No one likes thinking about what will happen when you die, but failure to do so means leaving the future of your family to chance. An estate plan will sure up your estate and make sure your legacy is able to benefit the people who matter to you. After all, there’s nothing more important than protecting the futures of the ones you love.
An estate plan is a strategy or plan for how your assets should be distributed after you die. These assets can include everything from your home and savings accounts to your car, furniture and even jewellery. It’s important to note that your super balance and insurance proceeds are not part of your estate by default and will need to be considered separately.
An estate plan ensures that your assets are distributed among the people and organisations of your choosing. It’s essentially a roadmap for how your assets should be dealt with when you’re no longer there to take charge. If you don’t have a will and estate plan in place at the time of your death, your assets will be distributed in line with the intestacy laws of your state.
While many people wait until retirement or beyond, estate planning should be a consideration for every stage of life. This could include everything from acquiring assets, changing insurance and purchasing property to getting married, having kids and even travelling. Basically whenever things in life change, you should have an up-to-date estate plan that reflects those circumstances.
Using an end-to-end solution called Yodal Estate Planning, we can streamline the entire planning process from initial assessment to finalisation. Here are the 4 key steps we’ll go through when planning your estate with Yodal.
To start, a financial advisor will organise a meeting with you to help us understand your circumstances and uncover what’s most important to you. From this initial meeting, we’ll develop some key recommendations that will ensure your wishes are carried out after you’re gone.
Once we’ve compiled these recommendations, we’ll discuss them with you and provide a flat-fee quote for the complete estate plan to be carried out. This quote is inclusive of legal fees. If you’re happy with the plan, we’ll confirm the plan and forward the details to you.
To ensure your estate plan is accurately represented and legally binding, we’ll work with you to coordinate any additional documentation required to make this happen.
Once the estate plan has been drafted, we’ll then send it on to our legal partners for review. From there, the estate planning documentation will be completed and the estate plan executed.
We won’t just give you generic guidance and send you on your way. The two most important components of our business is our staff and clients, so we always put them first.
Whether it’s keeping clients informed of tax changes or spotting opportunities for growth for our clients, we’re always looking for ways to improve.
At the end of the day, we’re here to help you achieve financial goals - whatever they may be. We do this by getting to know you and your situation, then helping you in whatever way you need.
Everyone has a different definition of financial success. That’s why we really listen to our clients, so that every recommendation is aligned to your own unique goals.
A will is a legally binding contract that lays out how your assets should be distributed after you die. In a will, you can also nominate guardians for family members you leave behind. Using a will ensures that your wishes will be carried out and your loved ones will be properly cared for.
An estate plan is the process of planning and arranging the way you would like your assets to be distributed so that it results in the best outcome for your beneficiaries, including tax efficiency and other associated costs. An estate plan can also dictate other matters that are not able to be laid out in your will. An estate plan can encompass your will but may also include other things such as your Power of Attorney, Superannuation, Trusts and other financial assets.
If you were to pass away without an estate plan, this means that you have died intestate and your assets will be distributed according to the legislation of your state. This removes your ability to dictate where and to whom you’d like your assets to be distributed.
In these instances, your next of kin will be required to apply for your estate to be administered.
Updating your estate plan when circumstances change isn’t as difficult as you might think.
To update your estate plan, you’ll simply need to book an appointment with your financial advisor to discuss the changes. Once these have been made, they will be sent off to our legal partners for review and completion.
Depending on what state you live in, there are parameters around who can challenge your will. If you are worried that someone may apply to challenge, we can look at incorporating further elements into your estate plan (i.e. setting up separate trusts, etc) that can safeguard your will from being challenged against your wishes.
A Power of Attorney is a legal document that appoints a person to act on your behalf when it comes to managing property. A Power of Attorney is only legally binding while you are physically and mentally capable of making financial decisions.
An enduring Power of Attorney, on the other hand, has the authority to act on your behalf regardless of your physical or mental capacity.
That’s why we like to wind down each Friday with afternoon drinks, host bi-monthly events for staff and our families, plus have a regular calendar of events throughout the year, such as Melbourne Cup and Pink Ribbon Race Day.
Culture is everything at Simmons Livingstone & Associates.
We’re a friendly bunch of professionals who believe, ‘being a great place to work is the difference between being a good company and a great company.’
Though we thrive working in a hierarchy-free structure where everyone works as a team and supports each other, our excellent management team helps direct us toward better outcomes. Simon, Kris, Tom and Sam are always supportive, approachable and invested in the development of their staff.
Plus, did we mention we play footy every Tuesday? Every week our mixed touch footy team, “InTaxicated”, head out for a friendly game against other local teams.
Before becoming a founding partner of Simmons Livingstone & Associates, Simon spent time at PKF and several boutique accounting firms. He has established a reputation for excellent accounting consultancy, which has spanned over 12 years.
At work
Simon is a passionate business advisor specialising in:
His ability to give timely and accurate advice and reporting service makes Simon a reliable professional and his personable service and attention to detail ensure his professional relationships are strong.
He has built a rapport with his clients for his consistently excellent service and approachable nature. As a Partner and Director at Simmons Livingstone & Associates, Simon has assisted in the substantial growth of the firm’s corporate space.
Through his sporting connections, Simon also has a strong reputation as an industry leader for professional sportsmen and women, representing sporting players and companies involved in various professional sporting federations and leagues.
Outside of work
Simon is a former representative golfer and still enjoys a round most weeks. An avid sports enthusiast, you’ll find him kicking back with a red wine if there’s a good game on.
Hanan Salib is our Mortgage Broker with a 10+ years’ experience is the finance industry
Professional Experience
Hanan has been a Mortgage Consultant and home loan expert since 2009. Since then Hanan has been supporting local customers with their finance to purchase, refinance and/or build their home or investment property.
Hanan started her career as a Mortgage Consultant with Astute financials then moved to Mortgage Choice in 2011 and she also had the chance in 2018 to join Better Choice Home Loans as a part of the scenario and credit team.
She is from a multicultural background which support her to understand her clients’ financials needs and objectives and operate to achieve them.
Core Skills
Qualifications
Credit Representative 523154 is authorised under Australian Credit Licence 389238
Tom joined the Simmons Livingstone & Associates team to lead the financial planning division beside Sam Young in 2015. The addition of this professional service to the already successful accounting, taxation and business advisory has undoubtedly enriched the SLA client experience.
Tom has a passion for providing quality advice and exceptional customer service. He is driven by the ability to fundamentally change a client’s future for the better.
Tom brings a wealth of professional experience to the table and his core skill set is:
By building strong relationships, he helps people understand what it is that they desire and assists in crafting and executing the plan to get there.
Tom holds a bachelor of commerce from Griffith University with a double major in Finance & Financial Planning.
Kris has over 15 years of experience in the accounting and taxation industry, with his initial years spent with WHK Group and PKF before co-founding Simmons Livingstone & Associates. As partner, Kris has steered the firm to success, being instrumental in expanding the firm’s client base and subsequent recruitment to increase the professional team size.
At work
He brings extensive experience within various areas of business services and compliance and has a proven track record of success with clients from various sectors. Not only is Kris an exceptionally valuable asset to the firm, but his business advice is also invaluable for professional service clients from a financial perspective.
Professionally, Kris focuses on:
He has significant experience in business development and growth and adopts a proactive approach to helping clients and their businesses. Kris is a forward-thinking person dedicated to providing his clients with the best possible outcome in all situations. With a keen eye for detail, he ensures nothing is overlooked so that client outcomes are maximised.
Outside of work
Kris has a young family and lives on the northern end of the Gold Coast. Outside of work, when he’s not spending valuable time with the family, you’ll find him on the golf course or sampling a brew with the guys.
Sam is one of our Financial Planning Partners and joined the Simmons Livingstone & Associates team in 2015.
Sam has a passion for helping people and provides simple but effective financial strategies to improve his clients’ financial positions. He inspires his clients to take control of their lives and enjoy their time as much as possible.
Sam brings his professional experience, education and knowledge to the table and his core skill set is:
By building strong relationships, he helps people understand their end game and helps to work backwards and put together the building blocks to achieve this.
Sam holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Griffith University with a double major in Accounting & Financial Planning.
Wayne Milner is our lead Mortgage Broker with a lifetime worth of finance industry experience.
Professional Experience
Wayne embarked on his finance career with ANZ Banking Group Ltd in 1970.
Wayne quickly climbed the corporate ladder, and subsequently secured a number of notable senior leadership positions including being the Owner and Managing Director of Northern City Finance before joining the Brokerage firm of Terrain as their Chief Executive Officer, in 2003.
In his experience, Wayne has gained a plethora of core skills and now specialises in applying these skills to help our customers obtain finance for a fair deal.
Core Skills
Qualifications
Credit Representative 523154 is authorised under Australian Credit Licence 389238
Mark holds an Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning and is currently undertaking university studies in Financial Planning.
He has 15 years’ experience in the Financial Services profession, building his experience through previous roles working for a major bank, national accounting firm and stockbroking firm.
Mark is experienced in providing tailored personal advice, including personal insurance, superannuation, wealth creation, investment portfolio construction, retirement planning, social security and estate planning.
Mark’s focus is on providing his clients with personalised advice tailored to improve their overall financial wellbeing.
Mark enjoys spending time with his young family, is a keen sportsman – an avid touch football player (both state and national representative) and played rugby league, cricket, basketball and soccer in his youth but is now a self-proclaimed armchair expert.
Amelia holds a Diploma of Financial Planning, Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Psychology.
For over two years, Amelia has been heavily involved in completing research and providing the financial modelling that is included in the Statement of Advice presented to clients.
One of her main responsibilities as a Paraplanner at Simmons Livingstone & Associates is to ensure the financial advice presented to clients is in line with ASIC and licensee standards.
Amelia hopes to continue growing within her role and ensuring each client is well looked after.
When Amelia is not hard at work, she loves staying active and spending time outdoors with her husband and two German Shepherds. She is also currently in training for a triathlon and is broadening her horizons by getting involved in Muay Thai training.
Ted began his career by studying the Bachelor of Commerce and subsequently his Diploma of Financial Planning and completing his FASEA Financial Planner Exam.
Beginning his career working at one of the big 4 banks in Australia, Ted worked in the Financial Advice industry since 2015 before moving to the financial planning arm of a multinational insurance company.
Since working as a paraplanner as well as directly as an Adviser at Simmons Livingstone & Associates, Ted has developed strong technical knowledge of tax planning, investment management, wealth protection and investment structuring.
He plans to continue working closely with his fellow advisers to help create advice that will help to optimise his client’s situations and ensure that they are on the right path for the future.
Ted likes to spend his spare time at the beach or hinterland with his wife and daughter.
Jess began her career by studying the Bachelor of Business majoring in Financial Planning and subsequent certificates in Business Administration.
Jess’ passion for Financial Planning sparked when she was working as a Sole Practitioner Adviser and later within a client service role.
Since then, Jess has been a vital part of our Newcastle office and is well-renowned among our clients for her thoughtful assistance, professional relationships and her depth of financial knowledge.
When Jess looks to the future, she hopes to continue developing her skills and progress towards the strategy side of financial advice.
Jess is married with three children, and spends most of her spare time with her family. She also enjoys treating herself from time to time and going out on a shopping spree.
