Many of us spend a great deal of time planning for our retirement but understandably, often do not put the same degree of effort into planning for our deaths. It is not always a pleasant topic to think about, nor is it a commonly understood process. It is however a way of caring for your … Read more
Simple ways to boost your retirement at any age, even if you’re already retired Chances are your retirement will be a long one. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare the current life expectancy is 84.5 years for a man; and for a woman it’s 87.3 years. That means even if you only … Read more
When you’re here to supervise your worldly affairs, your voice, which reflects your current views, is heard, and more often than not, heeded. But when you’re not here, what voice will be heard? Will it be your most recent voice; an old voice from several years ago; or the voice of government legislation? Unfortunately, all … Read more
One fact of life is certain, we don’t stay young forever. As we grow older, everyday tasks can become tiresome; we suffer inevitable aches and pains and often have difficulty remembering things. But the ageing process should be seen as a privilege. We have retirement to look forward to, access to good healthcare and the … Read more
None of us likes to consider our own mortality. For our older loved ones, it’s an even more confronting topic and difficult to discuss. When Charles became ill, his family’s priority was to support him through his treatment, and keep him positive and as comfortable as possible. Typical of his generation, Charles had always been … Read more
More than 45% of Australians don’t have a valid Will. If you die without one, your hard-earned wealth (your estate) will be distributed according to the rules of intestacy – a government-determined formula. That may not divide your estate as you would like, and if your family consists only of distant relatives your assets … Read more
Many of our best laid plans rarely follow through exactly as we might have hoped. However, it’s another story when it comes to planning for what happens after we’ve left this planet. Our ideas about who will benefit from our estate could potentially change often during our lifetime. Estate planning ensures that when we die, … Read more
As we move towards the end of yet another year and ponder how fast the last 12 months have come and gone, many of us find ourselves thinking about the coming year and our aspirations for the future. Let’s face it, we’ve worked hard throughout the year and now is the time to reflect on … Read more
Australia has emerged from a mix of wonderful cultures, many of which came to our country in search of a new life in a new country with great promise. The courage and commitment our forefathers brought with them from often difficult lives elsewhere has been the basis from which the Australian ethos of “never give … Read more
We all know how important it is to have a current will, even if we haven’t got around to it yet. But documenting what happens to your assets after you die is just the start of a comprehensive estate plan. Just as important as who gets the house or paintings when you’re gone, is where … Read more