Taking the Fear out of Paperwork
August 1st 2019
If the thought of dealing with Centrelink leaves you in a cold sweat, rest assured you’re not alone.
The at-times rigorous paperwork demands of Centrelink can be overwhelming for many, as was the case for Invest Blue client Rachel Smith.
Having recently approached retirement age, the 65-year-old Central Coast resident admitted the process of transitioning from receiving the Widow’s Allowance on the Age Pension made her quite anxious.
“I’d heard so many stories about delays and difficult, time-consuming paperwork, but thanks to my Financial Planner, Theo Holland, the whole process was extremely streamlined.”
“Theo essentially walked me through each step, helping compile my paperwork, answering any questions I had and ultimately allaying any fears during the process.”
Rachel, who has been a client of Theo’s for several years, said it was his hands-on, practical support and service as a financial planner that set him apart from any others.
“In addition to the everyday financial planning support I receive, Theo is always obliging and going above and beyond when I need him. If I have questions I know I can call him and he will always be happy to talk, and if he’s out, he returns my calls promptly. It’s reassuring knowing he is always only a phone call away.”
“He also comes to my home for meetings as he knows I don’t enjoy having to find my way around the city – this is extremely generous of him and is a huge relief to me,” Rachel smiles.
Helping Rachel navigate accessing the Age Pension, she said he was equally thoughtful.
“During the whole process he ensured I didn’t have to go back and forth with Centrelink, in fact I only went in there once, and only when Theo was confident my paperwork was all in order and had me well prepped on what was needed of me during my interview.”
“Everything was spot on, the interview was very straightforward, and I didn’t have to deal with any delays – having Theo made my job easier, and no doubt that of the Centrelink staff.”
Despite her household financial commitments, Rachel can put part of her pension away as savings and credits Theo for ultimately setting her on a healthy financial path into retirement.
“Together we go through my personal goals which he helps facilitate, or gives me a few options, but overall the true benefit for me in using Theo is having peace of mind that I’m on the right track financially. I want to rest assured that I can deal with anything that may come up, and that I have options and choices if I need them.”
Enjoying various crafts and her family and friends, Rachel enjoys a healthy balance of enjoyment and sensible saving.
“It’s about knowing what I can do with my money, and having Theo to help guide me is a huge relief.”
Financial Planning can take the fear out of paperwork and help you live your best possible life now and in retirement. Contact us.
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What you need to know
This information is provided by Invest Blue Pty Ltd (ABN 91 100 874 744). The information contained in this article is general only and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person. Therefore, before making any decision, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice with regards to those matters and seek personal financial, tax and/or legal advice before acting on this information. Read our Financial Services Guide for information about our services, including the fees and other benefits that AMP companies and their representatives may receive in relations to products and services provided to you.
These clients have agreed to share their story. Everyone’s situation is different, so their choices and outcomes will be different from yours. Consider your circumstances before deciding what’s right for you.
