Financial Planning, Investment & Insurance Solutions

  • Things Change

    Things Change

    “They can cart me out of here in a box!” We’ve probably all heard a similar sentiment. A humorous and slightly morbid statement about our final living arrangements. It might be a house, an apartment, a shack, a boat, some people just keep booking cruises and live almost permanently at sea! We design our living arrangements to suit us for as long as possible and the things around us become familiar and comfortable. That assumption of permanence can be upended very quickly because things change. While they might not change for us specifically, they certainly can and do change around…

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  • 2025 Q1 March Quarter Review

    2025 Q1 March Quarter Review

    Economic Overview Q1 2025 was a mostly negative one for global equity investors, due to a late quarter sell off, after a very positive first six weeks of the quarter. The reason? Uncertainty. The scatter gun approach of the Trump administration dominated markets. US equity market performance has been incredibly reliable in the past two years, and looked set to continue with the Republican Party controlling both the house and the senate, as investors assumed the prospect of deregulation and the renewal of tax cuts would continue to be tailwinds. But by late February, trade concerns began to weigh on…

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  • Don’t Vote with Your Portfolio

    Don’t Vote with Your Portfolio

    The recent re-emergence of market volatility has stoked some fears. Specifically in the investors who take their politics a little too seriously. Financial markets moving around is nothing new, but some investors, without a coherent investment philosophy, are quite happy to replace it with an incoherent politico-investment philosophy. Whatever happens in financial markets can be directly attributed to their political side or their political opponent. This position makes investing incredibly difficult. Every time a government changes, it means their portfolio’s structure is up for consideration. The long term only exists if their team is in charge. If the other team…

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  • Moving into Aged Care & your 28 day Decision

    Moving into Aged Care & your 28 day Decision

    Moving into residential aged care is a big step, and one of the most important financial decisions you’ll need to make is how to pay for your room. The legislative rules provide clear guidelines on your payment options and the timeframe in which you must decide. With so much happening when you make the move, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or rushed. That’s why it’s important to understand the 28-day rule. What is the 28-day rule? Once you move into residential aged care, you have 28 days (from date of permanent entry) to decide how you want to pay for…

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  • Blame Canada

    Blame Canada

    How are you coping with President Trump? Depending on where you get your news, the transition to the Trump administration will be portrayed as great or horrific. Regardless of any bias, there is one constant. Things are moving at a breakneck speed. This is apparently going to continue. The Trump team is dismantling and remodelling a system they believe is wasteful, inefficient, and has the wrong priorities. Others may disagree, but whoever has control sets the policy agenda. Some things being done seem quite sensible. Trying to eliminate waste and nonsense is one. Trump supporters have pulled out old videos…

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