Introduction to Financial Advice

Good financial advice is more important than ever. It's a material world out there, and whether we like it or not, there is no escaping the fact that money has a huge impact on our lives.

With access to credit constantly at our fingertips, a society that constantly encourages us to spend more money and a confusing mix of financial information and products available, good financial advice is a necessity, not just a luxury.

Most of us are not experts on financial matters and a number of factors have combined to form a climate where most people are in a position to hugely benefit from the help of a financial adviser. Australians today are faced with:
?Material wants and needs
?Easy access to credit
?Low housing affordability
?Self-funded superannuation
?Confusing mix of financial information and products
?Lack of financial education

These trends are a formula for no security or peace of mind - and isn't that what we all want?
Like many people who work full time, have family commitments (and may simply prefer not to spend endless hours studying and researching money-related matters), you've probably come to the conclusion that you need the help of a professional.

Live in the now, but plan for the future
Many people associate financial planning with the golden years, but unfortunately it's often too late - when people are on the verge of planning to retire - that they realise they need to enlist a financial adviser.
Here's a tip: planning for retirement is made a great deal easier if you start well before you're making plans to sail off into the sunset.

According to a recent study , a couple needs a yearly income of $48,648 to live comfortably in retirement. Using an estimate of 20 years spent living in the post-work years, a couple needs to retire with $972,960 - nearly one million dollars.

Most Australians recognise that 9% compulsory super is not enough. And about half know that their own retirement savings are unlikely to achieve their desired standard of living in retirement . Don't be one of the many people choosing to bury their head in the sand! The sooner you take action and start planning for your future, the sooner you will begin a lifetime journey of increased prosperity and peace of mind.