Is It Time To Hire a Financial Planner?

Are you considering hiring a financial advisor? It’s no surprise, considering how challenging it can be to manage one’s own finances. When you’re a successful and busy person, there are probably more productive things you can spend your time doing as opposed to dealing with saving, investing, and overall financial management. A financial planner in Chatswood can help you get organised, stay organised, and handle all of your financial planning and investment management strategies.

Having some sort of financial plan allows for easier financial decision making and continued goal-meeting. It allows you to have some semblance of peace of mind in regards to your financial future.

Are you ready for a financial planner? These are the top indicators that you may need one in order to organise your finances and set yourself up for continued support in the future.

 

  1. You earn significant money in the top income tax bracket

Typically, people who earn more money are able to use savings strategies to their advantage that generally results in a lower amount of taxes during (or even before) retirement. However, without a knowledgeable financial planner, there’s a high likelihood that they will continue to pay more taxes than they should.

 

  1. You and your spouse are on different pages

If financial tension is making its presence in your home, chances are you need a financial planner. A financial planner can act almost as a couples counsellor in charge of finances. A third party who is unbiased can do a world of wonders in helping the two of you see eye to eye.

 

  1. Retirement makes you uneasy

If you’re not entirely sure whether or not you are on the right path for a comfortable retirement, a financial planner can be the key to helping you determine the next moves. Such a long-term goal requires long-term planning, and a lot of preparation to boot. With a financial advisor, you can set an achievable target goal and work from there.

 

  1. You’re unsure as to why you owe back taxes

Have you received that dreaded letter in the mail declaring that you owe a not-so-insignificant amount of back taxes and you’re unsure as to why? A financial planner can help you rectify this situation, as well as work with you to meet your deadline and figure out the reason.

 

  1. You have analysis paralysis

Yes, it’s a real thing. For the most part, it refers to the knowledge that you need to do something but keep putting it off, for one reason or another. It’s a common problem that happens when time comes to take action – make an investment decision, reconfigure your student loans, or set up something like life insurance. Generally speaking, the inaction leads to either paying more than you need to, or not earning as much as you could, depending on the situation.

 

  1. You don’t have the drive to do it yourself

If the mere thought of financial planning triggers a yawn or a sigh, chances are you are not the type of person who enjoys this stuff. Or maybe you do find some interest in it, but simply don’t have the time. The fact of the matter is that financial planning is a necessary (albeit sometimes tedious) thing that we all must do. Hiring a financial planner or advisor will do wonders for your peace of mind, your financial freedom, and your future.

What Metrics Should a Digital Marketing Agency Keep Track of to Help You Improve Sales?

It’s important that the digital marketing agency you choose promises and works on the relevant metrics. Things such as numbers of likes and shares tend to have more to do with vanity and can’t do much to help you improve your bottom line. The following are the most important KPIs your digital marketing agency should keep track of.

 

The Metrics

#1. Unique Visitors 

The base metric (KPI) your agency should measure and try to improve on is the number of unique visitors on your website. This initially seems simple enough, a good campaign will yield more visitors, while a bad one won’t — however, it’s a bit more complex than that.

Namely, the people coming to your site should be within your target audience. Otherwise, there won’t be a boost in your conversions, and you’ll miss out on the people who actually need to see your site. So, in addition to measuring (and improving) the number of unique visitors, you also need to keep track of their interactions.

#2. The Bounce Rate

The bounce rate shows how many visitors exit your website, without truly viewing it and consuming any content. A high bounce is the biggest indicator that the viewers are not seeing anything worth sticking around for, or are turned off by its design. 

A digital marketing agency can help you reduce the bounce rate, by better researching who entered your page and why they left. Additionally, they can create better visuals for you, that will help reduce the bounce rate.

#3. Time Spent on Site

This KPI is somewhat similar to the previous one, as it also keeps track of the time users stay on your website. However, its goal is to showcase how interesting and relevant your content is. If you offer high-quality content, a user will spend more time on your website. Thus, they’re going to gain trust in you, and their visit will likely result in a sale. 

For example, if a user searches for a Digital Marketing Agency in Sydney, they won’t spend any time on a website if the content doesn’t seem appealing. Thus, the visit won’t result in a sale and will be a huge waste of resources for both parties.

However, if the company (and its website) give off the impression of being professional and trustworthy, a user will spend more time there, which will ultimately result in a sale.

Cost Per Click

CPC is a popular advertising model that allows you to only pay for the ads when they are clicked. If you have a high CPC, it means that your ads aren’t optimized as well as they could be, and aren’t reaching your target audience. A digital marketing agency can help you reduce these costs, by creating targeted ads that always reach the right audience. 

Final Thoughts

Don’t be swayed by an agency’s promises of hundreds and thousands of likes, rather, ask them how they can help you increase your bottom line. Ask the agency what their plan is on increasing sales, and whether they’re using metrics that will show you some ROI. After all, you don’t want to pay a premium price for an agency that can only guarantee more likes and not a tangible increase in sales. 

5 Ways to Warm Up in Winter

Depending where you are in the world, winter can be tough. In fact, according to studies, SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is currently an area of growing research. Whether you’re feeling blue or just straight-up cold from the snow, here are some ways you can warm up during the winter months. With these tips, you’ll be soon seeing the delight in hot cocoa and warm blankets.

Update the Wardrobe

By updating your wardrobe with some toasty yet fashionable staples, you can go into the winter months in style and warmth. Whether it’s a cashmere scarf in Australia or a fleece jacket in Canada’s ski fields, a good wardrobe will last you for years to come. If you look after pieces like these, it’s unlikely they’ll need replacing as much.

Stock Up on Tea

With the cold weather comes an opportunity – drink as much tea as possible. While you’re in actual fact limited to three cups a day due to an ingredient called tannins, you can still enjoy a selection of breakfast teas, fruity teas and calming herbal teas. Winter gives you a chance to wrap your hands around a warm mug and enjoy the steaming beverage.

Put Your Running Shoes On

If it’s cold, get your body moving! Whether it’s going for a run, a walk or a swim at your local swimming pool, there are ways you can warm up the body and quite literally outrun the cold. Bonus points here, as this method gives you a solid hit of serotonin in the process, fighting off those winter worries all the more.

Install Heating

Sometimes your home is just a cold place. If you’ve bought a home and never updated the insulation or flooring, you could be facing a layout issue where the house becomes draughty. Heat transfer is also an issue in many older homes. There are certain ways around this depending on your home, so it is best to approach individual contractors asking for a quote. Some ways of solving the issue include installing a heating system, updating the flooring, installing glass insulation or renovating the layout entirely.

Live in a Warmer Climate

If all else fails, move to Australia! Not only do you get to enjoy Christmas at the beach – you also deal with milder winters and just a little rain. It might seem silly upending your life for the weather, and that’s why we’d recommend trying other methods before taking drastic actions – we’re just saying, people have certainly done crazier things! You should always do as much research on the suburb ahead of time, so you understand the location you plan to start your new life in.

Ultimately it is your responsibility to take control and focus on the little pockets of joy in a day. Staying warm in winter is easy with a few lifestyle adjustments, and a little pampering of the self. From investing in a cosy bathrobe to moving across the world, there is always something you can do to stay warm.

The Ins and Outs of Purchasing a House and Land Package in Australia

Purchasing a house and land (also known as a flat) package may seem like a huge undertaking to some. You have to start from scratch, try to find the perfect lot and house plan for it, and then embark on the building process.

However, the investment is highly likely to pay itself off. That is, if you know how, where, and when to buy the flat package.

So, if you’re on the market (or on the fence) for purchasing a property in Australia — keep reading. In the following paragraphs, we’ll tell you all you need to know to make a wise investment and get a great piece of property.

 

Flat Packages 101

Flat packages are perfect for those looking to remove the guess-work out of buying a home. Moreover, they offer the easiest way of building the home of your dreams, in the ideal place — without doing any of the heavy lifting. 

Flat packages may also come with some great financing options, making them attainable to many people. So, whether you’re single, starting a family, or simply want to make a good investment — the flat package could be the best option for you.

 

Where Should You Look?

When choosing a flat package, you shouldn’t make a decision based on superficial criteria. You also ought to look for properties within safe areas, close to nature, parks, and culture, and other things important to you.

Additionally, you need to consider the current and projected values of your property and home, to make sure you’re making a good financial decision.

 

In recent years, Wyndham, Truganina, Werribee, and similar suburbs have attracted a great number of Aussies. Perhaps most notably, the search and demand for house and land packages Wyndham Vale has skyrocketed in recent years. 

Because this suburb encompasses all of the important criteria we’ve previously mentioned, it’s become ripe with opportunity. So, it’s relatively easy to find a good deal on a flat package, as well as start planning and moving in quickly.

 

How to Get Started?

Before settling on a flat package, you should first make a list of your criteria. Start by writing down your must-haves as well as the things you want to avoid at all costs. Then, consider which area fits into those criteria the best, and commence on your search.

To make the process easier, you can look through the offers of trusted real estate companies online, and ask for their catalog. At this point, you have to ask all of your questions to make sure the offer fits your needs and wants, as well as capabilities. Once you’ve narrowed your choices talk to your realtor about starting to turn your home dreams into a reality.

 

Final Thoughts

As you can hopefully tell by now, purchasing a home and land package can be a great option for various types of buyers. Moreover, it’s perfect for all of those who want to make the process easier and more efficient, while holding on to their home must-haves.

So, whether you’re trying to create the perfect nest for your family, or are looking for a new home built to your needs — the flat package could be the best option for you.

5 Reasons Buying a Home is Better than Renting

There’s a vast difference between renting and buying a home. Similarly, the two provide various advantages and downsides, too. Nonetheless, here are some of the best reasons why looking for and buying a house and land packages Point Cook or any location is always the best choice.

 

It provides intangible benefits. 

One, if not, the best reasons to buy a home is security. It provides you with a sense of stability that renting doesn’t offer. Owners also say that having their own home also brings them pride. 

Another intangible benefit of owning your home is having your private space. You can enjoy as much privacy as you need and want compared to renting where your landlord still has the last say when it comes to repairing schedules and maintenance. 

Though the first step to owning a home requires research and investment, the upside will still pay off, especially if you choose the best property to invest in. 

 

It encourages you to save more. 

Sometimes, saving is difficult to do especially if we don’t get our finances in order. However, if you plan to buy a home or choose to buy one in the future, you get motivated and disciplined to save and create a budget. 

Homeowners are known to be financially stable because they stick to a budget. They follow a strict rule in terms of spending and investing, especially when paying bills. However, we’re not saying that you can save more if you don’t own a home. Instead, it motivates you to save even for your kids and your retirement. 

 

You can build your wealth over time. 

Investing in a property helps you build your wealth over time. Real estate values, most of the time, don’t depreciate. It’s a values increases as years pass by, which means that you are also taking care of your long-term investments. 

It’s still the same result even if you opted to get a loan to pay for your home. There’s always a chance that you get double of your investment if you decide to sell your real estate property in the future.

 

You have the freedom to do whatever you want with the property. 

Having a house and land packages wyndham vale also gives you the freedom to whatever you want with the property. You can renovate and enhance the features of your home to increase its value and again, be able to enjoy the space you want and need for you and your family. 

Most of the time, you cannot do this with a rented property. There are a lot of restrictions, and you also have to adhere to specific codes and standards set by the property owner. 

 

A second mortgage for emergencies. 

We don’t hold the future. All we can do is prepare for it, and buying a home can be one of the best steps you can do. If you own your home, then you can get a second mortgage when emergencies arise. 

There are different types of loans that you can choose from. Therefore, you need to get expert advice before you decide on your loan preference. 

 

So, start investing your money today and see it grow with your property!

Your Guide to Beachside Living on a Budget

Whether you’ve grown up by the beach or you’ve grown up yearning for the beachside lifestyle, many people want to indulge in beachside living. With some smart styling and some lifestyle changes if you’re willing, there are ways to enjoy the coastal lifestyle without breaking the bank. There are our best tips and tricks on how to invest in a little styling and house, in order to get that summer, sunglasses and saltwater feel. From both the low end of the budget to the high, we’ve got you covered.

More than 85% of Australians live within 50 kilometres of the sea, so it’s no surprise that many want to emulate the feeling of beachside living. Here’s how to do it, to get that quintessential Australian feeling of living by the beach and year-round summer.

 

Actually move to the beach!

In order to pursue beachside living, why not move to the beach if you’re already considering starting a new life? Land for sale near Caloundra on the Gold Coast gives you affordable coastal living, while being connected to all the amenities of nearby urban centres like the Gold Coast and Brisbane. Connected living is important, and master-planned communities can give you the convenience that you need and deserve.

 

Style a newer home to your tastes

When you build a home in a master-planned community such as Harmony, you are able to tailor the styling and design of a home to your tastes. Want open plan living? A professional builder can help you achieve that. If you want to style your home in a beach-like way, you can have a say in paint palettes to echo that of the ocean. We’d suggest baby blues and aqua, paired with pale yellows, cream and white colours. Pair it with some tiles or floorboards and you can bring the outside in even more. And if all else fails, jump on Pinterest to save your inspiration for later use!

 

Bring the beach to you

Go to the beach and collect seashells and ocean memorabilia, to decorate your home in a beach themed way. You can add ocean scents and put beach themed art or photography on the walls. By getting a little creative and taking the time to engage in some crafts, you can not only reflect the beach; you can reflect a piece of your own personality. Home decoration is important so tune into your intuition to know what you’d like to purchase to decorate your home with.

 

By learning to find elements of ocean themed decor that reflect your own personality too, you can create a home design and lifestyle that reflects you as a person. Your home space should reflect your personality and your needs in a way that makes you happy, and living near the beach is one great way of doing that. However, even if you don’t live near the beach, you can make your home still have that coastal essence! Good luck to you on your home styling journey!

What Does a Land Developer Do?

We’ve all heard of land developers, but how many of us know what they actually do? If the name doesn’t give it away, land developers develop. To delve deeper into their job title and the role they play in the housing and construction industry, we’ve written an article to break down some of the common questions people have on land developers. Whether you’re looking to get started or simply trying to learn a little more about the ways of building and buying land in Australia, you’re in the right place

A land developer takes raw land, obtaining the necessary permits and documentation to create building lots, to add sewers, water and electrical lines, and to maintain the streets and curbs. In Australia, the land development industry thrives as these 2017 statistics show Australia’s total land value as $5.8 trillion. There is much opportunity for aspiring developers to shine, with strong governmental incentives for anyone wishing to try their hand at the land development game.

 

What Do You Need to be a Land Developer

To be a land developer building homes anywhere in Australia, you will need a minimum education of at least a Bachelor’s degree. Usually, to get a job in the field of land or real estate development you will need a Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate. These courses are likely to cover core land development concepts such as zoning, site plans, permit acquisitions and subdivision. When the land developer has acquired the land, the builder’s job is then to come in and build the structure. Building and developing are two very separate tasks, different in nature and different in the ways it affects the lives of residents.

 

How Do Land Developers Make Their Money?

In short, residential property developers make their money from maximising the true value of the land on which they purchase. How do they do this? By building separate homes and subdividing them so they’re able to then be sold on to individual buyers as individual dwellings. In the construction industry, a developer is usually considered to be a person developing land through construction who, at the end of the construction process, becomes the owner of developed land. As a general rule, a developer is known to purchase a tract of land, and then determine the marketing plan for the property, develop the building’s program and design, obtain the public approval in order to develop and finance it, build the structures and then rent out, manage and sell it to an individual buyer. Some property developers only undertake part of this process, but it depends on a case by case basis.

 

We hope this article has helped you to understand the nature of a property developer’s work, whether they’re building in New South Wales or producing house and land packages in Queensland. Each land developer’s day to day is likely to look incredibly different, so thinking about the type of land you’d like to develop and see in the end result is a great start. Either way, the land development industry is thriving in Australia with plentiful opportunities for growth and healthy returns.

Keeping Your Children Safe Near Water

Babies love water. They giggle, laugh, and have fun when they hit the water. In the pool or the tub, letting your infant float is one of the best things they can do to enjoy. As such, as parents, it’s our responsibility to make sure that they stay safe while having fun. 

However, before we continue, always remember that teaching your babies to swim is not the best way to prevent drowning. It’s a preventive tool, but this should be accompanied by stringent care and protection by parents and adults. 

 

Keeping kids and babies safe near or in water

Before we talk about swimming and pools, we need to consider first the safety of our kids at home, especially in the following spaces:

  • During baths and in tubs
    Make sure that you have a towel or two in your reach when bathing your baby. Always keep your hands on your baby to ensure safety. It’s also recommended that there should be adult supervision when kids use tubs and, for infants, a safety seat and belt should be added to avoid tipping over.
  • Safety in the bathroom
    Toilet lids should also be put down and must be locked to avoid kids opening it without supervision. Remove all the water from the tub and always close the bathroom door and add a safety lock.
  • Secure all water in the home, especially swimming pools
    Throw away unused or unwanted water in buckets, tubs, or trash cans. Add a safety fence surrounding your pool with a gate and lock. 

 

When should your child get swimming lessons? 

This is one of the most popular questions among parents and the optimal age for babies to learn is when they’re six months or older. During this time, your baby still has not developed the concept of fear, so this makes the best age to enrol in swimming lessons for babies

It’s also recommended that kids and parents should participate in the training because it creates an excellent foundation for learning. Babies will also have to start from the beginning, which is to learn to paddle and kick, and this is where the parent’s assistance comes in handy. 

 

What to look for in swimming programs for kids? 

There are different programs where you can enrol your child to learn how to swim, and these include the following:

  • Infant Self-Rescue where babies are taught how to survive on their own when they’re in the water. 
  • Parent-and-Me Classes are also popular among parents where the child swims with the parents and the professional. 

Choosing the right classes for you and your baby also means assessing if the program has the following:

  • Experienced and qualified instructors and the team also have certified lifeguards. 
  • The class teaches both parents and kids to follow and ensure safety in and near water. 
  • The class you’d want to enrol your kid at should also teach safety and precautionary lessons if they ever get into the water unexpectedly. 
  • The class should require multiple sessions and have an assessment for both the student and the parents when it comes to what they learned. 

 

How to start swimming lessons for your baby?

When it comes to helping your baby prepare for the class, Tanyas Tadpoles recommends the following:

  • Safely and with supervision, let your baby experience the bathtub first. 
  • Don’t let your kid eat right before the class. 
  • Always, always maintain the safety mindset, even if there are lifeguards in the class. 

 

Let your kids enjoy and have fun in the water with the best safety and precautionary measures they can learn from swimming class. Of course, stay safe and keep your baby safe!

Foundation Repair FAQs

If you’re interested in getting foundation repair, or you think your place of work or residence may need foundation repair, this article may help you. We’ve brought together the most commonly asked questions about foundation repair, all with the goal of educating you, the reader, on what to look for, and how to know that it’s time to call in a construction expert.

 

What will a foundation repair cost me?

For property owners, the average cost of a foundation repair is generally slightly higher than $4000, but can go as low as $1800 and as high as $6500. Minor patching jobs to fix small cracks will usually cost as little as $500, while more major structural repair jobs and underpinning can cost as much as $13,000.

 

What is the best way to repair foundation, and can I do it myself?

While for most building repairs we’d recommend calling in a trained professional, especially if you don’t know what you are doing, small foundation issues can be fixed pretty easily, and in the following way. You should dampen the cracked foundation, by spraying it with misted water. Push the hydraulic cement mixture into the crack with a putty knife, before allowing it to dry for an hour (two hours at the very most). Add another extra layer of cement mixture, on top of the crack. You can use a trowel to level the cement patch, making it smooth like the wall surface. 

 

How long will a foundation repair specialist take, to repair cement cracks?

Generally it takes 2 to 3 days, although this highly depends on the context, the nature of the situation and a number of other factors. You should ask this when you are enquiring about foundation repair, as the individual contractor will be able to give you an exact timeframe once they have inspected the site. 

 

What happens after a foundation repair?

After a foundation repair job has been completed, you may notice visible cracks that are still in the walls or bricks. This is completely normal, and does not mean the repair was ineffective. It takes a few weeks to properly see if there have been changes to the pre-existing cracks, as well as checking if new cracks have developed. Once the foundation has settled, you can go back and fill in these cracks. 

 

What happens when you don’t fix a foundation problem in a building?

When you don’t fix the foundation of a building, it leaves the opportunity for mould and mildew to grow, which in turn can lead to the deterioration of the wooden members under your home, as well as the disrepair of beams. Cracks and poor sealing around piers and beam foundation can allow water to find its way into the crawl space. 

 

How do you find the best way to repair foundations?

Here are the most common methods of repairing a building’s foundation: 

  • Steel piers
  • Helical piers
  • Concrete pier foundation repair
  • High density polyurethane foam
  • Segmented piers 
  • Spot piers

 

Is it safe to be in a building with foundation issues?

While it is possible to live and work in a structure with foundation problems, if you are the owner of the building, you’ll be sorry to hear that it can negatively impact the resale value of the property.

Your Guide to the Different Types of Bath Towel Fabrics

 When it comes to bath towels, there are lots of different options available to you, depending on your tastes in a number of areas. Looking for something durable? Or what about something soft to the touch, to give you that hotel room feel? Regardless of what you look for in a towel and how much you’re willing to spend, here is a breakdown of the various common bath towel fabrics you have to choose from.

 First of all, you should decide on the limitations of your budget. There are some great options available to those with a few less dollars to work with, as well as luxury bath towels on offer for anyone willing to spend a pretty penny and invest that little bit more. Either way, the decision is yours, so let’s get into the most common bath towel fabrics.

 

Egyptian Cotton

Towels made from Egyptian cotton are softer and more absorbent. The material is hand picked, leaving the fibres unbroken and straight. This in turn can make it easier to elongate the individual fibres, making for finer yarns with not only more length, but stronger and altogether softer cotton. Regular cotton tends to have more splices. Egyptian cotton was a popular trend, and while equally exciting types of cotton towel have emerged since the height of its popularity, it is still a great choice for anyone looking to invest in quality. 

 

Turkish Cotton

Turkish cotton is priced at a premium, but if you’re happy to splurge a little in the name of a spruced up bathroom space, this strain of cotton might just be for you. With its extra long fibers and fewer joins, this results in stronger, smoother cotton threads. If you’re after a durable towel, this is it. The long fiber cotton is grown in Turkey’s small yet productive Aegean Region. With successive washes, Turkish cotton will become increasingly more soft, fluffy and absorbent.

 

Organic Cotton

Made for the ethical minded is organic cotton. Grown using methods and materials that have a minimal impact on the environment, if you’re looking to walk the walk and practice the environmental values you preach, you should seek to exercise environmental friendliness in as many areas of your life as possible.

 

Microfiber

Microfiber is so incredibly fine; it is a synthetic fiber finer than one denier, decitex or thread. It has a diameter of under 10 micrometres. There are a few different types of microfibers which are made up of polyester materials; this includes polyamides such as nylon, Kevlar, Nomex and trogamide, and well as polyester, polyamide and polypropylene.

 

Hopefully this guide has helped you understand the options from which you can choose, when deciding on a towel. There are many options out there, and through sampling at stores and thinking about which you need, you can find the right material for you.