Ellerfield Financial Planning Joins Walker Capital Private Wealth

We are pleased to announce that Ellerfield Financial Planning Joins the Walker Capital Private Wealth Group.

Having been one of IOOF’s largest Financial Planners, the Ellerfield team brings not only a great deal of experience but adds great depth to our collective. As such, it is only fitting that Ellerfield Financial Planning will serve as our Queensland State Representative as we look to further expansions within the state.

After vetting a number of Advisers and Adviser Groups for the role, it was Ellerfield Financial Planning’s experience, commitment to client interests and emphasis on ethics that highly resonated with us.

Ellerfield Financial Planning comprises a large team of dedicated Advisers and support staff and is owned and operated by Scott McKeown as CEO and Principal Adviser. Scott brings a unique and sophisticated perspective to Financial Advice having come from a strong 15-year career at Australia’s largest Financial Services Group. Scott expects a high standard from his team and that is reflected in the calibre of his staff and the quality of his service to clients

Ellerfield Financial Planning is an integral strategic partner as we look to increase our service and expansion in financial planning services.

Meet the Ellerfield Financial Planning Team

With so much insecurity in the world these days, there are steps you can take to secure yourself and your loved ones in the event that any unforeseen circumstance bestows upon you.

From being forced into hotel quarantine on the way home from travels due to being a Covid-19 close contact, through to losing your employment due to changes in working arrangements, you never know how much you need insurance and financial stability until you need it.

But it’s not all doom and gloom, from saving for a home, an investment holiday, retirement or setting up your children for their future – a financial planner in Adelaide is your key to success.

What services do financial planners in Adelaide provide?

A financial planner is like a business planner – they provide a roadmap for your future, achieved at achieving the goals and objectives you set for yourself. Unlike accountants, that we see each year to submit our tax returns, financial planners look forward, they plan and provide advice on the best financial products and services to best meet your specific financial position.

In recent times, financial planner is different to what they were only a few years ago, as they are not required to be post-graduate qualified, as well as required to complete yearly ‘compulsory professional development’ (CPD). This was brought about due to the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry.

This has not only removed the unscrupulous operators that gave the industry a bad name, but also requires a higher standard of service, transparency, accountability, and rights for clients.

Why should I see a financial planner in Adelaide?

As previously mentioned, a financial planner has the expertise and is qualified to provide you advice on a wide range of products – these include superannuation (managed or self-managed), insurances – such as income protection, life insurance etc, estate planning, planning for retirement, savings, investment instruments and more.

If you are in Adelaide and are thinking that your life circumstances are due to change in any way, then booking a financial planning appointment should be high on your to-do list.

Get your finances sorted with an Adelaide-based financial planner

From setting up savings accounts and insurance in case of a ‘rainy day’, while also setting up Self-Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSF’s), investment accounts and investment plans based on current and future earning capacity to provide you and your family with the financial security you crave, so you can focus on the important things.

Seeing a financial planner in Adelaide should be something that you do regularly, no matter what your earning capacity nor your current financial situation. They are experts at looking at where you are now, where you want to do and will recommend the products and strategies to get you there.

Why not take the guesswork out of your finances, and call a financial planner in Adelaide today, book an appointment and see what a difference a plan can make to your future.

As the nation’s capital comes back to life post the COVID-19 Pandemic, there has never been a more important time to speak with a financial planner.

As the pandemic taught many of us, we must always be prepared to ‘expect for the unexpected. For many people, the pandemic offered huge opportunities. Opportunities in property, the share market, in their personal and professional lives. Meanwhile, for others, it resulted in losses. Losses of businesses, homes, and family units.

The former, those who had opportunities, had the financial stability, and means to take or make opportunities – and that is what financial planners in Canberra are trained and able to do.

Thinking that financial planners are not really something on your radar?

Financial planning has copped a bad wrap in recent years, in large part thanks to the large banks and institutions operating in ways that the industry should not.

With the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry changing all that, financial planners who are not qualified, are no longer in the profession, financial planners who have done the wrong thing, are no longer in the profession and those that are left – are required to offer the very highest quality products and services to you as customers.

How does financial planning work?

Unlike you accountants visit, which for most people is once or twice around tax time, a financial plan is something that you and your planner work on, cultivate and iterate as your circumstances change.

From being single with an income, through to a couple with two incomes, a family, and then maybe single again, or just two of you leading towards retirement – your Canberra financial planner is there for you every step of the way.

Setting up the goals and objectives is the first point, but these are based on your current and future earning capacity, how many years you must work, how much you can invest and importantly…how much risk can you and your family tolerate.

From here, your financial planner will present a set of products and services that provide a solution within your specific parameters and that ensure that if anything happens to cause a deviation in that plan – either positive such as a bonus, better paying job or receiving some inheritance – or negative – such as loss of job, injury or even death – that your plan and financial security of you and your loved ones are secure.

Need to find a financial planning specialist in Canberra to help plan your future?

The key is a consistent and continuous approach to your financial planning. Residents of Canberra understand the importance of having available funds, and it’s not simply for the wealthy.

Financial Planning is for anyone who wants to sleep easy at night knowing that they have money, investments and insurance that will keep them and their families safe and comfortable now and into the future.

Speak to a Financial Planner today in Canberra to find out the next steps of your financial journey – it’s never too late (or too early) to start.

Explore professionals near you that can provide the financial planning you need for a successful future.

When embarking on your financial journey, it is always beneficial to find a financial planner near me or you or whomever the plan is being designed.

Financial Planning is one of the most important steps people across Australia – the world for that matter – take to ensure they are financially fit in the face of any unexpected changes to their current scenario.

Just like a personal trainer works on that stubborn waistline and to build muscle, strength and resilience, a Financial Planner works with their clients to trim the debt, build a strong investment portfolio, enable plans for ‘extras’ – such as holidays or maybe that boat or car you have always admired – while also working within the financial capabilities of their client.

It was once imperative that your financial planner was located nearby – just like your personal trainer – so you could ensure you made your ‘face-to-face’ appointment, sat down in front of them and went through all your financials. And this for many clients – most in fact – is still very important, as this will be some of the most important decisions you will presumably make in your lifetime.

However, thanks to technology such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Google Meet, your financial planner is always nearby!

Why is it important to find a financial planner near me?

Although this technology is widely used – especially post COVID-19 – it needs to be remembered that your financial plan is indeed one of the most important people ‘should’ do, but often negate.

When things are vitally important and have long-lasting implications – such as finance, health, and legal matters – they are best conducted in person. There is a certain level of personal information that needs to be provided, not to mention physical paperwork, and, of course, those ever-important ‘non-verbal’ communication channels such as body language – that is a vital part of a financial planner’s assessment of your personal financial position.

Your Financial Planner – unlike your bank – assess your situation not only on the numbers in front of them but a wide array of extenuating circumstances, your age, your occupation, your future earning capacity, your personal goals and on you as a person.

Why is this so important? Because there are so many elements that we keep hidden - sometimes purposefully, others not – this can include things we are embarrassed about, such as debt levels, risk tolerance or other things that are vitally important in the financial planning process.

What is so important about a financial planner for me?

Like a captain on the ship, a financial planner provides all the tools, all the systems and processes to its crew to steer the ship to where it needs to go. Although your ultimate financial success or freedom is up to you, and you alone – your financial planner is there with you, every step of the way to ensure you stay on track and pivot your plan should you deviate off course.

Finding a financial planner near me, you, your siblings, your parents or whoever is looking for a more financially secure life than they currently have is the first step, the rest is up to you and your planner to map out and go forward and achieve.

Never has financial planning been more important to Australians. As the country emerges from the washout of the COVID-19 pandemic, what is clear to most is that the ways we used to do things, plan things, invest in things is gone.

As the ‘new normal’ emerges, we need to put plans in place to ensure we and our loved ones are better prepared and protected, but also that we take the opportunities in front of us, that to most, are hiding in plain sight.

Why is Personal Financial Planning in Australia so important?

Sure, there are stories in the media – that take up a larger share of voice than they should – about the overnight success stories, Instagram influencers that make millions and enjoy all the trimmings of being rich and famous. But for the rest of us, the other 99%, we need to work.

Personal finances are so important; as individuals, we need to be more objective. We need to treat our finances like a business, and like any business, we need a plan. Why is this so important? You could go through life, getting paid, saving for a house, maybe achieving it, then living until you retire – and then what?

What about life? Life in Australia offers us so much more than working to the bone and just getting by. And even if you are on an average income, by setting a financial plan in place, you can start taking control of your financial future today.

How to start your financial planning journey in Australia?

Thanks to the Australian Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry, all industry participants – including financial planners – are held to a higher standard, and must be better educated and more accountable for the advice they offer.

In addition, they can’t simply advise clients to take the most profitable products – for themselves – which was standard practice for many planners in the past.

As such, even if you have little to no knowledge of where to start, thanks to the royal commission, you can start with the knowledge that you will be selecting an advisor that has your best interests first.

From here, you need to find a financial planner that your feel comfortable with, as this is not a short-term relationship, it is one that ideally will last a lifetime. Not to mention, when financial planning in Australia, you need to provide a lot of information, some of your most sensitive information in fact, so there needs to be an established trust.

From your personal debt levels, income levels, and family details, through to your will & last testimony, your financial planner will know more about you than many, and the more information they are provided, the better your process and outcomes will be.

Financial planning isn’t just for the wealthy, it isn’t designed to make you wealthy – although it can – it is designed to provide you with a plan to become financially stable, secure and provide freedoms that should you try to simply go it alone unless you are one of the 99% mentioned above, often will never come.

Speak to Walker Capital today about how their financial planners can assist in realising those freedoms sooner.

“The greatest wine in the world is the wine you like best”. When it comes to personal choices, living in a country such as Australia, we are granted the liberty and luxury of being able to freely make them, and hold different views and choices to that of others, our governments, business, our parents, on just about anything.

When it comes to the question of who are the best Financial Planners in Australia, it comes down to the simple fact – who are the best financial planners for you?

There may be the best performing financial advisors in Australia, who generate millions of dollars every year, but are they really the best Financial Planner for you?

Subjective & Objective Results

Financial Planners are charged with charting a roadmap and guiding you and your family through your personal financial journey. There are many factors including your risk tolerance, access to capital, income level, capacity to earn and time horizons, that must be taken into consideration.

Many of these are objective and can be measured quantifiably and Financial Planners are trained on how to best identify these, categories and recommend the best strategies for your personal situation.

However, this is only part of the process of finding the best financial planner in Australia for you, the other is the planner themselves.

Financial Planning is a very personal service, your planner will ask questions and expect honest and truthful answers – and bank statements – for some things you would only dare talk about with your closest. Not only that, but Financial Planning is also a lifelong journey, and your planner should be around in your life for many years to come, so you need to get along.

Now, we are not recommended that you should be inviting them over for Christmas lunch, however, you most certainly should be able to trust even like your planners, so that you can communicate freely, regularly, and honestly.

How does this make them the Best Financial Planner in Australia?

Along with great skill and access to financial instruments that will make you money, your financial planner needs to be personable, empathetic, and understanding. Remember, they are not there to judge, no matter how dire your financial situation may currently be.

They are there to help you P.O.L.C or plan, organise, lead and control – all the attributes the best financial planners in Australia do daily. They plan for you and your family, organise your accounts, your investments, insurances, and budgets, lead but offering opportunities and products to suit your needs as they change, then control your portfolio (under your instruction) to ensure you maximise your outcomes.

Remember that everyone in Australia is different, we all have different needs, wants, and demands, we all have different jobs, skills, and life ambitions, so the best Financial Planner in Australia for you is the one you like best.

Speak to Walker Capital today for a meet and greet with our financial planners, review of their performance and review of how your financial journey can take its next steps forward.

A certified Financial Planner is considered the standard in excellence for financial planners not only in Australia but around the world. They must meet not only the postgraduate expectations of the Australian industry, but a wide range of additional education, training, and ethical standards in the practice of financial planning.[1]

“Financial planning is about developing strategies to help you manage your financial affairs and meet your life goals – and the first step is to make sure you have access to the right advice. Working with a professional financial planner can give you confidence and peace of mind that your financial future is secure.”[2]

So, why is it so important to have a certified Financial Planner?

You wouldn’t go to an unqualified doctor, as they are charged with your health. A Financial Planner should be no different, as they are charged with taking care of your ‘financial health’. And as we from a very young age understand, your financial capacity dictates what we do, where we live, how we live, where we holiday, when we retire, and so much more.

As such, a Certified Financial Planner is the only professionals that can provide you with personal financial advice, product advice based on your personal situation.

Why am I confused about what is considered financial advice?

The answer to that is relatively simple, despite financial planning is very complicated. That is due to people & organisations trying to sell to you. They sell you bank accounts, credit cards, short term loans, buy-now-pay-later services (Zip Pay & Afterpay) you name it, they sell it.

The people that sell these are not providing financial advice, they are salespeople. They are not (largely) qualified or certified financial planners that are looking to provide services to better your personal financial position. They are trying to hit sales quotas, rank you on internal scorecards.

Financial Planners are experts that can provide you advice on what products suit you from a range of suppliers in relation to investments, insurance, debt reduction and more. They can review investment funds, ETF’s, shares and other financial instruments from a range of suppliers and provide their, impartial advice on which way to go.

Meanwhile, the list provided previously is there to sell you a loan, product, or service for which you “qualify for” rather than something that has been tailored for your personal needs.

Should I get a Certified Financial Planner?

Simple answer, yes. A Certified Financial Planner will work with you and your personal finances now and into the future to provide a more stable, more financially free life for you and your family. They do this through employing debt reduction techniques, savings maximising techniques, introducing you to financial instruments geared to make you money over the short, medium, and long terms based on your risk tolerance, all the while working to a plan that is within your personal means.

Next time when you are dreaming about a boat, a holiday, or a new house, why not sit down with a financial planner and work out how you can have your cake and eat it too.

Speak to the certified financial planning team at Walker Capital and realise your next step to financial freedom.

[1] https://www.cfp.net/

[2] https://fpa.com.au/

As the world heads into 2022, there is never a better time to see a financial planner. As many new years resolutions of you and the people around you have something to do with finance, why not do something constructive and real about it – not simply hollow words that work out as much as your new gym membership!

Finding a top financial planner nearby should be at the top of almost everyone’s Christmas list, as financial freedom is the gift that will keep giving – literally.

A Financial Planner is not going to solve all your financial problems, dreams and aspirations in one go, but what they are going to be able to do, is give you a reality check on where you are really at, how much debt you have, how much in assets you have and what a plan looks like to get you from where you are now, to where you want to go.

What are the benefits of a financial planner?

We are often good at plugging the holes as they start letting in water rather than fixing the boat itself. This is not different to a qualified, certified top financial planner.

Starting from the top, alleviate and reduce your debt levels and ensure you have insurance to cover you and your family in case of an accident, loss of job and sadly – but importantly – loss of life.

With these key elements in place, the review of your superannuation and retirement plan, how much do you have not, how much do you need to be comfortable, when do you want to retire? All pertinent questions that need urgent attention, not a couple of years before you retire – but now when you are young enough to make changes.

Then when you have this organised, let’s talk about investing, to create wealth and make your money work while you are sleeping – quite literally. If you have ever wondered how people are doing well and look like they are not stressed, it’s because in many cases, they have a financial planner taking care of their medium- and long-term investments – ensuring they have money available and access to funds when they need it.

And finally, what about some discretionary items? Maybe a boat for summer? Why not do it within a dedicated plan with your planner – don’t just jump on the next bow-rider the salesperson offers a low-interest rate to you on.

Top Financial Planners can make a lifetime of difference.

As you can see, your financial planner is not simply there to sell you products, they are there to design you a roadmap for long term stability while also providing the fulfilment of your short-term ambitions.

Remember, not everything is realistic, and your top financial planner will tell you as much – but there is only one way to realise this – that is by visiting a top financial planner near you today!

Speak to a Walker Capital Financial Planner today about how to map your financial future and start enjoying your money sooner.