Consider your financial objectives. These may be retirement, debt reduction, children’s education, estate or succession planning. Seeking professional assistance to get your affairs in order, enhance your lifestyle now and set you on the path to a stress free retirement.

In addition to providing financial security in retirement, superannuation offers significant taxation benefits. The returns on your money in your own superannuation fund and the tax benefits can make your money accumulate faster providing financial security in retirement. This is why a sound well thought through financial strategy is crucial. More information is available through the First Step Program.

Managed Super

Suitable for people…

• Just starting work and deciding where to save their retirement funds.
• In work who wish to take advantage of the super choice legislation.
• Who do not want the responsibility of participating in the management of their own superannuation.
• Who want a worry free and simpler super service.
• Who prefer their superannuation to be managed by a financial institution.

Self Managed Super Funds

The Benefits of “Do it yourself” Superannuation Having your own superannuation fund rather than a fund with a bank or fund manager gives you greater control and more flexibility in how you can have the money invested tailoring it to your own individual needs. You can invest in shares, property and other investments based on a well considered investment strategy. Some of the benefits of a Self Managed Superannuation Fund:

• Self Managed Superannuation fund rules allow more flexibility in investments and management;
• Your fund’s portfolio could be more tax effective,
• You can use a variety of investment tools to leverage and maximise returns that are normally not available within institutional funds;
• You can better organise your affairs in the event of your death;
• A Self Managed Superannuation fund could be more cost effective;
• Having control of your own fund means you can conduct tax planning better.

There are many types of investments to choose from, with a variety of versatility.  We can tailor your investments in accordance with your objectives and risk profile.  Fundamental Financial Planning offers a more sophisticated approach to investment management. We offer a direct equities approach which allows you to see the actual companies in which you own shares. This approach allows us to offer a range of different asset classes including:

• Managed Funds
• Direct Shares (listed equities)
• Fixed Income Securities
• Exchange Traded Funds

Managed Funds

Managed funds pool the money of many individual investors. This money is then invested by a professional fund manager in different asset classes (e.g. shares, property and bonds) in line with the fund’s stated investment objectives. When you invest in a managed fund, you are allocated a number of ‘units’, rather than shares. Each unit represents an equal portion of the market value of the portfolio of investments. Each unit has a dollar value, known as the ‘unit price’. The unit price will vary according to changes in the market value of the investment portfolio or the total number of units issued for the fund.

Investing in Shares

A shareholding is part ownership of a listed company. The shareholder receives dividends or income from their share investment and the company is able to raise valuable equity capital to fund its growth and operations. The shares can then be sold on the stock exchange and a potential capital gain realised if the share price rises – creating an opportunity for both income and capital growth.

Fixed Income Securities

A fixed income security is an investment that provides a return in the form of fixed periodic payments and the eventual return of principal at maturity. Unlike a variable-income security, where payments change based on some underlying measure such as short-term interest rates, the payments of a fixed-income security are known in advance.

Exchange Traded Funds

An exchange traded fund (ETF) allows you to access almost every corner of the market and every major asset class. An ETF offers you flexibility for a wide range of investment strategies, is cost effective and easy to use. An ETF is an investment fund, similar to a traditional managed fund, that is traded on the ASX.

The dilemma for business owners who want to pass their businesson to family members however wishes to maximise the sale price but does not want to burden those family members acquiring the business with excessive debt. We can design a strategy, which achieves these objectives.

When families consider the internal sale or transfer of an asset they need to consider where the money will come from. There are other processes and methods to complete this transfer which will provide the same result without the struggle of borrowing vast amounts of cash. The tax effective strategy we design and implement will enable the senior members of the family selling the business to attain the best sale price. Those members of the family seeking to own the business can acquire it without the cost being a burden.

Have you unwittingly made the Commissioner of Taxation a beneficiary of your Estate?

Estate planning is a specialist field. The ownership of assets, your Company, Trust and Superannuation structures, and the terms of your Will and Insurances must be carefully considered to the best advantage of yourself and the people you care about.

If you think about the structure you have, or are presently thinking about getting your affairs in order, then you should consider how your financial situation and estate is structured in relation to taxation and how tax will affect your estate in the event of your death. What happens if you are disabled or unable to look after yourself?

Fundamental Financial Planning Pty Ltd can assist you in addressing these issues to ensure your estate is left as you intended.