Q. What does it cost to come and talk to you?
A. nothing. The first interview is free of cost and obligation.

Q. Are there costs somewhere?
A. sure, nothing is free for long. The law requires us to produce a Statement of Advice that is a document that includes our strategy and investment recommendations. The cost for this is based simply on how long it takes to prepare, based on the complexity or otherwise of your situation.

Q. Any more costs?
A. new investments usually have an entry structure that includes a commission. As commissions can vary so much, we overcome any bias towards our recommendations by offering you a fee-for-service and we then rebate those commissions to you in the form of extra shares or units. That fee incorporates our Client Service Program for 12 months. Also, that fee is usually tax deductible so you gain a further saving, as well as our impartial recommendations.

Q. What qualifications do you have?
A. our Senior Consultant and Practice Principal is Neil Dearberg who is a CFP (Certified Financial Planner) and our other Consultant has completed the Diploma of Financial Planning and is studying for CFP. Other technical staff have partially completed the Dip FP. All are members of the Financial Planning Assoc of Australia.

Q. What experience do you have?
A. Neil began financial planning in 1985 so he witnessed the ‘share crash of Oct 87’, the fallout of the property sector in late 80s and early 90s, the fall in all markets in 1994, the bull share market of the 90s and the ‘tech wreck’ and share fall from 2000 to 2003. His experience in helping people survive the psychology of those events has ensured our current clients are well prepared and have proper expectations for the future.

Q. Do you have your own products that you recommend?
A. no. We left our previous Dealer as it had become too institutional due to it’s purchase by MLC and it subsequently by the National Australia Bank. Now we operate with complete autonomy.

Q. Will you tell me when I need to change investments?
A. of course. Our fee structure includes looking after you for the next 12 months. If investments need to change we tell you and there is usually no cost as our fee structure rebates commissions from entry fees. This is quite different to other advisers that charge a 1% review fee but still charge you another entry fee to change investments – this is called “churning” and is favoured by commission advisers.

Q. Can you help my parents?
A. absolutely. In fact, we have a 3G approach – this means 3 Generations, so we specialize in helping your parents, you and, your children. We integrate (where appropriate and within the privacy provisions) the living affairs and eventually the estate planning affairs to ensure tax efficiency and minimum hassle throughout life and thereafter.