We specialise in taking the time and trouble out of dealing with your financial matters

Wealth Creation Strategies

The most important step to financial freedom is to have a Financial Plan! Many people leave this until it’s too late in life. Not having a plan equals less choice in your later years, causing much stress and anxiety in your family relationships that could be well avoided if only you had a good financial plan in place.

How to start:

STEP 1: Clear all your non-mortgage debts

Put a budget in place and live within your means ...

Check out the budget planner on www.moneysmart.gov.au

STEP 2: Build up your savings

Once your non-mortgage debt is under control, start a disciplined saving habit, here's how:

• Invest regularly in a high-interest savings account
  Set up a regular direct debit or BPAY into a high-interest savings account. You’ll hardly miss the money and watch it grow.
• Salary sacrifice to super
  For your long-term retirement savings, begin to salary sacrifice to your super; super is a very tax-effective means for savings.

STEP 3: Speak to a Qualified Financial Planner

Markets are global and changing all the time. It is difficult for an unqualified person to understand the benefits of tax-effective savings and super contributions, never mind how to invest in managed or listed funds. This is where a qualified Financial Planner will help you personalise a plan that will see you transition from now into your retirement.

Start getting the support you need and book a consultation with one of our team members today. Call us on 1300 667 352 or make an enquiry via email at ask@flb.net.au and one of our staff will get back to you as soon as possible.

Tax & Investment Planning

Tax time is here again. Are you prepared?

When the time comes to deal with your taxation and accounts, it can be stressful and hassling. However, through good preparation and planning, you can make tax time work for you and potentially reduce the impact of tax, while keeping you up to date.

While we can provide “Tax Planning Advice”, we provide Tax and Accounting services via referral to “our network of trusted associates”. The services our associates cover include:

• Individuals
• Families
• Artists
• Trusts
• Businesses and
• Organisations (non-profit and commercial)

A professional accountant will help you identify potential tax deductions and government benefits. They'll also inform you of any obligations and laws that you have to meet and abide by, thus helping you stay up to date.

Proper planning for tax could help you:

• Reduce the amount of tax owed, depending on your situation
• Develop strategies to minimise tax, potentially saving you money
• Prepare for the financial year

Financial Life Balance have worked with a large variety of businesses and individuals from different industries over the years, tailoring options, advice and strategies to suit clients unique needs. Our experience is complemented by a team of professional accountants and tax advisors, who aim to help you.

Link to MyProsperity

Start getting the support you need and book a consultation with one of our team members today. Call us on 1300 667 352 or make an enquiry via email at ask@flb.net.au and one of our staff will get back to you as soon as possible.

Superannuation Services

The Australian Superannuation system is one of the most advanced and complex in the world. Not only is it inherently complex, but the legislation surrounding it continues to change. No wonder Australians, just like you, find it difficult to understand how it relates to them and how to use superannuation to maximise their retirement nest egg.

So many questions:

• How much is enough for retirement?
• Self managed, retail or Industry fund, which super fund is right for me?
• How do I structure my superannuation assets?
• What are the trade-offs when I contribute?
• How do I make my contributions tax deductible?
• How do I use Superannuation to reduce my overall tax burden?
• How does my superannuation relate to my family and estate plan?

These are just some of the questions we find solutions to for clients every day. Superannuation is not simple, but together we can develop a strategy to ensure your superannuation is properly structured with a strategy to get you where you want to be in life.

The income you have available for your retirement will depend on factors such as your accumulated assets and expectations about your lifestyle in retirement. Unfortunately for many, simply relying on employer contributions may not be enough and you may need to look at strategies such as additional contributions or salary sacrifice.

It is always best to start saving and planning for your retirement as early as you can. Financial Life Balance can help you implement the right strategies to help you achieve your long term financial objectives.

Start getting the support you need and book a consultation with one of our team members today. Call us on 1300 667 352 or make an enquiry via email at ask@flb.net.au and one of our staff will get back to you as soon as possible.

Retirement/Centrelink Planning

Planning for your retirement

More and more people are realising that it is essential to plan well for their retirement.

It’s not just thinking about what to do with your money when you retire but how to maximise what you will have when you begin your retirement. To achieve this goal requires quality advice in the years leading up to retirement, the more the better. Time is needed if various strategies are to be implemented to make the most of your earnings in the pre-retirement period. The longer you plan for retirement and employ professional assistance then the greater the chances that your goal of a happy and prosperous retirement can become a reality.

Giving yourself enough time to plan your retirement is imperative but doing it right is even more so. There are many complex considerations to be managed and it is our job to ensure that your retirement goals and objectives can be met.

A wealthier retirement

Our approach to retirement planning is precise, methodical and generally involves:

• A thorough and retailed review of your current financial resources and commitments
• Gaining a detailed understanding of your future lifestyle and financial goals and objectives as well as any foreseeable events that may affect your future plans
• Financial modelling to forecast potential investment outcomes and income streams from various investment strategies
• Assessment and enhancement of Aged Pension and Centrelink entitlements
• A review and assessment of these findings to determine an effective way forward
• Consolidating our recommendations into a single strategy document for your review and consideration.

Start getting the support you need and book a consultation with one of our team members today. Call us on 1300 667 352 or make an enquiry via email at ask@flb.net.au and one of our staff will get back to you as soon as possible.

Personal Insurance Reviews

What is insurance?

Insurance is a form of protection – a way to protect yourself, your family and the things you own if something goes wrong. It enables you to replace or repair your assets, whether those assets are your belongings or your capacity to earn income.

Everybody’s circumstances are different, but insurance is important for everybody. Your need for insurance will change as you move through the different stages of your life.

There are many different types of insurance, and we can help you find the right level of protection for your needs.

What types of insurances are there?

There are many types of insurance. Car or home/contents insurance allows you to insure your belongings. Personal insurance policies enable you to insure yourself and your ongoing wellbeing.

Personal insurance provides protection against sickness, injury and death, and includes:

• Life insurance
• Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) insurance
• Trauma insurance
• Income protection.

While insurance doesn’t remove the risk of something going wrong, it provides you and your family with protection and financial security if something does happen.

The amount of insurance you need is affected by:

• How much you earn
• Your cost of living
• Your assets
• Your liabilities
• Your relationship status (whether you are married, in a de facto relationship or single)
• How many dependants you have.

We understand that it can be difficult determining the type and level of cover you might need, let alone choosing an insurer. We can assist by helping you determine your needs and recommend an insurer that is right for you.

Start getting the support you need and book a consultation with one of our team members today. Call us on 1300 667 352 or make an enquiry via email at ask@flb.net.au and one of our staff will get back to you as soon as possible.

Budgeting & Savings Strategies

Effectively managing your debt and cashflow can have a significant impact on your overall financial health. We firmly believe that developing and maintaining the right financial habits is necessary in reaching your goals as minimising debt and managing cashflow is the basis of long term wealth creation strategies.

At Financial Life Balance, we can assist you to become more financially successful through:

• Reviewing your spending patterns, financial commitments and debts
• Identifying your long-term financial goals and target timeframes to achieve them
• Assisting to set clear, simple and easily attainable goals
• Creating plans to pay off debts whether it is the mortgage, credit cards or HELP debts
• Recommending savings plans or investment strategies to achieve your goals
• Providing advice on appropriate insurances to protect your assets and financial position

The team at Financial Life Balance can guide you through the budgeting and cashflow process by providing you with invaluable tools, advice and strategies to help you maximise your wealth.

Start getting the support you need and book a consultation with one of our team members today. Call us on 1300 667 352 or make an enquiry via email at ask@flb.net.au and one of our staff will get back to you as soon as possible.

Finance & Loan Planning

For many Australians, acquiring a loan is likely to be the single greatest lifetime expense.

As interest rates shift and more lenders enter the market it provides an excellent opportunity to consider your current loan strategy as a part of your holistic financial plan. At Financial Life Balance, we understand that selecting the right type of loan, finding competitive rates and structuring your finances to enable you to minimise non-deductible debt or pay a loan off faster can have a significant impact in achieving your financial objectives.

We can refer to a mortgage specialist and their services can include:

• Home loan pre-approval
• Securing home loans from major lenders and banks
• Stamp duty advice
• Investment property loans
• Purchasing off the plan
• Bridging finance
• Construction loans
• Loans for self-employed clients
• Commercial & business loans

Please note that Financial Life Balance is not responsible for this advice.

Start getting the support you need and book a consultation with one of our team members today. Call us on 1300 667 352 or make an enquiry via email at ask@flb.net.au and one of our staff will get back to you as soon as possible.

Aged Care Advice

Feel confident in your Aged Care decisions

At Financial Life Balance, we can help you make the right decisions to for the transition into aged Care and safeguard your wealth.

We evaluate your unique aged care needs and see exactly how we can help you ease the burden, minimise aged care fees and maximise social security benefits.

Aged care decisions begin with understanding the role that funds play in the future for you and your family. We are here to help you manage assets, expenses and estates to ensure your wealth is safe and secure.

Once we’ve helped establish your true financial position, we’ll determine what your aged care options are, and explain them to you in a clear and understandable way.

Financial Life Balance can assist you with:

• Reducing your income tested or means tested care fees
• Exploring all options to maximise your Centrelink / Veterans Pension
• Explaining the fees, charges and entry and exit costs
• Looking at options to retain the family home and finance the accommodation costs
• Comparing a range of scenarios to work out the most affordable option
• Making all information clear and easy to understand.

Start getting the support you need and book a consultation with one of our team members today. Call us on 1300 667 352 or make an enquiry via email at ask@flb.net.au and one of our staff will get back to you as soon as possible.

MyProsperity

Link to: MyProsperity

Educational Videos

Useful Links

General Calculators

Portfolio Login

Please click on the links to access the following:

• BT Panorama
• North online services
• AMP online services
• Macquarie Group Australia
• Navigator
• Asteron
• ING
• AIG
• TAL
• Commonwealth Bank Group
• MLC

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Our Team

Adviser Profiles

David Dyson

Email Address: david@flb.net.au

Education and Qualifications: Bachelor of Business. (Accounting), Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning, CPA Financial Planning Specialist
Experience: 30+ years in the Financial Services Industry and concurrent practising as a Public Accountant.
Membership: CPA Australia, -CPA(FPS), Financial Planning Association, -CFP.
Awards: Licensee State Adviser of the Year 2016

FSG — Part A | FSG — Part B

Vito Paonessa

Email Address: vito@flb.net.au

Education and Qualifications: Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning Securities Institute, CPA (FPS), Bachelor of Business Accounting)
Experience: 17+ years as a Financial Accountant & 18+ years as a Financial Planner
Membership: CPA Australia -CPA(FPS).

FSG — Part A | FSG — Part B

Colin Aburn

Email Address: colin@flb.net.au

Education & Qualifications: Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning & Bachelor Prosthetics and & Orthotics
Experience: 6+ years as a Financial Adviser
Membership: Financial Planning Association

FSG — Part A | FSG — Part B

Staff Profiles

Carol Schilling-Collins

-Office Manager

Carol has been with us for over 20 years now and has extensive experience across the Financial Services industry. This included over 9 years with Mercantile Mutual, 3 years serving as the Victorian State Administration Manager. Carol has a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Diploma of Life Insurance

Sharon Taylor

-Client Services Officer

Sharon is likely to be your first point of contact. She has been part of the FLB family since 2007 and assists with Centrelink and the general administration of client’s affairs.

Associates

Joe DePetro

Email Address: joe@flb.net.au

Education and Qualifications: Diploma of Financial Planning , Bachelor of Science (Education), Grad Diploma Information Systems Certified Financial Planner
Experience: 22+ years as a Financial Planner
Membership: Financial Planning Association

Lou Mitrione

Email Address: lou@flb.net.au

Education and Qualifications: Bachelor of Business (Accounting ), Diploma of Financial Planning Certified Financial Planner
Experience: 20+ years as a Financial Adviser
Membership: Financial Planning Association