If you live near where we live, then for the past month or so you would have seen local homes being ‘decorated’ with fake cobwebs, skulls and crossbones and carved out pumpkins. People have not become macabre. It is just that Halloween is becoming more and more popular in Australia. Personally, we think the best use for a pumpkin is a nice thick soup. But maybe Halloween can serve another useful purpose for you this year. Let us explain. We have conducted research into this (well, we looked up Wikipedia) and discovered that the name ‘Halloween’ is a modern version of All Hallowe’en, which mean ..read more

 Recently retired couple, David and Erica, were fit and active, and planning a sea-change when David suffered a stroke, leaving him unable to walk or speak. David had been a strong, strapping man, who now needed around-the-clock care. His doctor recommended either an aged care facility or a home-carer that provided appropriate services. Over the course of their 40 year marriage, the couple had discussed many things, but not this. Erica didn’t know what David’s wishes would have been, and as he was now unable to communicate them, she was forced to make a decision she was unprepared for. No ..read more

Estate planning is a difficult topic for a lot of people to deal with, and the terminology used can be just as complex to understand. Here, we put some meaning behind some common estate planning words and phrases. Beneficiary – a person nominated to receive a payout from an insurance policy, superannuation fund or the assets of an estate. Binding Death Benefit Nomination – a declaration by a superannuation fund member that upon their death, the balance of their superannuation must be paid to the nominated person. The trustees are bound by this instruction. Codicil – a legal document that amend ..read more

When it comes to passing on your super money, you need to put specific plans in place so the right people end up with it when the time comes. You’d probably rather be doing something other than thinking about your own mortality, but because your super can become a significant amount of money, you’ll want to make sure it goes to the right people when you that time comes. Like lots of other people, you may not know that when you pass away your super money won’t be covered by your will. That’s because you don’t technically own your super money in the same way as an asset held is in your own name ..read more

Many people think that Estate Planning is only for people who are close to retirement, especially if we fall into the trap of thinking that Estate Planning is just about getting a will. But did you know that Estate Planning addresses key protection strategies whilst you’re still alive? It doesn’t matter who you are, Estate Planning is for everyone. What are the key pillars of Estate Planning? Estate Planning is all about making sure that you get the choice as to what happens to you and your assets – whether that’s if you need someone to make decisions on your behalf, or you pass away and your ..read more

Estate planning ensures that when we die, our assets can be passed promptly and tax-effectively to the people we love or the charities we support. As life changes, your Will should be updated to reflect those changes. Many events can trigger a need to review your Will, such as: Marriage or entering a de-facto relationship; Divorce; Changes in the family such as births and deaths; Adult children entering or leaving marriages or de-facto arrangements; Death of a person who plays a key part in the estate plan such as the executor. Is it time to update your Will? The post Is it time to update yo ..read more

Paul Taylor was a fit and active 45-year-old who drowned while swimming in surf on a family holiday. Witnessing this tragic event unfold from the beach were Paul’s wife, Sue, their 15-year-old daughter Sophie and 12-year-old son Zac. Relatives and friends were a great support during the following days, but soon after the funeral, and still in a state of profound grief, Sue had to assess the state of the family finances. Until that time she wasn’t aware that the Taylors were amongst the 95% of Australian families that did not have adequate levels of life insurance. Not alone Sue, Sophie and Zac ..read more

Life Changing Events A read through the swathes of motivation literature will reveal that a ‘Life Changing Event’ is often the catalyst for other change in our lives. Some of these events can be positive; the birth of a child, meeting that special someone, securing a career changing job or being introduced to a life-long mentor. Events which illicit the highest motivational force, however, are most often negative events. Events such as death, health issues, injuries, marital breakups, severe financial stress and job losses to name but a few. These can inspire great change in our lives; A man ..read more

What is estate planning? Estate planning is about wealth succession – a way to help protect the wealth you have built over your lifetime, so that it is distributed according to your wishes following your death. You spend a large part of your life working to earn money to look after yourself, to provide for your family and to save for the future. Given the focus that is placed on creating wealth while you are alive, it seems logical to want some control over what happens to these assets once you are gone. Estate planning is about giving you that control. Control to make sure that: the people ..read more