Fortress Planning

09/02/2022

If you’ve ever laid awake at night thinking about your finances you’ll know: financial stress can be debilitating. What you may not be aware of is the strong link between financial stress and mental health.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 4.4 million Australians received mental health related prescriptions from their doctors over the 2019-2020 period.

Though governments annually spend over $10 billion on mental health, there’s a continuous need for more resources, funding, and understanding around mental health issues.

Recognising financial stress before it gets out of hand is a step towards taking back control of your life.

The link between financial stress and mental health by fortress-planningNov 30, 2021ArticlesIf you’ve ever laid awake at night thinking about your finances you’ll know: financial stress can be debilitating. What you may not be aware of is the strong link between financial stress and mental healt...

02/02/2022

How do you turn a humble delicatessen into the world’s largest operator of shopping centres — Westfield Corporation? What sort of personality do you need to become a giant in the Australian and global real estate landscape?

In this interview Sir Frank Lowy AC candidly shares his story, including mistakes he made along the way, the key character traits he thinks are necessary to become a business success, and the importance of remaining paranoid yet optimistic.

In The Know: In conversation with Sir Frank Lowy AC by fortress-planningJan 11, 2022Podcasts”Trust your instinct”How do you turn a humble delicatessen into the world’s largest operator of shopping centres — Westfield Corporation? What sort of personality do you need to become a giant in the ...

25/01/2022

Whether it’s by direct purchase, via a managed fund or through superannuation, most Australians hold some form of share investment.

Many of us are aware that if the numbers in the finance report on the evening news are mostly green that’s good and if they’re red that’s bad, but beyond that we give little thought to what shares are and why we should take an interest in them.

So what is a share?

There’s more to shares than numbers on a screen by fortress-planningJan 12, 2022ArticlesWhether it’s by direct purchase, via a managed fund or through superannuation, most Australians hold some form of share investment.Many of us are aware that if the numbers in the finance report on the evening...

18/01/2022

Australian retirees are facing a ‘double whammy’ when it comes to funding their retirement.

On the one hand we, as a nation, are enjoying longer and healthier lives. On the other hand, record-low interest rates have slashed the returns on the traditional bedrocks of post-retirement investment portfolios such as term deposits, cash management accounts and annuities.

Read our case study to find out how not to retire your money!

Retire at 65 but don’t retire your money by fortress-planningJan 12, 2022ArticlesAustralian retirees are facing a ‘double whammy’ when it comes to funding their retirement.On the one hand we, as a nation, are enjoying longer and healthier lives. On the other hand, record low interest rates hav...

10/01/2022

Looking for a good podcast? In this episode of ‘Magellan – In The Know‘, one of the world’s foremost epidemiologists, and a member of President-elect Joe Biden’s Transition COVID-19 Advisory Board, Dr Michael Osterholm, talks to Hamish Douglass, Magellan’s Chairman and CIO, about what he calls ‘the coming viral blizzard’ and the arrival of the Omicron variant.

In The Know: The coming ‘viral blizzard‘ by fortress-planningJan 11, 2022PodcastsIs the pandemic behind us?‘Magellan – In The Know‘, is a monthly investment podcast, bringing you timely, unique and thought-provoking insights to help you make sense of today’s investment landscape. In this...

02/01/2022

Is your New Years resolution to save more, or to pay off your debts? Well how about doing both at once? 💰💰💰

How to create savings while paying off debt by fortress-planningDec 15, 2021ArticlesOver the past 30 years, Australians’ household debt has increased.According to the Reserve Bank of Australia, our household debt-to-income ratio has risen from 70 per cent in the early 1990s to around 190 per cent ...

25/12/2021

Wishing all of our clients and their families a very Merry Christmas. Here's to a relaxing and fun filled holiday for all! 🎄🎅🎄

20/12/2021

Most working Australians aspire to the idea that they’ll reach a point where they can retire debt-free and with enough money in their superannuation fund.

For many that remains a reasonable aspiration, but a growing range of challenges mean that retirement goals that could easily be achieved a few years ago look like being harder to achieve in the future.

The greatest challenges facing future retirees by fortress-planningNov 17, 2021ArticlesMost working Australians aspire to the idea that they’ll reach a point where they can retire debt-free and with enough money in their superannuation fund.Perhaps supplemented by the age pension, to provide them ...

15/12/2021

Move over debit and credit cards; consumers are flocking to Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services.

With the nation set to splurge around $25 billion on Christmas, it’s a safe bet that plenty of that spend will be by BNPL. But with 60% of people surveyed admitting that BNPL lead them to buy things that they wouldn’t have otherwise, it begs the question: how to use this payment option sensibly during the silly season?

Being sensible with Buy Now Pay Later this silly season by fortress-planningNov 30, 2021ArticlesMove over debit and credit cards; consumers are flocking to Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services. Afterpay, Zip Pay and several similar payment solutions allow shoppers to take home their goodies now while p...

07/12/2021

It is commonly assumed that seeking financial advice is for the wealthy, and it only helps the rich become richer, yet financial advice can prove useful to anyone who wishes to better their financial future.

Financial advice is like getting a health check-up for your financial situation. Your financial adviser is like your personal trainer, assisting you in achieving your best possible financial health.

So why invest in financial advice?

Why financial advice may be your best investment by fortress-planningNov 17, 2021ArticlesIt is commonly assumed that seeking financial advice is for the wealthy, and it only helps the rich become richer, yet financial advice can prove useful to anyone who wishes to better their financial future.Fina...

30/11/2021

It’s the most common story financial professionals hear. Unfortunately, too many people fail to set aside emergency savings to see them through life’s hiccups.

So how do you go about doing this, and just how much money should you set aside for rainy day expenses?

How much should I have in my emergency fund? by fortress-planningNov 17, 2021ArticlesIt’s the most common story financial professionals hear. Unfortunately, too many people fail to set aside emergency savings to see them through life’s hiccups.So when the inevitable happens, and an unexpected bi...

23/11/2021

Insurance provides peace of mind, giving you certainty your debts could be repaid and you could continue to maintain your lifestyle if you were unable to work due to illness or injury – and that if you should die your loved ones would be taken care of.

So why do you need life insurance?

How would it impact your family finances if you or your partner suddenly died, or become seriously unwell and unable to work? Life insurance can offer you and your family financial support in these difficult times.

Protect yourself and your future by fortress-planningOct 21, 2021ArticlesLife can be full of unexpected turns, so it’s important to protect yourself and your family from whatever the future holds.Insurance provides peace of mind, giving you certainty your debts could be repaid and you could contin...