Financial success is often achieved by taking small steps
It may seem daunting and overwhelming but like anything, if you have a professional guiding you along the way, small steps can lead to something great.
Step 1: Seek Advice
It’s hard to achieve great success without a team of experts behind you and your wealth is no different. Getting professional financial advice means your adviser can work through a myriad of options with you and implement a strategy aligned closely to your financial goals. Retirement planning, tax-effective super strategies, investments and estate planning? Your financial adviser can help.
Step 2: Understand What Role Risk Plays
One of the first things your financial adviser will do is work out your risk profile, which they will check at regular review meetings. Why? Because risk is related to return, and this will help drive the recommendations they make to you in terms of your financial plan. Generally, the higher the risk, the higher the return. While some people like higher risk investments because they have the potential to deliver higher returns, others prefer less risky investments. It’s important to remember that markets are cyclical and shares are a long-term investment so if the market wobbles, your financial adviser is best placed to keep an eye on your investments and determine if they remain aligned to your overall financial strategy.
Step 3: Check Your Super
Your superannuation could be your largest asset, other than your own home. Given it’s such a large sum that you have been contributing to for years and years, and you are relying on it to sustain you in your retirement, isn’t it something you want to get right? Sure, it’s a long-term investment, but it’s important that it is invested in-line with your risk profile and financial goals. And you do have options. As well as your employer contribution, you can kick in a bit extra through salary sacrificing. Contributing more to super will not only boost your account balance, it could reduce the amount of tax you pay.
Step 4: Stick to a Budget
Sounds boring, right? But a budget is not boring, it’s empowering!! Setting a realistic budget helps you understand where your money is going, what can be trimmed and where you can invest to save for your future. Understanding your overall financial health and having a budget aligned to your financial goals gives you a real understanding of the benefits of working with a financial adviser. You can start to see a real change in your circumstances. Having a budget doesn’t mean giving up things you want, it just means you plan for them and you make sure you can afford them before you spend the money. Setting and sticking to a budget is really the simplest way to help you get ahead.
As always, your best course of action depends on your own circumstances and financial plan. Contact Carrick Aland’s award-winning Wealth Planning team on 1300 466 998 or visit carrickaland.com.au/wealth-planning/.
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