What is financial planning?

Financial planning is investigating and deciding on the best way to make your money work for you. This is done by working out what you want to achieve, how you might achieve it and understanding any problems you might encounter along the way.

To assist you with this, John can offer advice on investments, estate planning, superannuation, taxation and risk management and use a six-step process to help you work out what you may need to do now and in the future to reach your financial goals.

What does a financial planner do?

Financial planners determine a client's short, medium and long-term aspirations then work on an agreed financial plan to meet individual needs.

John will review your plan regularly to keep it on track and update it as appropriate. As a financial planner who is an Authorised Representative of an Australian Financial Services (AFS) licensee, he will use the six-steps of the financial planning process. These are:

1. Gathering your financial data, including details on income, debt levels, financial commitments and so on
2. Identifying your goals. These may include buying a house, funding education, travel, etc
3. Identifying any financial issues (fees may apply).
4. Preparing a financial plan that identifies recommended investments and pays heed to your attitude to risk (fees may apply).
5. Implementing the financial plan
6. Reviewing and revising the plan to ensure it stays up-to-date and relevant to the economic climate and your changing lifestyle

What are the specific services a financial planner provides?

John can offer general wealth-creation advice and assistance across all financial markets, or specialise in areas such as:

• Retirement planning
• Superannuation
• Estate planning
• Small business financial management and planning
• Trusts
• Taxation
• Debt and risk management
• Core, life and general insurance
• Managed investments, securities and futures markets