Thread: For those that remember me, I'm BACK BABY, new career, new horizons, same ol me ;-)

G'day Folks,


Been a while since I've posted but looks like I am still in top 30-40 posters. I haven't been on the forum, 4wding, camping, anything for what seems a lifetime and its time to change all those things.



So for those that like a read ( and note that because I do touch on my new career and potential services that I can provide, I have paid to be a vendor so that people can PM me or ask questions on threads I'll put up in there). here's a quick snapshot of where I have been and what has led me to this point.


In a nutshell the GFC hit myself/ ABI Finance pretty hard, so I had to sell up and go back to working in the corporate finance space. After almost 2 years with the organisation and a few things going on, I pulled the pin. One of the main reasons, sadly, was that my father had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer as some of you may remember. In typical dad fashion, we all found out via email, it was the day after my birthday and I quit smoking that day. We thought we had maybe 2 years; it ended up being around 5 months. A most insidious way to pass I can assure one of that. So learning that, I as I noted, pulled the pin and spent the last 5 months with him as did my children.



Suffice to say, it shook the earth that I walked on as I have never experienced loss so close to home. It sent me into a tailspin. As anyone else who has gone through it, it is tough. So I wasn't in a hurry to go back into what I used to do, but I still needed to turn a coin as I had a family to support. With that, came Stevo in High Vis. Yep, I joined the construction/ traffic control industry. I even spent 8 months driving a forklift and man handling up to 10 tonne of scaffolding a day. I thought it may help in losing weight. Alas the weight stayed but I did get a tan and a lot stronger.



It was during this period that I had to work out on what I was going to do as what I was doing wasn't a career and to be honest, bloody awful work, but it helped pay the bills. I remembered a book I had read once and most likely suggested in past newsletters called "Living next door to a millionaire" and it said you should always have a good accountant and a good financial adviser. I studied accounting at University but wasn't passionate about it, so I started to explore the financial adviser side of the equation. It clicked so whilst I was out slogging it in all manner of weather conditions, on weekends and where I could I started studying a Diploma of Financial Planning. The more I studied the more passionate I became about the principles of it, and wishing I had known more about aspects such as wealth creation, super, risk management, managed funds, shares etc as I would be a lot further ahead than I was back then.



As I was motivated beyond belief to have to stop doing the work I was doing, I completed a 2 year course in 6 months and got my foot in the door with a great company, with whom I have now been with for almost 3 months. And I love it. I was offered 3 jobs, and took the one on the coast.



Now here's my quick blurb because to be frank I am starting from scratch again and looking to build up a network of contacts and clients. I am also of course happy to answer any general questions or PM's.



One thing to note is that we are not aligned or "product floggers". We look at all aspects of a client’s financial situation, from cash flow management, risk management through to wealth creation strategies for the current and long term requirements.


Our focus is on developing flexible strategies that can be adapted to suit life's ever-changing circumstances so our clients can achieve their goals, no matter what life throws at them.


So what can I do for you ( or anyone you know who may benefit)?



For individuals/ couples, it’s predominately about wealth creation and getting ahead, or what we like to say, get “financially fitter”. It’s looking at the following key areas:
· Paying out your mortgage quicker- on average our clients are clearing private debt in 8 years, saving $335,616 in future mortgage payments.
· Saving on tax-on average our clients received a tax refund of $11,632 last year
· Fund Expenses- On average our clients spent $5716 on home renovations last year.
· Travel- on average our clients spent $4054 on their holidays.
· Retire happy- on average our clients will retire earning $72,118 each year for the remainder of their lives and most importantly still maintain their current lifestyle.
(Figures based on actual client data at end 31/12/2012)


For businesses owners or the place you are employed at, I can also hold Financial Literacy Seminars for your staff at no cost to the business. We currently hold these seminars for corporate, government and other businesses in general.



Business Partnership Program: I am also looking for referral partners for what is known as our Lead Peer Business Partnership Program. We have non remunerated and remunerated models through to potential JV options. We currently have referral partners in the accounting, legal, insurance and mortgage broking space and open to other professions. I am looking to build my own base of referral sources with people that I know and have conducted business with before. That way any clients referred can be put back through to the referrer and if I have clients outside of the referral base that requires specific professional services, which I am then able to refer them to someone with whom I am partnered with.



So if anyone one in Brissy through to Tweed ( could go Sunny Coast) want to take advantage of a free financial health check up in one of our offices, please let me know and I can book a time for you to come and see myself. Or if you would like me to come and do a seminar for your staff, let me know and I can book that in to come out and present.


I also have a FB page not for general chit chat but covers off general financial advice information. Feel free to like it and share it.



https://www.facebook.com/stevosbetterlifeaheadforyou


Ok, blurb over and done with, anything further will be in the verandah section.



Other than that, family is well, missus is still unmarried, maybe 2014 , Smokey is more road warrior than off road warrior but hoping to change that in the new year. Expect to hear more from you or get more involved than I have been, sometimes life just takes over and the next minute time has passed by and your not doing what you love, thanks for reading,

Regards


Stevo

Welcome back Stevo. Still got the leopard skin shorts?