Financial PlannersNews Resilient Equity Portfolio With Financial Planning

Financial Planning in Perth: Do You Have a Resilient Equity Portfolio?

We offer a wide range of financial planning services in Perth. Recently, our parent company, AMP Capital, published its monthly “Insight Paper” on the AMP Capital company blog. The blog post featured three AMP Capital executives discussing how to develop a resilient equity portfolio. *

The discussion was based on research being conducted at AMP Capital with “building resilience in your equity portfolio” as a theme. AMP Capital shared the results on their blog to demonstrate what they are currently doing to “strengthen clients’ portfolios to make them fit for the future.” According to the article, technology is “disrupting” the practices of many businesses and the market is “becoming more competitive.” This makes it necessary for investment managers to “differentiate (themselves) through research.” *

According to Dr Ian Woods, who is the Head of Environmental, Social and Governance Research” for AMP Capital, investors need to be aware of the impact that policy and regulatory options implemented by governments have on their portfolios. Dr Woods elaborated, using climate change risk as an example. *

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Investment PlanningNews Global Listed Infrastructure Investment Planning

Investment Planning: the Ins and Outs of Global Listed Infrastructure

The investment planning advisers in our Perth office would like to present you with information from our parent company, AMP Capital. We handle a variety of investments and we are proud to have the resources of AMP Capital to help us help you with your finances. While we can’t provide individual financial advice in a blog, we would like to pass on some recommendations from Tim Humphreys, AMP Capital Head of Global Listed Infrastructure.

Due to a low correlation between the equities market as a whole and the segment of global listed infrastructure, allocating assets into global listed infrastructure can help diversify one’s investment portfolio. (2)

According to Bloomberg, global listed infrastructure has provided returns of 11.7% per annum over ten years and 14.9% over five years. (1)

Mr Humphreys feels that globally listed infrastructure, which has only been an asset class for approximately ten years, offers what he calls a “significant opportunity for investors” due to what he sees as “relative inefficiency.” (2)

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Estate PlanningNewsSuperannuation Fund Estate Planning For SMSF

Where Does Your SMSF Go When You Die?

Estate planning is not one of the more pleasant things to think about, but it can be comforting to know where your Self-Managed Superannuation Fund (SMSF) is going to go when you die. It can also be comforting to know that taxes won’t consume a large portion of their inheritance. Here are some of the fundamentals of where an SMSF goes when you die and how taxes are paid.

According to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), it is recommended to fill out the form which determines where your money is supposed to be distributed in case of your death. This can keep your family’s money from being “tied up” in their time of grief. (1)

If You Die, Who Gets Your Super?

In the case of your death, the trustee of your super pays the money, known as your “death benefit,” to your dependent, dependents or estate. Your dependents include your spouse or same sex de facto partner and your children. It can also include anyone with whom you were financially interdependent or anyone who was dependent upon you financially. (1)

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Financial PlannersNews Pitfalls of DIY Financial Planning

The Pitfalls of DIY Financial Planning

Do you want to do your own financial planning? We don’t provide individual advice online or on this blog, but we can provide you with some questions to ask yourself if you are thinking about doing your own financial planning.

Do You Understand Finance?

At Approved Financial Planners, we are licensed through AMP Financial Planning Pty Limited. Not only do we have 40 years’ combined experience in financial planning, we had to learn a lot about finance to obtain licences. We live and breathe finance.

Do You Have the Resources of a Financial Planner?

We have the full resources of AMP behind us. We have near-immediate access to research that those who aren’t “in the business” may not be able to find. From the financial planner you talk to in our Perth office to the AMP Chief Economist, Dr Shane Oliver, we have access to information and insight that is difficult for those who don’t work with finances every day to access and assimilate.

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Insurance ProtectionNews Total and Permanent Disability Insurance

Total and Permanent Disability Insurance: Business vs Personal

Total and permanent disability insurance is designed to help protect individuals and businesses from the severe consequences of a permanent disability that makes someone unable to ever return to work. While most people are aware of its personal use and coverage, many are unaware that TPD can also be used to protect their business in the case of a permanent disablement to a key member of the staff.

Covering Your Business

Total and permanent disability insurance can be used by business owners to cover their losses or expenses if an important team member becomes totally disabled and is unlikely to ever work again. The consequences of a permanent disability to a key person can include the loss of income and productivity. It can also cost a lot to replace them and train that replacement.

Coverage levels can be difficult to work out because there are so many factors involved. Skill level, training time, loss of productivity and loss of market leverage are all important considerations. Your insurance provider has access to formulas that are accepted across the industry to help you determine what coverage is appropriate.

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Insurance ProtectionNews Denied Life Insurance

Have You Been Denied Life Insurance?

Most people who apply for life insurance in our Perth office are approved, but sometimes an insurance company will reject or deny life insurance. There are many reasons that people are denied, but it doesn’t always mean you are out of options. Here are some strategies that you can adopt if you are denied life insurance.

Collect Information

It can be helpful to ask the insurance company for information as to why you were denied. For example, you may have taken a medical examination that found a previously undisclosed illness.

Confirm the Veracity of the Results

Mistakes happen in every facet of business. Sometimes they happen while applying for insurance. It can be helpful to double check and make sure all information that you and other sources provided was accurate.

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Business InsuranceNews Business Insurance - Key Person Insurance

Does Your Company Have Key Person Insurance?

Do you know about key person insurance? It is a form of business insurance that protects your business if you lose a person who is essential to your operation. Here are some situations in which you may strongly consider key person insurance.

Employee Who is Difficult to Replace

If a restaurant loses a dishwasher, it is easy to find another one almost immediately. But what if you are a dental clinic and you lose your most popular dentist to a heart attack?

Young Employees

Often, succession plans are in place for older employees who are nearing retirement age. But what about younger employees who are projected to be there for years to come? If a young employee dies, it can “blindside” an organisation.

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Investment PlanningNews Education Plan For Kids With Financial Planners

Planning an Education for Your Children

One of the many services our financial planners provide to our clientele in the Perth area is planning an education for their children. We know that everyone wants to provide for their children and an education is at the top of the list for a lot of parents. According to the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA), though, some families may be better off not trying to put the money aside because it could make them become a burden to their children later in life.*

The FPA strongly suggests getting your own finances and lifestyle in order before deciding whether or not to put money away for your children’s education. If you can, though, here are some options suggested by the FPA that can help you save for your children’s education.*

Pay Down Your Mortgage Faster

The FPA suggests that you would be well-served to focus on paying down your mortgage as soon as you possibly can. One strategy includes finding the lowest rates and using a redraw facility to pay for college expenses.*

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Insurance ProtectionNews Total And Permanent Disability Insurance

Are Your Wealth and Family Protected?

Total and permanent disablement insurance, or TPD, is a form of disability insurance that pays you a lump sum payment in the case that you are never able to work again due to disability. TPD can help ensure that your needs and your family’s are covered if you become permanently unable to work. (1)

Sadly, a disability can happen to anyone, young or old. A person can suffer a debilitating injury by playing sports, driving or even walking down the street. A head trauma or severe illness can have life-changing consequences. These are all risks that we face every day of our lives, even if they aren’t in our consciousness.

How TPD can Help You

If you sustain an injury or illness that makes you unable to work, TPD can help you provide for your family. It is usually purchased in tandem with life insurance to provide a “financial safety net” for you and your family in the event that you are no longer able to work. (2)

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NewsWealth Protection Ins and Outs of Income Protection Insurance

The Ins and Outs of Income Protection Insurance

Income protection insurance can be an important part of your wealth protection program. At Approved Financial Planners, we offer income protection insurance from AMP Capital, which is our parent company.

How Does Income Protection Insurance Work?

So, what is income protection insurance? It protects your family and your lifestyle if you are unable to go to work due to injury or sickness by paying up to 75% of your current income. (1)

Income protection insurance may be appropriate for you if you want to sustain or replace your current income in the case of injury or sickness. It can also be appropriate if you want to protect and secure your and your family’s financial future. You may want income protection insurance if you are looking for a product that can be adjusted to meet your individual financial needs. (1)

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