Australians should learn to build enduring wealth

HLB-Mann-Judd/funds-management/

2 September 2016
| By Oksana Patron |
image
image
expand image

Australians should learn how to build enduring wealth to avoid a situation of being "asset rich" and "cash poor", according to a firm of accountants and financial advisers.

HLB Mann Judd Sydney warned that many people, and in particular many home-owners, were too dependent on the fortunes of a single asset and their lifestyle and the associated expenses tended to be covered by borrowings.

Head of wealth management, Michael Hutton, also encouraged all prospective investors to ask themselves a few questions which would serve as a "reality check" and help them assess if they were able to manage a financial emergency without increasing debt.

Hutton said people should learn to build good quality, sustainable wealth by spending less than they were earning while saving the difference to make extra repayments on mortgages or making regular deposits to an investment portfolio.

He also stressed that any investment strategy should be appropriate for a person's stage of life and circumstances.

"Not being able to repay credit card debt each month is often the first sign that your personal cashflow is in trouble," Hutton said.

"You can be "asset rich" but "cash poor" when too much of your wealth is tied up in illiquid assets, such as direct property or unlisted shares. This can leave you exposed if your income circumstances suddenly change and you can't easily extract cash from these lumpy assets to cover living costs.

"Finally, having adequate insurance and estate planning arrangements in place will ensure your wealth is protected and a legacy passed down to future generations," Hutton said.

Read more about:

AUTHOR

Recommended for you

sub-bgsidebar subscription

Never miss the latest news and developments in wealth management industry

MARKET INSIGHTS

So we are now underwriting criminal scams?...

1 month 3 weeks ago

Glad to see the back of you Steve. You made financial more expensive, not more affordable as you claim, and presided ...

2 months ago

Completely agree Peter. The definition of 'significant change is circumstances relevant to the scope of the advice' is s...

4 months ago

Entireti has unveiled the new name for the AMP financial advice businesses that it acquired last year....

4 weeks ago

A Sydney financial adviser has been permanently banned from providing any financial services, with the regulator deriding his “lack of integrity, trustworthiness and prof...

2 weeks 5 days ago

Minister for Financial Services, Stephen Jones, has provided further information about the second tranche of the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes (DBFO) reforms....

1 week 4 days ago

TOP PERFORMING FUNDS