Geoff is married to Paula, they are in their 50′s and together have 3 children (the youngest still at school). Geoff is self employed and Paula works part time. They have been receiving PROTECT and PLAN strategy advice from Pacesetter for about 10 years. Their adviser at Pacesetter is Malcolm Jensen. Geoff shared his thoughts with us.

Geoff’s Story

When and why did you seek financial advice?

I left one of the major banks almost 10 years ago after 28 years service and at that time I had an important decision to make – to whom I was going to entrust my superannuation. I had several options, including the major bank I had been with, however I decided to place my trust in Mal Jensen. There were two main reasons that influenced my decision. Firstly my wife Paula & I had known Mal for several years (as we are members of the same local church) and I knew Mal was very personable and highly regarded by others. Secondly, in my role as a Business Banking Executive, I managed numerous high quality business people and several of these people also enjoyed a long term relationship with Mal. He was held in very high regard both personally and professionally by them.

What has getting financial advice from Pacesetter meant to you?

With three children at varying stages of education, plus moving from being employed to being self employed, brought into play for us new risks and challenges. Mal’s experience in analysing these new risks and putting in place appropriate measures to protect myself and my family was invaluable.

Initially I was not able to secure income protection insurance, however Mal has continually reviewed my situation with the insurers until eventually I was able to obtain appropriate cover.

Whilst Paula and myself have been responsible for asset accumulation outside of the superannuation environment, regular reviews conducted by Mal have ensured that those assets are protected should an unforeseen event occur and the peace of mind this provides cannot be overstated.

As we are both approaching retirement within the next 5 to 10 years, we have already had several discussions regarding the most suitable strategy going forward and I can see that the value we receive from our relationship with Mal and his team will only increase as we approach this next phase.

Would you recommend that other people seek financial advice and would you recommend Pacesetter?

It’s no secret that the past few years have not been kind to superannuation investments, and whilst my own industry experience arms me with a good level of understanding, the personal one on one reviews conducted by Mal have provided comfort to both myself and Paula that we are still on the right track.

I have no hesitation in recommending Mal and his team at Pacesetter and the feedback I receive from those I have referred to Pacesetter is very positive.

“I turned thirty in 2010 and we have a thriving office supplies business on the Tweed Coast that now employs eight staff. At this time in life, I am loving being a father of a young growing family, I immerse myself in the excitement of the business and its growth and I am confident that my financial planning will support my lifestyle when I choose to retire.”

Marty is 30 and lives on the Tweed Coast with his wife Renee, his lovely daughter Ava and new baby daughter Lillian. Marty is the owner of a succcessful office supplies business based on the Tweed and has been receiving PROTECT and PLAN strategy advice from Pacesetter since 2002. Their adviser at Pacesetter is Malcolm Jensen.

Marty’s Story

When and why did you seek financial advice?

Mal was recommended to me by my parents in 2002 when I was 22 and I haven’t looked back. From an even earlier age, when I first started investing in managed funds in 1995, I started with the juvenile financial goal of being a millionaire by 30, which then developed into a more mature goal of having the ability to retire by 40 if I wanted.

What are the strategies that Pacesetter has advised you on?

When I first talked to Mal, I really was only interested in investment planning. We explored different high growth strategies and dabbled in different investment vehicles. Moving forward, Mal and his team made me realise the importance of protection through insurance for both life and income, which I commenced. I first met my future wife in 2005 and she had no previous exposure to investing. Soon after the first date, she was talking to Mal and away she was went on building her own portfolio. Between then and the time we got married in 2007, Mal had helped her build a sizeable portfolio which basically went unnoticed as contributions were going in monthly. Our two little girls have also commenced their own investment portfolios care of their parents, creating a good foothold and learning tool for them realising the benefits of investing. Fast forward to 2011 and we are looking at having our new family home purchased in 2009 completely paid outright by 2017. We can then look at superannuation strategies with Mal.

What has getting financial advice from Pacesetter meant to you?

My first goal mentioned above was achieved in time (when I turned 30) and with the way business has been growing, I think goal number 2 is quite achievable. This financial freedom will allow me to focus on the greater things in life, like my two little girls.

Would you recommend that other people seek financial advice and would you recommend Pacesetter?

I think I have recommended Mal and the team at Pacesetter so much that I should be on a commission plan! Their service is impeccable and professional and very customisable to your financial needs and goals. So stop thinking about it and go and have a chat to the team sooner rather than later!

I think I was “born old”, in that, back in 1995, my dad gave me $1000 that they had saved up since I was a child. He said I could do anything I wanted with it. Although the freedom of a first car sounded good, I got on my push bike the next week and pedalled down to a financial planner with the roll of 10 x $100 notes and said “invest it”! I guess that was the “turning point” in that I wanted to make sure my retirement was early and fruitful. So while my friends were driving around in the best looking Datsun 120Y that a 16 year old could afford, I was putting as much away as I could into an investment portfolio which was a result of dealing with my financial advisor at the time. The only negative is that I wished I saw a financial adviser 16 years earlier! This is the reason I have started my kid’s portfolio from basically the start of their lives.