PO Box 893 St Ives NSW 2075 Suite 2, 41-45 Pacific Hwy Waitara NSW 2077 Ph: 02 9487 8200 Fax: 02 9487 8201 Email: yourfinancialcoach@lifestrategies.net.au www.lifestrategies.net.au
WHO IS LIFE STRATEGIES FINANCIAL SERVICES? ABN: 70 490 902 616 PO Box 893 ST IVES NSW 2075 Unit 2, 41-45 Pacific Highway WAITARA NSW 2077 Ph: (02) 9487 8200 Fax: (02) 9487 8201 Email: yourfinancialcoach@lifestrategies.net.au Website: www.lifestrategies.net.au Life Strategies Financial Services is a professional firm founded in 1995 that specialises in the provision of financial planning, superannuation, including Self Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSFs) investment advice, life insurance and mortgage broking services. Life Strategies Financial Services is a privately owned Australian business ABN 70 490 902 616. The shares in Life Strategies Financial Services Pty Ltd are owned by the founder Bob Lofgren s family, including the Principal Adviser, Sharni Tucker. Our objective at Life Strategies Financial Services is to provide you with comprehensive integrated financial advice and ongoing wealth management that will enable you to achieve your financial goals. - 1 August 2013 Page 2 of 14
FINANCIAL PLANNING ADVICE We are authorised to provide you with Financial Planning Advice through Financial Planning Services Australia Pty Ltd. WHO IS FINANCIAL PLANNING SERVICES AUSTRALIA PTY LTD? ABN: 55 010 521 810 Australian Financial Services Licence No: 225982 Financial Planning Services Australia Pty Ltd (FPSA) was formed in 1985 and has grown to be one of the largest boutique Financial Planning Companies in Australia. FPSA takes pride in setting excellent standards for financial planning advice and service. FPSA holds Australian Financial Services Licence No. 225982. Life Strategies Financial Services is a Corporate Authorised Representative No. 298686 of Financial Planning Services Australia Pty Ltd. Sharni Tucker (Authorised Representative no 229647) and Michael Huskic (ASIC Authorised Representative no 317511) are Authorised Representatives of Financial Planning Services Australia Pty Ltd. FPSA is what is referred to as our Licensee. Advisers are authorised representatives of a Licensee. The Licensee sits between the Advisers and the government body ASIC. FPSA provides certain support services. In our situation FPSA takes the approach that their Advisers know how to run their business and thus allow us to make decisions in relation to the software we use, the way our premises are presented and the products and services we provide our clients. They provide us with some resources for: Meeting our ongoing training requirements. Researching investments and insurance products. Maintaining compliance with frequently changing legislation FPSA is responsible for the financial services provided as outlined in our Financial Services Guide. Ultimately they take responsibility for the advice that their authorised representatives, your Advisers give you, so they stand behind Life Strategies Financial Services as another level of support. THE FINANCIAL SERVICES WE ARE LICENCED TO OFFER WITH FPSA At Life Strategies Financial Services our primary objective and focus is always on looking for opportunities and developing strategies to improve your personal wealth. We pride ourselves on our ability to communicate complex issues simply and clearly, helping you understand their implications, and recommend actions accordingly. - 1 August 2013 Page 3 of 14
Life Strategies Financial Services is authorised to advise and deal in the following products: Securities (including shares, managed funds and property trusts). Debentures, bonds and other fixed interest products. Life, TPD, Trauma, Income Protection and Business Expenses insurances. Structure Keyman insurance for business. Retirement savings accounts (RSA). Superannuation. Integrated Financial Planning Your Life Strategies Financial Services Advisers will work closely to ensure your financial objectives are achieved. This will require us to: Have a clear understanding of your goals. Develop and document a Statement of Advice. Incorporate computer modelling to ensure the strategy is feasible where relevant. Implement your Statement of Advice. Review your investments on an ongoing basis. Review your life insurance and risk management needs. Our investment and insurance advice will be integrated to ensure that you will achieve the benefits of carefully considering all of the following matters: Income tax and capital gains tax. Dividend imputation system. Superannuation strategies. Social security benefits. Asset protection. Estate and succession planning. The use of appropriate investment structures. Investment Portfolio Management Once the strategy has been agreed upon and the initial investments placed, the ongoing administration of your investment portfolio involves the following: Accurate recording of dividends and other income. Ongoing advice on the income tax and capital gains tax efficiency of your portfolio. Specific advice on the addition of new investments including the placement of these investments. Ongoing review and assessment of the investments in your portfolio. Ongoing review of asset allocation. Review of cash flow. An annual review of your life insurance and risk management needs. Strategic advice with regard to superannuation and investment structures. Ease of access to Life Strategies Financial Services personnel. Superannuation Advice The accumulation of funds to provide us with our desired lifestyle in retirement remains a major, if not the number one reason for our wealth accumulation planning. One means by which we accumulate these funds for retirement is by way of superannuation. - 1 August 2013 Page 4 of 14
Superannuation strategic advice and planning will specifically address the following: The ability to grow your wealth in a tax effective structure. Superannuation contributions and their tax efficiency: - salary sacrifice; - spouse contributions; Self Managed Superannuation Funds. Establish an investment portfolio in accordance r objectives and attitude towards risk. The ability to structure personal insurance cover in a tax effective manner. Asset Protection. Estate Planning (including the use of binding death benefit nominations). Retirement Planning Generally, when reaching retirement, the number one financial goal is to maximise your income stream to provide your lifestyle needs. Added to this is the need for it to increase (at least with inflation) and for your funds to last for the rest of your days. There are many options available to us to help us achieve your goals and it is our aim to work to determine the income stream that best suits your objectives. These include: Account based pensions. Annuities. Non-superannuation investments. Centrelink. Like the other stages in the wealth creation process, the following areas are very important in your planning for retirement: Taxation. Wealth protection. Estate planning. Risk Management and Personal Insurance It is a well-accepted principle of financial planning that while you are accumulating wealth you should have adequate insurance cover to protect your assets against loss. These assets should take into account the following key protection objectives: To protect current income in the event of sickness or accident. To protect the family and assets in the event of death. To maintain a current standard of living if permanently disabled. To protect the family and assets in the event of serious illness or trauma. The most important issues when it comes to personal insurance are: Determining an appropriate level of cover. Selecting the most suitable policy. Structuring the ownership of the policy in the most tax effective manner. - 1 August 2013 Page 5 of 14
Not all insurance covers are equal. Life Strategies Financial Services utilises independent research that continually analyses products offered by the major Australian insurance companies. This helps us to identify those products that are most appropriate to your specific needs. Life Strategies Financial Services acts for our clients and not the insurance companies. The key element review process is that it is fully documented, giving you time to understand the proposed strategies. Asset Protection Surprisingly, many business people unknowingly put their assets at risk. These include personal, investment and business assets. This happens because they do not structure their assets, liabilities, mortgages and business risks in such a way as to minimise the risks that may arise. The key objectives of Life Strategies Financial Services asset protection strategies are: Prevention is better than cure always plan to protect assets in advance. Maximise the protection of all your assets personal, investment and business. Identify all potential risks and build a wall between those risks and all your assets. Assets usually take a long time to build but can be lost very quickly if exposed to business risk when unforeseen events occur. Protection of our clients assets from unnecessary business risk is a very important part of our strategy to protect your wealth. Estate and Succession Planning Most people understand the need to accumulate wealth and adopt strategies to protect assets from risk. However, just as critical to sound financial management is the efficient transfer of wealth to the next generation. The team at Life Strategies Financial Services sees estate planning as an integral part of your successful financial management. It simply has to be done. In formulating an efficient estate planning strategy, Life Strategies Financial Services can assist with the following objectives: Minimise future capital gains tax implications. Minimise any future income tax arising from the income earned from your assets. Protect your assets, as far as legally possible, against the challenges facing beneficiaries of your estate (eg bankruptcy, divorce). Ensure legal documentation is in order to cover death and/or incapacity due to ill health. Aged Care When looking for residential aged care for you or a family member there is so much to consider, often in a limited time. It s not usually something you ve planned for and most people feel stressed about making the wrong decisions. We can provide guidance and support to help you make decisions with regard to: Options for funding accommodation bonds. The family home whether to sell or rent it out. An optimal mix between bond, daily care fees and income-tested fees. Effects on Centrelink/DVA pension benefits. What the total cost is and is it affordable? Impact on monies to be left to surviving family. - 1 August 2013 Page 6 of 14
FEES FOR FINANCIAL PLANNING ADVICE The financial services of Life Strategies Financial Services will be tailored to match the degree of active investment management that you are seeking. Outlined in this section is the methodology of our fee structure. Various service options are available to you. Our professional hourly rates range from $110 to $330 per hour, for the team members at Life Strategies Financial Services with the requisite skills and experience to deliver the best result for you. GST Implications Please note that fees and brokerage described in this document are GST inclusive. The Initial Meeting There is no charge for an initial meeting, which will enable you and your Life Strategies Financial Services Adviser to assess the merits of working together. This meeting will also enable us both to consider the range of services that will best suit your needs. However, to make the most of this time with our Adviser we ask that you complete as much information as possible from the questionnaires we will provide to you, as it will assist us in understanding your current financial position and will also provide us with an understanding of your comfort level in investing. Statement of Advice Preparation Fee There is a professional service fee for the preparation of your Statement of Advice. This fee is determined by calculating the amount of hours required to complete the Statement of Advice. We will submit to you a fixed fee quote for the preparation of your Statement of Advice which would be approved by you in writing prior to the commencement of this work. We will undertake the following process: Determine and document the best strategies. Present the financial strategies and outcomes to you. Make specific investment recommendations. Present the Statement of Advice in a professional, clear and concise manner. Implementation Work Once we have your agreement about the specific advice and recommendations outlined by us in your Statement of Advice, we would then be in a position to undertake the work required to implement the plan. Implementing the plan requires us to undertake a number of actions on your behalf. These actions could include some of the following: Establishment of your Portfolio Management System. Implementation work. Redemption of investments. Rollover of your superannuation funds. Purchase of recommended investments. Establishment of the systems to enable ongoing management. - 1 August 2013 Page 7 of 14
Our fixed quote for the implementation of these services is based on a calculation of the professional time to complete the work. Our fixed fee quote would be approved by you in writing prior to the commencement of this work. You should refer to your Statement of Advice and the relevant Product Disclosure Statement for each product for details about any other fees and charges. Ongoing Managed Services As part of our ongoing service to you, Life Strategies Financial Services goes about managing the issues and complexities associated with the management of your investments. The annual Life Strategies Financial Services ongoing managed service fee is calculated on the basis of time involved in meeting your requirements and may be charged as a percentage of the portfolio assets that we manage on your behalf or a flat fee, as agreed. All portfolio management fees are either invoiced to you or directly debited from an account at an agreed financial institution. They are generally tax deductible. Review Service Life Strategies Financial Services offers a separate review service where brokerage may be received from your investments. Full details of any brokerage or remuneration received will be outlined to you. This review service is for those clients who do not require the ongoing managed service. Should you require this review service or other financial planning work and advice, an hourly rate may apply. No work would ever proceed without discussions of the fees and your authority to proceed. Insurance If you act on a recommendation from us to purchase or retain a life insurance policy we may receive brokerage payments from the Insurer who issues the policy. Insurers presently offer a number of options as to how these payments are structured throughout the life of the policy. Insurers currently offer brokerage payments of between 8% and 110% of the first year s premium and between 2% and 33% for subsequent years over the life of the policy. Brokerage is not an additional cost payable by you, it is paid by the Insurer out of your premium. Insurance policies are subject to a 14 day cooling off period which you can take advantage of should you change your mind after paying the initial premium. Australian Shares and Investment Placement Service For investments listed on the Australian Stock Exchange there is a brokerage fee of 1.1% for the first $30,000 and 0.825% in excess of $30,000 and a minimum fee of $55 applies. Brokerage may also be earned on initial Public Offerings. It is important to know that you will be informed about any interests Life Strategies Financial Services and/or your own Adviser have, that may influence the recommendations made to you. Unlisted investments, managed funds, insurance and superannuation may attract brokerage as outlined in the relevant Product Disclosure Statement. Some companies will pay ongoing commission to help assist in the provision of ongoing service. All brokerage information will be disclosed at the time of recommending investments within the Statement of Advice. - 1 August 2013 Page 8 of 14
Tax Deductibility of Fees It is our understanding that fees incurred for the provision of initial financial advice and implementation are not tax deductible as they are deemed a capital expense. Where fees are incurred in relation to the ongoing management of your financial affairs, these fees are tax deductible, to the extent they relate to the production of assessable income. We recommend you confirm your taxation position in this regard r accountant. Mortgage Broking Services Buying your home and repaying your mortgage is a common financial goal for many of us. We feel it is important to help our clients structure their debt, source an appropriate mortgage product and then manage it ongoing to ensure you are on top of your goals in relation to debt reduction, tax management and building your investments. Too often we find that clients are repaying deductible debt whilst having non-deductible debt still in place, or they are sold a mortgage product but have no follow up service. We have established an association with One10 to provide mortgage broking services clients. We feel that by being a part of the loan process, we will be in a position to provide assistance r loan requirements initially and during your ongoing loan management. FPSA is responsible for any credit advice provided by your Adviser in their capacity as a Credit Representative of FPSA. In practice Life Strategies role is usually limited to strategy related to the structure of your debt and being your advocate and sounding board during the mortgage application process. Life Strategies partners with One10 who specialise in comparing products, providing information to you and your Adviser to select an appropriate mortgage for your needs and helping you with all the paperwork with the banks and other lending institutions. As One10 is not associated with FPSA it is important for you to understand that FPSA is not responsible for the services provided by One10. How Life Strategies Financial Services is Paid for Mortgage Broking Services If you act on a recommendation from us to purchase or retain a loan product One10 may receive brokerage payments from the Institution who issues the mortgage and they share a proportion of this brokerage with Life Strategies Financial Services for your Adviser s involvement in the loan advice process. - 1 August 2013 Page 9 of 14
WHO IS LIFE STRATEGIES ACCOUNTING SERVICES? ABN: 90 132 736 095 PO Box 893 ST IVES NSW 2075 Unit 2, 41-45 Pacific Highway WAITARA NSW 2077 Ph: (02) 9487 8200 Fax: (02) 9487 8201 Email: smsf@lifestrategies.net.au Many clients find it convenient and mutually beneficial to have their financial affairs looked after by associated professionals under the one roof. Life Strategies Accounting Services was established in 2008 so that existing and future clients can have access to their Financial Adviser and Accountant at the one location which streamlines the services we can offer our clients. FPSA does not have any role in the accounting firm Life Strategies Accounting Services Pty Ltd as this is not required. A separate Professional Indemnity Policy is held for this firm. Self Managed Superannuation Funds Many people choose to use SMSF to provide for their retirement because SMSFs allow the trustee greater control of their superannuation monies. Life Strategies Accounting Services provides an accounting and administrative service for SMSFs to ensure trustees are meeting their legislative requirements. Services include: Establishing a SMSF. Annual reporting and lodgement of income tax return. Co-ordination of the audit. BAS preparation and PAYG management. Benefit reporting, establishing income streams and review. Wind up of superannuation fund. to our with you A to to our you and - - 1 1 November May August 2010 2013 2011 Page 10 10 10 of of of 14 13
How Life Strategies Accounting Services is Paid for SMSF Accounting and Administrative Services Our SMSF accounting service is charged at an hourly rate of $110-$220 per hour inc GST on a time cost basis. The accounting service operates to provide a flexible solution to trustees who wish to retain active involvement in the administration of their fund, eg preparing minutes, completing ATO forms such as BAS, PAYGI, calculating pension amounts themselves but require an accountant to prepare the statutory accounts and lodge the fund s tax return. However, we are able to assist trustees in any matter that may arise and this would be charged at an hourly rate. Our SMSF administration service is charged in accordance with our fee schedule. Fees for one off projects such as fund set up or wind up, payment of benefits and establishment of income streams are stated in our fee schedule. Tax Agent Service We can also prepare and lodge tax returns for all entities including: Individual Partnership Company Trust Superannuation Fund Returns Our fee for this service is charged at an hourly rate of $110-$220 per hour inc GST. We have a minimum charge of $132 inc GST for all returns. Corporate Secretarial Service We offer a reasonably priced full and comprehensive corporate secretarial service including: maintenance of company registers issue of share certificates preparation and filing of annual returns preparation and filing of ASIC forms for notifiable changes to companies appointments preparation of necessary minutes of meeting or resolutions to support company decisions compliance with the various requirements of the Corporations Act 2001. A to to our with you and - - 1-1 November May August 2010 2013 2011 Page 11 11 of of 14 13
YOUR ADVISER / ACCOUNTANT Life Strategies takes a team approach to looking after you. You will have the comfort of knowing that anyone in the team should be able to assist you or arrange for the appropriate person to get back to you at all times. Additional information about our Financial Advisers is contained in the Financial Services Guide. OUR PRIVACY POLICY AND HOW IT AFFECTS YOU Knowing You is Critical As a client of Life Strategies Financial Services it is vitally important that we understand what you expect of us. This means that your Adviser must understand your current financial situation, your specific needs and your objectives for the future. Clearly we will need to be working closely together on these issues to ensure your information is up to date and our recommendations are suited to your needs. Any information provided to us will be strictly confidential. Life Strategies Financial Services complies with the provisions of the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act, 2001. Our collection, use, disclosure and maintenance of any private information you provide to us will be in accordance with this Act. The information we collect from you will enable us to identify you and/or your business individually. It will include such items as your name, company name, contact details and any other information required by us to complete your work including Tax File Numbers. You also have the right to know what information is held about you, and to correct it if it is wrong. Depending on the type of service we are providing you, and in accordance r agreement with us, this information may be provided to regulatory bodies including the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. We do not provide your personal information to other third parties without your prior consent. A full copy of our Privacy Policy is available on our website www.lifestrategies.net.au - 1 August 2013 Page 12 of 14
ADVISER PROFILE Please see Financial Services Guide for Adviser profiles. ACCOUNTANT PROFILE JO AMPHERLAW CA Jo is a qualified Chartered Accountant with SMSF administration experience. Jo commenced her career in the Chartered Accounting profession in 1984 with Coopers & Lybrand (now Pwc) then County NatWest and TCorp where she gained extensive experience in banking & finance and accounting in both back and front office roles. Jo joined the Life Strategies team as the key client contact for all SMSF Accounting and Administration queries and to be actively involved in providing integrated accounting, planning, administration and tax services to all clients. Qualifications Chartered Accountant Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment (SIA) Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting with Merit (UNSW) Interests Jo enjoys gardening and boating but mostly spending time with her family and menagerie of animals. Authorised Representative Status Jo provides accounting and tax advice. She does not provide financial product advice and is not an Authorised Representative of FPSA. BEN MILLER CA Ben is a Chartered Accountant and Tax Agent with SMSF administration experience. Ben commenced working in public practice Chartered Accounting firms in 2004. He has expertise in tax planning and compliance, accounting, auditing and business advice. Ben joined the Life Strategies team in June 2013, bringing a wealth of experience in assisting clients meet their financial needs. Ben has previous experience as a Paraplanner and a specialty in Self-Managed Superannuation Fund administration and advice. Qualifications Registered Tax Agent Registered Company Auditor Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting Bachelor of Business in Accounting Advanced Diploma in Accounting Justice of the Peace - 1 August 2013 Page 13 of 14
Interests Ben follows a range of sports including rugby, cricket, tennis and golf and enjoys spending time ith his wife and two young daughters. Authorised Representative Status Ben provides accounting and tax advice. He does not provide financial product advice and is not an Authorised Representative of FPSA. - 1 August 2013 Page 14 of 14