Getting Help with Your Investments

What you don’t want to do is invest in a shonky deal, where you’re persuaded to pay into a development that doesn’t get completed or was never planned in the first place. It is worth taking on advice when adding to your investment portfolio. Given that you are new to the area, this is a new economy for you and possibly a new style of industry, there is a greater risk to not know the given prices and be taken advantage of.

In addition to the complex contracts relating to investments in various areas, there are strict development guidelines to protect the region’s natural beauty, alongside careful town planning.

To choose between the options and be sure of sound strategies linking up with professional people on side, a team of qualified financial advisors to assess, listen to your objectives and steer you toward them drawing on their local knowledge. Working with an advisor or buyers agent who will read over the contracts and research into the legitimacy of a specific investment deal will give you peace of mind.

New or experienced Investors?

There are four main asset classes that you can invest in: Property, Shares, Cash, fixed interest or bonds. A diversified portfolio including investments from all asset classes will reduce your risk and smooth out returns over time.

A starting point is to think about what you want to achieve and when you want to achieve it by. Both long and short term goals can be quite simple. A house in the first two years, an investment property or stocks in five to ten years after that. The type of investment mix you choose will depend on your goals, time horizon and risk profile. Much will also depend on your salary here, capital overseas or a lump sum you bring in.

When talking directly to Financial planners it is a good idea to go along with a list of questions. Ask your prospective planner questions about their experience in you area of interest but be open to listen to alternatives. Ask about their qualifications and professional Membership of associations for your peace of mind. Aim to have a rapport with them were you feel you can develop a level of trust and confidence in your financial planner. Ideally you will stay with the same individual for several years.

It is important that your financial planner has experience with clients in circumstances similar to yours. This can mean with your overseas investments. If this is the first time that you now have overseas investments (a house you left behind) and now you have local investments, you’ll need advisors who know about international taxation and social security regulations.

Ask about their fees. This is an on going relationship more than a one off consultation. Do they have an initial flat fee for preparing the financial plan? What ongoing fees will you be charged? Do these fees include GST?

How often will you meet to review your ‘Plan’ and investments to ensure they continue to provide you with the income, growth and financial security you require
The return on investing in Australia? Prime sites on the main street in Port Douglas town were worth 150 000$AU in 1985 and are now being sold at over 2 million $AU. There is still more opportunities yet to come.