon and recommended cancelling the operation. Mary's surgeon was skeptical but at the insistence of the specialist agreed to delay the operation for 48 hours.

During this time anti-inflammatory drugs were administered and the change was dramatic. Mary's eye sight began returning almost immediately. Today Mary is healthy and active with full eyesight and thankful for the services of Best Doctors.

WHAT IS BEST DOCTORS?

Best Doctors is a company that connects MLC Critical Illness insurance clients and their families with leading specialists to provide medical advice regarding a serious illness without them ever having to leave their home.

That means, for example, if you, as the insured, your spouse or any dependent child becomes seriously ill you will all have access to Best Doctors which is a global network of over 50,000 leading medical specialists who have been nominated by their peers as being the best in their field.

If you do not have Critical Illness Cover with MLC and you would like to enquire about it you can obtain more information on MLC's Critical Illness Insurance Plan by ringing 5445 6044 during working hours.

FAMILY (FINANCIAL) PLANNING GROUP DISCUSSION

On Tuesday 16th February at 6pm we are having a group discussion in our Buderim Offices for the parents of approximately 6 families.

Whilst the discussions will touch on personal insurance the main focus will be directed towards affordable investment for couples who still have dependent children.

Please note that there will be no charge for attendees and we do provide a light snack at half time -but reservations are essential. The meetings will be conducted by one of our most experienced financial planners and they are expected to go for approximately 2 hours.

If you are interested in attending please contact Cathy on 5445 6044 and make a reservation.

Young entrepreneurial women often come from families of small business owners. Here is an inside look at just how a mother and daughter business can work really well.

At 38 Julie Schafer is happily married, works at a job that she absolutely loves, is in a business partnership that was made in heaven and she has a 3 year old daughter who is the light of her and husband Greg's life. Julie is in partnership with her 64 year old mother, Ellen Schafer, who began their Financial Planning practice 25 years ago. Ellen and Julie Schafer have worked side by side since 1998 when Julie joined Ellen Schafer and Associates (ES&A).

A BETTER FUTURE

Ellen began her Financial Planning business in 1985 but when Julie joined her mother 13 years later the business had another growth spurt according to Ellen. "My enthusiasm to build the business was re-ignited as it became obvious to me that Julie loved the work as much as I did. Suddenly I could see our little company had a future beyond my own working life."

Ellen and Julie believe that the experience of two generations and the skills that brings to the financial planning practice provides a greater understanding of client's needs.

MOTHER & DAUGHTER PARTNERSHIPS WORK DIFFERENTLY?

"Men sometimes bond through rivalry and competition but mothers and daughters bond by helping each other grow" says Julie. For example both women completed their Masters in Applied Finance around the same time but Ellen was in her fifties and Julie was in her thirties. "We supported each other right through the enormous amount of study that we had to complete for the degree," says Julie "and there were times when I think each of us would have quit if it had not been for the moral support of the other."

"Twenty five years ago, women were told that in order to get ahead in business they had to be more like men" said Ellen "but now I think women realise they can succeed by simply being themselves and dressing and acting how they feel comfortable as well as working in a business setting of their choice".

BEAUTIFUL BUDERIM

As soon as you walk into ES&A's Buderim premises you feel relaxed. Nestled in the natural beauty that is Buderim the offices are situated in an environment that is conducive to creative thinking and relaxation. The office block is jointly owned by Ellen and Julie and it exudes their personal taste in furnishing and the love of their working environment even extends to the surroundings outside the building.

DISCUSSION GROUP MEETINGS

Ellen and Julie give free discussion group workshops once a month. The meetings usually go for a couple of hours and because they don't commence until after 6pm ES&A provide a light supper.

The subject of their next discussion group is listed below - and both mother and daughter would welcome you if you would like to attend. Each meeting has a different topic and the agenda for January focuses on embracing change. The group meetings are limited to around 5 couples or 10 people.

BEGINNING 2010 WITH A BIG BANG!

"The moment you decide on a goal to work toward, you're immediately a successful person. Out of every hundred people, you belong in the top five.

Don't concern yourself too much with how you are going to achieve your goal-leave that to a power greater than yourself. All you have to do is know where you're going. The answers will come to you of their own accord, and at the right time."

So said Earl Nightingale, one of the greatest Success Philosophers of our time.

As the above quote indicates Ellen and Julie's next Discussion Group Meeting will deal with achieving goals. If you are interested in attending - the meeting will be at 6pm on Tuesday 19th January in ES&A's Buderim offices.

Please ring Cathy on 5445 6044 for bookings.

There's no such thing as a risk-free investment - volatility is a fact of life - like it or lump it! If you were planning to build a craft to travel to the other side of the ocean you would try and imagine every possible thing that could go wrong on your journey before you left the safety of the shore. Surely you would do that?

If you contracted a life threatening disease you would undoubtedly get a second medical opinion.  Once you had settled on the specialist you trusted, you would then want to familiarise yourself as much as possible with the disease and its treatment - because your life depended on it.

Most people are well aware that when you are purchasing a long term investment it is 'ideal' to buy when the investment has gone down in value - but very few actually have the courage to do it.

Holding cash is a very important component of any investment plan.

A lot of people do not see any value in holding cash other than the interest it earns in the bank and if they have debt they might think it more important to reduce their debt... but even that's not always the best decision!

Many people who have never owned shares or had anything at all to do with them do not understand how they work and therefore they are reluctant to buy them.  The attached article is a simple explanation as to what a share actually is.

Sometimes its hard to get your head around the fact that we are already 80% into the first decade of the 21st century.  At the risk of sounding corny we wanted to say that as you read this you are right smack bang at the beginning of the rest of your life... so what are you going to do about things from now on? 

At some point in life the average person becomes acutely aware of just how quickly their life is going by.  This is the time when we might choose to make some big changes in our lives.

For us, managing our client's money is more than a set of figures.  Our clients know they can expect from us the best in financial and mathematical know-how - we both have a Masters Degree in Applied Finance, so that goes without saying.