A financial planner helps you understand your financial position, clarify your goals and create a personalised strategy to achieve them. This may including cashflow planning, superannuation, investments, retirement planning, Aged Care advice and Centrelink optimisation.

We specialise in clear, compassionate advice that reduces stress and gives you confidence to make informed decisions with clarity.

Yes, we offer in person, phone and video meetings - whatever suits you best. There will be a need to meet face-to-face at least once to ensure we are covering our obligations under AML/CTF (Anti Money Laundering & Counter Terrorism Financing) Act.

Yes, in certain circumstances, I will be happy to accommodate an after-hours consultation by arrangement.

Quite often, people get bogged down with needing to reach a certain lump sum figure to retire on, e.g $1,000,000. But the right way to look at it is how much income will I need in my retirement.

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) provides the most widely accepted benchmark for retirement income needs in Australia.  As a guide, ASFA Retirement Standard suggests:

A Modest Lifestyle: around $32,000 per year for singles and $46,000 for couples.

A Comfortable Lifestyle: around $51,000 per year for singles and $72,000 for couples.

Your personal number may be higher or lower. I will help you calculate your own “retirement income target“ based on your goals, cashflow and assets.

A common guide is that you’ll need around 75% of your pre‑retirement income to maintain your lifestyle. That’s because many expenses fall away in retirement, tax is lower, and the Age Pension often fills part of the gap.

Payment rates, asset and income thresholds and deeming rates are constantly changing.  The structure of your assets and income can also have varying outcomes.

But generally speaking, Centrelink use two tests – the Income Test and the Assets Test.  Whichever test results in the lower entitlement is the amount you will receive.

The Income Test looks at wages, some income streams, rental income, and deemed income from financial assets. The thresholds depend on single or couple status.

The Assets Test includes bank accounts, investments, personal belongings, cars/caravans, investment properties, super (once Age Pension age is reached or if the super fund is now paying an income stream).  The family home is exempt.

For both tests, anything below a lower threshold, will result in a full pension.  Anything between the lower threshold and upper threshold will result in a part pension.  Anything above that upper threshold results in nil pension entitlement.

Every situation is unique. Aged care fees vary depending on the facility and your financial situation. You may be asked to pay more towards your ongoing care simply because based on your individual financial situation, you can afford to pay more than the next person with minimal means.

Aged Care funding is far too complex to answer in an FAQ section. We will model several scenarios specific to your situation so that you can see the long-term cashflow impact and choose the most affordable option.

Absolutely, we assist with claims, updates, income and asset assessments, and ongoing liaison with Centrelink, DVA and Services Australia - which is especially important for Aged Care clients.

A very common question. Answer is ‘It depends’. It depends on your cashflow, assets, Centrelink position, and the facility’s costs. We will model several scenarios so that you can make an informed decision.

Of course, we regularly work with families navigating Aged Care decisions together (or under an Enduring Power of Attorney). We ensure everyone understands the options and feels supported.

From initial meeting to presentation of your personalised plan, the process can usually take up to 4 weeks, depending on the complexity and the available of required documents. We understand that Aged Care advice usually will require urgent attention, and we will make every endeavour to get things done as quickly as possible.

Absolutely, your personal information is protected under Australian Privacy Law. We only use your information to provide financial advice and do not share it without your consent.

We provide a clear, written fee disclosure before any work begins. Fees will depend on the complexity of your situation and the scope of the advice.

Of course, many clients choose ongoing advice to keep their strategy on track, adjust their plans to life changes, and to ensure their plan remains aligned with their goals.