We welcome our newest team member, Siobhain Smith.

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Ever since commodity prices and the mining investment boom peaked 3 or 4 years ago there has been a constant chorus of doom regarding the Australian economy: the reversal of the mining boom will knock the economy into recession, house prices will crash and banks will tumble. This view was particularly prevalent amongst foreign commentators who seemed to think that resource extraction was the only thing Australians do.

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We live in a country where floods and fires are common and where you may not have much notice that such events are imminent.

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Do you have an Account Based (also known as an ‘Allocated’) Pension? Are you planning to retire in 2014 or soon after? If you have answered ‘yes’ to either of these questions and are also receiving a full or part Centrelink Age Pension, then the income you receive from these types of pensions may be affected from January 2015... |READMORE|

Financial abuse is a concern for people with dementia and their carers. Over the years Alzheimer's Australia NSW (AlzNSW) has heard of numerous cases of financial abuse of people with dementia. |READMORE|

We welcome back Michelle who has recently returned from parental leave.

It’s been a busy year for Michelle as she also married Andrew McIntyre last month.  We wish them and their family a lifetime of happiness.

We are glad to have Michelle’s knowledge and experience back in the office.  She will be working Wednesday, Thursday and Friday each week.

CWFS Gets TOUGH!

Tony, Ben, Kate and Shae competed in the Autumn 2013 Tough Mudder event which was held in Sydney on April 13 and 14.  We are happy to report that everyone survived and had a great time.

Given the recent RBA rate deduction, there has never been a better time to review your debts and ensure they are structured correctly and offer you the maximum benefit (and savings).  

Life is not a dress rehearsal – live a little!

“A motto I tend to live by is ‘life is not a dress rehearsal’ – it is therefore so important that you spend time doing the things you enjoy, have precious time with your family and have funds available to do the things you want to do”.  - Annette

Contrary to market expectations, on 7 Feb 2012 the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kept the official cash rate at 4.25%, the rate remained on hold this month, following the most recent announcement made on 6 March 2012. 

Staying on track to meet your financial goals

Getting your personal finances on track is one of the popular New Year resolutions Australians often vow to keep through the year.  However, if you have found that as the months pass by it has been hard to achieve this resolution here are some simple and practical tips that may be just what you need.

One of the most fulfilling aspects of being a financial planner is the partnership over time you build with your clients.  Our clients all have such different stories with valuable insights and perspectives which I’m sure you will agree makes for an informative read.  In this edition, we look at a client’s preparations for setting up his life leading into retirement. 

What does a resources boom mean for Orange?

Do you know the impact of a Carbon Tax?

Congratulations to Orange's Masterchef, Kate Bracks! You can cook the cake that changed her life.....

The end of the 2010/11 financial year is fast approaching, which also means tax time. If you haven't thought about your tax yet, don't fear, there are a number of strategies you can put in place to trim your tax bill.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan recently handed down the Federal Budget for 2011 - 2012. Read on to find out how the key changes may impact your own household budget.

These last few months have been tough for many Australians emotionally, personally and financially.  As we write this article, our friends across the Tasman are experiencing the worst earthquake to hit their shores in over 80 years.

Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Insurance pays a lump sum if you are totally and permanently disabled before you retire and unable to return to work

The Paid Parental Leave Scheme is a new Australian Government funded entitlement for the primary carer working parent of children born or adopted from 1^st January 2011.

We would like to introduce our newest staff member Kate Salisbury.

Christmas is the time for being thankful for what we have, but also a chance to give to those less fortunate.

It’s the time of the year when we start laying plans to get together with friends and family for Christmas and to watch the clock tick over into the New Year.

With Christmas and New Year fast approaching, it’s more important than ever to manage your expenses and keep within your means. 

Here are 20 great savings tips to help your dollar go further during the silly season!

The cost of educating children keeps rising, but there are ways to ensure you can give them everything – and maintain your current lifestyle too!