"The first wealth is health"
Yes that was the Number 1 place to see according to Tripadvisor when we travelled to Quy Nhon which is a city almost no non Vietnamese has heard off.
‘Life is a beach’ is the name of a backpackers’ place that is in a small shipping village called Bai Xep. There are the fishermen paddling out in their circular wicker ‘dinghies’ to their small blue coloured fishing boats. A very picturesque spot ideal for a jigsaw or a postcard. Yes we did swim there & refresh body & soul. No we didn’t contribute to the Christmas tree constructed using ‘dead’ wine bottles. Chris from Mittagong has The Haven next door booked 3 weeks ahead.
It was here we concluded that the beach is really a place to refresh & review body & soul.
Antony* must agree as he sent this sent us this link whilst we travelled. He called it Freedom, fun and discovery !!!
We planned a year ago for both educational reason & rejuvenation a trip abroad which was not helped by a poor $AUS although that helped many portfolios.
That was the concept & from there we need to turn into reality.
Yes we started by using Kenny a travel agent for our air tickets even though we can all do that online today.
We also used LE travel agent to arrange our ‘independent’ travel within Vietnam as we hadn’t been there before.
So we landed in Hanoi which apart from being propositioned by a ‘sort’ on a scooter & an incident with a taxi with his meter running too fast was a letdown. It shows how the socialist system stymies initiative. We did stay at a 3*+ star hotel which was good & friendly but the 5*we stayed at was cool & expecting tips. They just didn’t care enough.
The organised ‘independent’ tri p started with Ella who was a happy guide who introduces us to egg coffee & showed us around the streets of the Old Quarter & over a prewar 2.4Km bridge over the Red River. Stops that even though we had a map we could not discover.
Then off to Halong Bay. We had heard of this from our tennis playing accountant ‘you know what I mean’.
Halong Bay is a very mystical place & rightly is a UNESCO site. However as the trip to there is a very boring four hours by road then you need to have two nights out in the Bay IMHO.
The next stage of our trip was a twelve overnight ‘rock & roll’ on the Reunification train to Hue. Yes twelve hours in a pre generational sleeping cabin for four. A very good history lesson for others. However the track itself compares more than favorable to that what we read of Australian tracks e.g. SYD to MLB line or QLD.
At Hue we were met by our new guide Minh who guides p.a seventy families, couples & small groups around there & Hoi An. The 5* hotel we stayed at was built by the French a century ago & the bedrooms were huge. However we were ripped off by the laundry bill which we reported on Tripadvisor.
Minh then guided us to Hoi An which is another UNESCO site. Yes a tourist thrashed China town where a major business isw tailored suits for Europeans. It was our 3 hour cycle tour through the paddy fields & flooded coconut grove where the Koreans battled in the ‘American’ war guided by Sue that we enjoyed most.
Our ‘independent’ tour ended in Danang which very soon will look like Surfers as it has a great My Khe beach also known by the marines as China Beach. All the Major Hotel chains are there & it will be a very different place in 5 years. It has an international airport. Harry who escaped there 35 years ago & had not returned could not wipe the happiness & smile off his face.
We stayed at a very happy 3+ Hotel in the city where there was not an English sign to be seen. It was here that we had an Italian wool pair of trousers done for $40. How good is that! It was at the local price as no spoken English at all which meant no cuffs on the trousers.
After several great swims at the beach we decided to check out the opposite direction. When suggested to the Hotel manager she says ‘ you need Easy Rider’. Henry then carried us on his Honda Custom motor cycle over 100K of track & road & byway where there were swarms of scooters & other traffic competing for the same too narrow strip. We recalculated our life cover several times & reflected that we always told clients not to ride in shorts & T shirt. It was ‘Zen & the art of a Motorcycle’.
So for the first half of our Vietnam adventure we thank all the agents & guides who made it fun & possible & who cared. They simply made it rewarding & efficient & we refreshed our ‘battery’.
Yes we have NOT discussed Life is a beach where we wandered & reminded ourselves of 38 years ago.
If as Maria* did to discuss WA vs. her 2 properties here in QLD or
Kerry who wrote when we met up IN HCM
Do you have iPhone with face time? or Skype would do. Let us know hey?....Enjoy your flight and I will catch up with you later. Thuy need to hear what yo have to say me thinks!
Cheers, Kerry
As every Australians’ best friend Scott writes 8 in 10 Aussies work to pay the social security bill of 270B then
Contact us on 07 3848 108807 3848 1088 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. us or visit our website.
No we won’t serve egg coffee.
John McAuliffe
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Have you thought about the financial pressures that can be caused to you if your adult children cant look after themselves?
We all know, that for us baby boomers who are approaching retirement, a serious illness to us can cause a massive financial impact on our cash flow if we are inadequately covered.
But have you thought about the financial pressures that can be caused if our adult children have also gone through a serious illness and too don't have any insurance cover themselves.
Our studies show that parents would do anything for their children under these situations and so, for parents whose adult-children have undergone a serious illness without having a sufficient insurance policy in place, the thought of financial freedom in 'retirement land' is now all but a dream away.
All of a sudden, their non-dependent children invariably become dependent again.
Something you should consider when providing a complete protection plan for your baby-boomer clients is to introduce an income protection policy for their adult children.
This concept may allow your parent clients to maintain their financial retirement goals and reduce future financial stress as they have knowledge that their children also have financial flexibility to support themselves through the insurance they now have in place.
we have been provided a case study to show you the effects on retirement savings when a parent has to financially support their adult children, as well as the effects to the retirement savings if you were to co-fund income protection cover for your adult children.
Case Study:
Consider the case of a retired couple who have $510,000 in super pensions and $20,000 in cash savings. If they budget on spending $45,000 per year between them, which is defined as a 'comfortable' retirement then their annual cash flow needs can be met for 27.7 years.
If they had to spend $400 per week on financially supporting their children, their $45,000 annual living requirements can only be satisfied for 9.9 years.
With this being said, lets now look at the scenario if the parents were to co-fund $1,000 per year for their children's income protection insurance. They're annual cash flow needs extends back out to 25.7 years which becomes a lot more attractive as it brings their retirement spending closer to their original plan.
If you have any questions or queries,
please feel free to contact us on 07 3848 1088 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Or go straight to our website to verify us again as others do.
We believe that we can generate significant financial certainty for you throughout our relationship & importantly add substantial value to ensuring you achieve all that is important & valuable to you as you have articulated to us.
If we were to sit down in three years time & looked back what do we need to do today so that you are financially & personally better off & happier.
Dan asked us to do a talk to a group of probably older & maybe more cynical males than ourselves.
‘But you can’t sell’
‘Would we even bother or try to such a group’.
Give us some ‘parameters’ on what we can & not say as we only know of such groups as our Dad attended them.
As this is to be in March 16 then we have time to plan the ‘lesson’.
What immediately comes to mind is the Big Lie & the white lie.
1. We have to agree with a certain Phil Kearns who with some luck a certain Sean will reciprocate.
I.e. SMSF are NOT what you need.
Even after 31 years in this we don’t have one.
Why not?
We don’t want the responsibilities as super trustees as the rules & regulations change almost daily.
How can we keep up either when we are working or retire?
We don’t have the investment expertise to over a time particularly & maybe only & especially in the down times to match or compete with those who live & breathe it 24/7.
If we don’t comply then there is now a schedule of fees that the crows @ ASIC or ATO want to charge your retirement fund as now they too are on a user pay system & they need to fund it from your super.
Yes you were asked by your accountant to set it up but why did he ask & what is he again. A book-keeper & he just needs another account to charge ever 6 minutes.
If it was your adviser then why did he ask & the same arguments apply.
Can you do that from your aged care ‘cell’?
Ultimately the buck stops with you & after you your wife or kids.
They can do that.
Yeah right.
Jeanine advised us yesterday that they have a technical department on winding them up & yes we do know why & understand why.
2. Jeanine also asked what about grandparents & yes there will be many grandparents in the room.
As a very recent minister commented at his swearing in, it’s the very 1st grandchild that is the most important.
How do we look after them now, as there are limits on gifting , or later.
What happens if as there are many blended families & the consequences on that.
We understand that leaving someone out of a will or even a nominal amount means it could be challenged.
Yes a testamentary trust is the ideal option but as there are measurable costs & an Appointors & trustees then that is more applicable for sizable sums.
Yes there is another solution the insurance bond from the past.
It has owners, beneficiaries & Life insured which provides options for distribution.
Or maybe an old whole of life & we have 2 that can go outside the will. [these old guys may have one]
3. The Public Trustee was also mentioned as 8.5% was the charge that Jeanine had to pay for her late mother in law.
Yes there is a schedule of fees there on the site as easy in often means pain out.
4 We have this in a recent case that we are doing. The client wanted to consolidate his 2 supers & as he has 4 children he needs a serious whack of life & other covers.
His first transfer of super went according to the rules of transfer with 3 days but the other union cooperative fund is not cooperating even when all the requirements are satisfied
What pain & time will be taken if there is a claim With this reluctant & unhelpful fund?
This picture from the Australian 21/10/15 says it all .
4. This group will want or shall we say need to have some awareness of aged care options & Challenges.
As we have very good & only 10 years older mate in a dementia ward then this is a confronting issue.
It will come down to do we sell the house?
One option for many who are cashflow poor & asset rich is reverse mortgages but then the magic of compound interest compounds against you.
Of course as you would expect aged care rules & aged pension rules have a different set of rules & it is a matter of both family wishes & numbers.
It usually happens around Christmas time when the family realises that again you are too hard & let’s find a spot for you
Good luck.
5. We very recently read that a scary 1 in 10 of the elderly are financially abused . We certainly weren’t aware of that.
IMHO for us it would be give us some medical marijuana & let us be happy.
Yes we have seen a bottle of whisky in other rooms & no doubt that along with a cocktail tray of prescription drugs which may be injected might leave them just a little happy but certainly not as healthy.
6. Of course retiring & living overseas is another option that could be considered. There is more than a million Aussies overseas & many are retired.
We still recall a meal & meals for 4 in Changmai for $20 dollars at a very good restaurant.
Medical services are certainly cheaper & many are trained over here or in UK.
Property is certainly 1 fraction of prices here although as anywhere there are conditions.
7. Which leads us to our holistic theme of our is that health & wealth go together.
We do write
In fact we recently heard that 1 in 6 medical diagnosis in Australia as wrong. Globally it is 1 in 4.
It has been documented that in Australia the average retired couple spends $142.30p.w. on health costs.
That’s $7,400p.a. or any extra $147,992 you need in your super.
Don’t you need it more that the medical system?
In the US this couple will spend $220,000 on health costs.
Are they any healthier?
Would you prefer to spend this money on your travels?
Dan as you ‘do enjoy reading this’ then here above are some cynical thoughts for your group & please advise if these fit within your parameters.
Which one would you prefer us to expand on?
We could think of more as this is a very general talk as the facts are in your tablet & none of it will be personal.
7 . Yes to answer the 2nd most boring question
It is what you believe we are worth.
As others do then if you care for our care then why not our 5 minute financial health checkup
Or contact us on 07 3848 1088 or email or visit our website.
We believe that we can generate significant financial certainty for you throughout our relationship & importantly add substantial value to ensuring you achieve all that is important & valuable to you as you have articulated to us.
If we were to sit down in three years time & looked back what do we need to do today
so that you are financially & personally better off & happier.
John McAuliffe
Tuesday, 7 July 2015 10:00am |
Accredited Listed Product Adviser Program ALPA |
We believe trust is all about care.
Our car is being serviced today by Greg & we know that Greg cares about the cars he works on.
Does the big bank that wants another 1,000,000 customers really care about you??
Does that huge super fund with 1,000,000 members really care about you??
Face to face is frequently mentioned in the research article to be Read here
Yes we believe that is what we offer to clients which means we have had clients for 30 years. Our police clients haven’t tasered us yet although with their similar spending habits to Ross* we certainly need to restrain ourselves from doing so to them.
As Ross* & others do then if you care for our care then why not our 5 minute financial health checkup
Or contact us on 07 3848 1088 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit our website.
John McAuliffe
POOR health will make working longer a challenge for about a quarter of Australians aged in their 60s when the pension age is raised to 70, a report predicts.
IT says the majority of retired or unemployed Australians in their 60s will not have enough superannuation to fund their retirement in 2035, when the federal government plans to lift the age pension access age to 70.
The modelling by AMP and NATSEM shows one in four men and one in five women aged in their 60s will be in fair or poor health in 2035, reducing their ability to work and save for a quality retirement.
For those people, the majority of men and more than two-thirds of women are likely to be unemployed.
"It is these Australians who may struggle to participate in the workforce if the pension age is increased to 70 years," the report, released on Thursday, says.
AMP chief customer officer Paul Sainsbury says Australians are living longer but more years in retirement places more strain on superannuation balances so many people will need to work longer.
"Early years in retirement should be a transition period with reduced levels of work, giving people more time to focus on their interests and wellbeing, while still saving money," he said.
HEALTH EFFECTS ON RETIREMENT BY 2035
* Working longer a challenge for 25.6 per cent of men, 20.4 per cent of women in fair/poor health aged 60-69
* 65.1 per cent of men, 72.1 per cent of women in fair/poor health likely unemployed in their 60s
* 48 per cent of people now 40-54 and in very good health likely to decline to fair/poor health
* For those now 65-69 and in good health, 33.1 per cent likely to be working; 15.7 per cent if in fair/poor health.
(Source: AMP and NATSEM (National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling) income and wealth report.)
· AAP
· June 10, 2015 5:18PM
As this is a core belief of our & as we advised clients yesterday we have reached retirement age & still jogged to local shops before a beer.
I.e. it works for us.
For our solution to your probable problem there is a meeting here in Brisbane on 18th June.
Otherwise ask us for our two page explanation why everyone should take the ‘leap of faith’.
Could this be you or your loved ones?
We believe that we can generate significant financial certainty for you throughout our relationship & importantly add substantial value to ensuring you achieve all that is important & valuable to you as you have articulated to us.
If we were to sit down in three years time & looked back what do we need to do today so that you are financially & personally better off & happier.
As others do call us on 07 3848 108807 3848 1088 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.r visit our new website
John McAuliffe
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John Michael McAuliffe AFA, DipFp., BSc., DipTeach.