Superannuation & Financial Planning

Perhaps the more appropriate question would be, do you hold the right assets? We have all heard the stories where people have bought an investment and then, several years later, identified that the value of that investment has fallen below the purchase price in real terms.

The question of whether you hold until the market recovers, or should you cut your losses and sell and look for an alternative is one many people are afraid to make.

Whether you invest in; direct shares, buy property, hold term deposits or invest in other financial assets such as managed investments or whether you invest through superannuation or outside are just a couple of many investment decisions our clients are receiving advice on.

It is not understanding the advantages and advantages of investing options which make selecting the right investment difficult. For example, buying direct shares may seem an appropriate way to buy into the market, but you risk not having diversification which means that you end up having a lot of your money in only a couple of different asset classes which is a high risk strategy.

Alternatively, there are other secure managed investments which can be started with as little as $2,000 and you can be invested in a portfolio of asset classes which provide exposure to different asset classes all over the world.

There is so much more to selecting the right investment for you.  While the investment returns and growth potential and very important, consideration needs to be given to;

– Fees being charged.

– Exposure to market variances

– Diversification of asset classes.

– Investments that generate an income stream

– Accessibly of your funds.

Here at U-First Financial Solutions, we work with you to identify your financial goals and we have the knowledge and experience to help you select the right investment to help you achieve your financial goals in a cost-effective manner that is aligned to your growth profile.

As we are licensed and qualified financial advisers, you can have peace of mind knowing that you will be receiving sound recommendations for your financial assets to assist you in achieving in building your wealth over the long-term.

The world of the superannuation environment can very complex. Not just for the rules and regulations, there are the funds which can range from very limited investment options compared to others that have so many investment options they create confusion.

Understanding how your superannuation balance is invested is key to identifying if you are invested so as to give your funds the best chance of achieving the returns from your superannuation that you are seeking.

It is important to note that there a direct relationship between risk and return. The extreme examples of safe investing to total risk are stuffing your cash in a mattress (Which can still be eaten by mice!) through to gambling it all on No 14 on the roulette table!

It is vital to understand the structure of the investments within your superannuation and their exposure to risk. For example;  You may be invested in a conservative fund and missing out on potential income and growth opportunities or conversely, you could be invested too aggressively and experience volatility which might make you uncomfortable.

Here at U-First Financial Solutions, we understand the structure of superannuation investments and can help you identify an investment level which is appropriate to you having regard to your personal financial objectives and tolerance for risk.This will ensure that you are getting the best out of your superannuation savings and that you are invested at a risk level you are comfortable with.

Sadly, many of us don’t know where all our income goes but few take steps to find out.

Managing your cashflow means both making the most out of your income opportunities as well as ensuring your outflows as effective as possible. This can be achieved through;

– Tax effective structuring of finances

– Investment opportunities

– Making the most out existing financial assets

– Budget management.

Here at U-First Financial Solutions, we have access to budgeting software and tools which can help you track your spending. As an example, we can generate reports which provide an accurate account on what you have spent against various categories over the last month, year or years allowing easy identification of spending patterns.

We work with you in developing strategies to refine spending and to develop a savings cash buffer. We help you get back in control of your money so that you no longer need to fear where you are going to get the extra money from to pay both the expecting and unexpected costs.