If you are in the worried & concerned 62% then how do you improve your financial position?

 

We read this report & trust you are not in these categories.

“Household savings may be at a 20-year high, but the nation's attitudes towards their personal finances indicate several areas that financial advisers can focus on to grow their client base.

According to the latest Dun & Bradstreet’s Consumer Credit Expectations Survey, almost a third of Australians believe that the current economic conditions are refocusing their attention towards saving.

Aussies in the 50 to 64-year-old age bracket, in particular, could do with some expert financial advice: The survey found that 62% of 50 to 64-year-olds are worried about their personal financial health.

Other key findings that indicate the state of the nation’s finances included:

§  Fifty-nine per cent of consumers are concerned about their current financial situation, 21 per cent of which are very concerned about personal finances.

§  Eighteen per cent of consumers have no savings, while a further 31 per cent would survive on savings for no longer than a month following loss of full-time employment.

§  Thirty-seven per cent of consumers anticipate a positive impact on household finances from further interest rate reductions.

§  Thirty-seven per cent anticipate difficulty meeting existing credit commitments.

§  Sixty-nine per cent of low-income households are concerned about their financial situation.

§  Twenty-five per cent of low-income households have no savings, a further 34 per cent would survive no longer than a month following termination of full-time employment.

§  Twenty-eight per cent of 50-64 year-olds expect to use a credit card for an otherwise unaffordable purchase, while 33 per cent anticipate difficulty meeting existing credit commitments.

§  Forty per cent of low income households expect to use a credit card for an otherwise unaffordable purchase, with 41% anticipating difficulty meeting existing credit commitments.

Source: Dun & Bradstreet Consumer Credit Expectations Survey September Quarter 2012

“Our latest research clearly demonstrates that consumers are worried about their financial position,” said Dun & Bradstreet director Adam Siddique.

“This is partly symptomatic of lingering pessimism from the global financial crisis however, for certain demographics it reflects the reality that households are living hand-to-mouth; with very little savings buffer should unforeseen circumstances occur. So while national household savings levels are at a 20-year high, it is clear that not all consumers are in a position to put money aside.

“For the older demographic, concern over finances in part reflects the ongoing fallout from the global financial crisis and its impact on superannuation.

“Ten to 15 years ago consumers were more comfortable living with a lower savings to debt ratio. However, continued global economic uncertainty is weighing on Australian households and dissuading discretionary spending, credit usage and significant investments such as buying a property.”

See the full report here.”

This is a very scary position to be in.

If you want to meet & discuss & lunch how to improve your current financial position then you are welcome Monday to Saturday.

Just maybe you need to action a strategy so that you are in a better position in 3 years time.

You are welcome to call 3848 1088  or email or visit our websites

 John McAuliffe

Who wins, the big continent or the little towns?

Or the big guys or the little guys!

Isn’t that the debate at the moment. We have the big governments attempting to shore up the big banks who have lost out to the little guys who were tempted into big debts on the little houses. Often known as monuments to ego.

Peter informs Campbell that Queensland has a big 92 Billion debt & hence why Campbell missed the Red Queen’s gab fest’.

We note that Spain is now just above junk status even after 100B help  & that the next one i.e. Italy has to borrow 4billion this week. Hence the big guys are need support from an even bigger body & is the European continent big enough & will enough to make the big moves required.

As a stockbroker on J Parrot’s show said two weeks ago they need to write a big cheque which no doubt will bounce down the road probably to the US Fed. Increasing their Fed bank overdraft has never been a problem as they don’t have any other option until we end at the fiscal cliff.

It was certainly a very insightful documentary on Four Corners this week which traced back to the start of the Euro zone. We can certainly admire their wholesome  idealism with the objective of no more wars. Yes we did play Happy Families last millennium but how many families have communication breakdowns over time. How many break up & don’t talk to each other again?

We read of Italians driving across the border with their household silver to keep some of their own from big government. It been done many times before but usually through the stealth of inflation.

We also viewed another documentary on SBS on Towns & this particular town was Totnes in Devon, birthplace of a new environmental vision for the future. It was also the birthplace of England 1100 years ago. There was a business which was the global expert in ocean going rowing boats as the owner had rowed over both the Atlantic & Indian oceans.  The really interesting  fact was that it did have its own ‘currency’ 1100 years ago & today also has its own tradeable currency within town limits. Even more interesting is the fact that there are 350 similar towns in the UK that also use their own currency. We suppose Bartercard might fill a similar niche here.

So we are witnessing the breakdown of the big boys to the little guys. We heard a speech in Chicago  in 1986 titled ‘Elephants don’t Bite’ & the theme was it’s the small details that count & can come back to haunt us. The small details of limits on government spending were exceeded & glossed over or the rules amended by the rule makers & as always prevention is better than cure.

Doug Casey writes on Phyles - Casey Research where groups of the like minded meet. We read also of P2P which is Peer to Peer business. All the little guys don’t need the big guys & are adjusting to do so. Examples are TaskRabbit & Couchsurfing.org & RelayRides .

The uncertainty in markets means that individual tailoring of your super portfolios has been necessary & appreciated. As Albert commented ‘if the facts change then the answers change’. However that requires the effort to contact us & sit around the table.

Our car needs to be serviced every 6 months & as we are reminded today the service costs but the alternative of no service is more costly. Erik our dentist wants us to see him every 6 months.

We have been helping clients recently in small individual ways.

We reminded clients who live close of their 13,000 taxx refund mainly because of having most of their mortgage deductible. We are in the process of converting their deck, bathroom & kitchen renovations  into deductible debt over the next year. If you could built wealth outside big government super rules & minimise the taxx grab then why wouldn’t you.

If as was discussed on a contempory’s of mine  programme last night that for a lifestyle of 55K p.a. in retirement you need 850K then a radical approach is required. It was also suggested that if you live too long then you will run out of money which means portfolios should be tailored for you.

We have reviewed insurance covers as in a blink they may be needed. Don’t bet on Workcover. When Henry & Deborah meet us they found they saved 840p.a. & were able to cover both their mortgage & the debt on the rental property. They would be wise to sell their rental house as their own mortgage is too big for age 61.

Tom & Alison were telling us of their Antarctica travel plans in 2015 & brought us a quart [yes & a cleanskin & we may tell you when we meet] of the best red we have enjoyed. We intend to research that vineyard in the next school holidays.

Here to help the little guy you to  survive & thrive. This needs meeting  as ‘if we were to meet in three years time & do look back over the three years what do we need to do to make you feel happy with your financial & personal progress.’ We are not short of small ideas to help you & for you to make incremental progress. A financial tune up is today’s theme.

We do have an excellent 27 page article on gold as that should be a percentage  of your portfolio in our opinion. The percentage varies from 0 to 15% in most cases. You are welcome to contact us for this PDF.

If  1 in 10 will drop their medical insurance then is there a wise & smart alternative? Yes.

If you are interested in meeting for lunch Monday to Saturday here then contact us on 07 3848 1088 or email or our websites.

John McAuliffe