-
The festive season brings families together
Read more: The festive season brings families togetherWhen your family gathers over the festive season, it might present an opportunity to start planning for future care needs. Christmas is a time for families and the New Year is for resolutions. This year, combine the two by making a resolution to pay more attention to how your older parents are coping and start family conversations to develop a plan for future care and support. You may have been busy through the year and not noticed the small things. But how well parents are coping may become more obvious when you have time to catch up with family over…
Topics:
-
How Much Do I Need To Retire?
Read more: How Much Do I Need To Retire?It’s one of the most vexing finance questions there is. While it seems like a straightforward one, it’s really a question that only invites further questions. Not about the money, but about the person or persons who are retiring. There will never be a one-size-fits-all pot of money. Primarily because of how many different variables come into play. What do you want to spend? Will your spending change? What your returns will be? What is the sequence of those returns and how volatile will your portfolio be? The first two questions are the most controllable. Everyone will have fixed costs…
Topics:
-
Home Sweet Home
Read more: Home Sweet HomeIt is the great Australian dream to own your own home. But how does your home affect your age pension or the aged care fees you can be asked to pay? Eligibility for an age pension and liability to pay aged care fees, are both impacted by your assets and income. This includes an assessment of where you live and your ownership status. The Centrelink (or Veterans’ Affairs) assets test starts by identifying you as either a homeowner or a non-homeowner. A higher threshold applies to non-homeowners but homeowners receive an exemption for the home. At first glance it may…
Topics:
-
Supporting a person living with dementia
Read more: Supporting a person living with dementiaLiving with dementia can be unsettling and frustrating, but independence and quality of life can still be achieved with the right support and a few changes. With almost half a million people living with dementia in Australia, and another 1.6 million people involved in their care, it is likely that we are all impacted in some way. This week is Dementia Action week, putting a spotlight on how to support a person living with dementia as well as support for the carers. Understanding the experience of dementia, and making a few changes can have a beneficial impact on the person’s…
Topics:
-
Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) Simplified in 4 Points
Read more: Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) Simplified in 4 PointsOne of the first things you come across when moving into residential care is the need to pay for your room. With quoted prices of up to $2 million, the numbers may send families into panic. However, they can be less frightening if you understand how these fees work and what choices you have. So, what are the four (4) key points that you need to know? The money will be refunded Let’s start with the name of the fee – refundable accommodation deposit (RAD). This might help you breathe a sigh of relief, because the name is descriptive and…
Topics:
Financial Planning, Investment & Insurance Solutions
Dedicated to helping people across Dubbo & NSW with their financial needs
