Press

What is ethical investing?

Increasingly I’m helping clients invest in a way that aligns with their core values – ethical investing. The challenge is that nothing is clear cut – core values are inherently personal and therefore how individuals wish to ethically invest differs. What does ethical investing mean to you?

Why is it important?

Simply put, the more people who choose to support companies promoting a positive social, environmental and humanitarian change, the more pressure it puts on organisations to embrace these ethical values.

Does doing the right thing come at a cost?

There is often a preconceived notion if you invest ethically you have to forgo performance. The good news is this isn’t necessarily the case. The 2018 Responsible Investment Benchmark Report found that the responsible Australian share funds outperformed the average fund over 3,5 & 10 years. It’s a similar story for responsible international share funds. The result is predominately being driven by the next generation of the progressive investors – the more we invest in environmentally and socially progressive companies, the more revenue, profit and shareholder return!

What can you do?

Consider what’s important to you and the social and environmental impact you wish to make. Then carefully examine the companies you’re regularly investing in and determine if they coincide with your ethics. This could be anything from where you get your morning coffee, the fashion labels you regularly buy or where your employer is paying your super every month.

Then ask yourself 3 questions:

• Where is your money actually going?
• Are the companies you’re supporting staying true to your values?
• Could your money be working harder for you and the greater good?

Glen hare is one half of Surry Hills based financial advice firm Fox & Hare ??

The Hare sits down with Money and Finance Magazine to discuss the desired life trifecta; Freedom, choice and flexibility.

When reflecting on the many conversations shared with both clients at Fox and Hare or the immeasurable number of friends, family and acquaintances who are always looking for advice; I’ve discovered three little words that make up the lions share of people’s aspirations: freedom, choice and flexibility. I’ve learned that the modern corporate crusader has little interest in climbing the corporate ladder just for the sake of it. And I’m now fairly (99.5%) certain that nobody is out there enduring the desk-bound drudgery of the average 9-5 just for the hell of it.

While partaking in these conversations and reflecting on them afterwards, I’ve arrived at what can only be described as quite a disturbing conclusion. Everyday millions of people are waking to the sounds of alarms, battling the daily commute and heading downtown to sacrifice their freedom, choice and flexibility in order to achieve freedom, choice and flexibility. It’s the true paradox of the modern workplace, a glitch in the matrix if you will. And I regret to inform you that these sacrifices alone will not be sufficient. If you (like my clients and acquaintances) are searching for the unicorn trifecta of freedom, choice and flexibility, you’re going to need a passive income.

I’ve heard of passive income, but what actually is it?

In short: income generated from means other than personal exhaustion! Examples include but are by no means limited to the rents from investment properties, dividends on shares or the interest from high interest savings accounts. You should think of passive income as the sherpa on the journey from wage slave to free time connoisseur. Sadly I can’t squeeze the ‘Passive Income for Dummies’ guide into an article appropriate word count but I can ask and (help answer) the four questions that I consider integral when launching the hunt for this particular prize. Let’s go. 

1. How much is enough?

So how much passive income do you actually need? Obviously the answer varies significantly from one person to the next and ‘enough to sip Pina Colada’s in the Maldives for the rest of my life’ is not a real answer. The simplest way to approach this question is to first calculate how much you need to cover fixed costs (bills, rent, etc) every year. Set this number aside and determine (again annually) how much cash you’ll need for life’s little pleasures (eating out, clothes, etc). Finally, you’ll need to establish how much you’re looking to splash every twelve months on bigger ticket items (holidays, lifestyle purchases, etc). Looking at these three areas will give you a good picture of the figure you should be working towards. If you want to put some crude numbers around a target to work towards, investing $1,000,000 returning 6% will provide you with $60,000 of passive income a year without eating into the initial investment.

2. What’s the most common problem when getting started?

Ironically, when we’re working toward long term gratifications, it’s the short term ones that will trip us up. For you to achieve that sense of freedom, enable choice and embrace flexibility, a degree of structure, discipline and consistency is required. In the absence of a structured game plan, it’s very difficult to achieve the goals you set yourself. It’s challenging to envisage the impact of eating out twice a week instead of once, taking food to work vs. buying it every day or purchasing a new pair of shoes every 6 months instead of monthly. But you should consider the consequences of satisfying an insignificant urge. Are all those extra dollars costing you something that is truly important?

3. When is the perfect time to start?

NOW! but also never. Money is emotional and the relationships with it can vary wildly from person to person. What may seem logical to one may not to another and the sense of being overwhelmed when considering all the options is all too common and more than acceptable. What’s not acceptable, however, is putting off action due to laziness, option paralysis or fear. Create a strategy that aligns to your goals and be confident that implementing all of the various steps will move you forward. Add discipline, structure and adhere to a consistent method for best results. If investment strategies are just not your forte, you really can not be bothered to work it all out or just plain old CBF seek the help of a professional. Babies will be born, storms will hit and life is just not going to slow down with those curveballs. The time will never be perfect, so why not just start now?

4. Is your super pulling its weight?

It’s a slight deviation from passive income but with longer turn goals front of mind, it’s really important that you get your super sauce bubbling away as soon as possible. Given that you’re unable to touch it until you’re sixty-seven your investments will have a long time to marinate. Every superannuation account has two key ingredients that you should never forget! Compounding interest and tax concessions. But what are they and why should you care? Compounding interest (described by Einstein as the 8th wonder of the world) is the re-investment of generated income, which in turn generates more income, to be re-invested and generate yet more income. Tax concessions are reductions in your annual tax liability. Provided by the government to help the population remain financially independent well into their twilight years they can be highly effect tools in your tax reduction arsenal. Bearing in mind that your superannuation account could be the knight in shining armour when it comes to long term freedom are you sure that you’re paying enough attention?

In order to be truly free, have the flexibility you desire and the choice to live the life you aspire, you’ll ironically need a degree of structure and discipline. Set yourself realistic, specific and measurable goals and formulate a game plan to ensure success. Above all, Take Action! An inch of movement will bring you closer to your goals than a mile of intention (Dr Steve Maraboli).

By Glen Hare

Want to start your journey to achieve the trifecta? ? Reach out here ↩️

If you are like most people, you start a new job and forget to give them your existing Super fund info… so they set you up with their default fund. You are busy getting into your new role only to find years down the line you have a small army of Super funds. All charging you fees.

The Government has recently passed some changes to make sure your future retirement savings doesn’t get eaten away with admin fees and insurance premiums. Aptly named the “Protecting Your Super” legislation, its effective 1 July 2019 so now Australia Post is busy delivering thousands of letters from Super funds they had completely forgotten about telling them their account is inactive or that their existing insurance may expire (let’s hope they have your correct address!). Most people will throw out their letters without any care or concern because Super is future you’s problem and you have other things on your mind. Before you do though, here are the high level deets:

The Government wants to stop every man and his dog taking your Super money by way of fees and insurance. If you haven’t made a contribution for 16months, it will be classed as ‘inactive’.

If it is classed as ‘inactive’, and, you have insurance attached (this is either cover that you are given as part of being a member, or, retail insurance cover that’s paid via your Super fund) you may find it ends up being cancelled unless you notify the Super fund otherwise. You need to opt in before the 1st of July 2019 so don’t wait for a rainy day before you get to it (wouldn’t want global warming preventing you from keeping insurance you determine you need!).

All superannuation accounts will be transferred to the ATO if:

• Your account balance is less than $6,000,
• You have no life insurance held in the account,
• You haven’t met a condition of release, and
• the account has been inactive for a continuous period of 16 months

What Fox & Hare make of all this:

Look, the premise is sound. Let’s not have your future retirement savings completely decimated by fees and insurance, but, and it is a big one… there are a few reasons why you may want to keep your fund and associated insurance alive. It might be that you have a health issue that means getting new insurance is a no-go, or you have changed jobs to a role that is considered too risky or you’ve become self-employed and haven’t made any super contributions… or you have had a period out of the workforce (to have a baby, study or sit on a foreign beach sipping pina coladas) which means you may not have an income to support getting income protection. All of these may mean its sensible for you to keep a small amount in your old fund and keep that insurance alive and well.

So, what to do?

Read the letters! Understand what Super and insurance you have (get advice if it’s all too hard and you need help), determine what you would need if something happened to you and if that means you are over insured or under insured and act accordingly (remember, if you do want to keep it you need to call and follow their opt in process – noting each fund has a different process). If you find yourself in a situation where you haven’t had any contributions go into your account for over 12months you may wish to consider making a contribution, so your account isn’t classed as inactive. You may want to think about consolidating all of your accounts into one (again, do some research on which is best). And, if it’s all too much and life admin isn’t your forte, we are happy to help, reach out here!

You can find more info here.⬅️

Any information in the above article is general advice only. You should consider your circumstances or reach out ? if you would like to discuss your individual needs.

Whether you’re saving for a house, starting a business, or looking ahead to retirement, money is on everyone’s mind.

Hub Australia sits down with Fox and Hare to gather insight into 21st-century financial advice and how the industry has changed.

q. What is the question you get asked most from clients?

Is this normal? I think money is probably the last taboo. People have no idea whether their financial situation is similar to everyone else’s, so I get asked a lot of ‘is it normal that I’ve got this amount of credit card debt or personal loans or this amount in savings’ because people don’t talk about it. It means Fox & Hare act as a kind of secret gateway into what everyone else is doing financially

People who aren’t clients yet and are interested in what we do ask us more about ‘what is a financial adviser?’ and ‘would I need financial advice because I don’t have any money?’ We spend a lot of time demystifying what financial advice is. It can sometimes be daunting or overwhelming, but we want to make it fun and for people to know financial advice is not just for old rich people, it’s for young people so that they engage in planning and get set up for success.

q. Is part of your business model to be accessible to the millennial market?

Absolutely. That’s what’s different about us. Our client base is very different to traditional financial advice firms – our youngest client is 23, our oldest clients are nearing 50. The average age of a financial adviser in Australia is around 55 years old, and they tend to work with people in a similar demographic to themselves. We’re not the same as the financial advisers of older times, who were likely working for an agent or a bank selling insurance. They’re more into retirement planning and superannuation, and even though we help with retirement planning, we’re more interested in helping people reach their goals.

If you want to travel every year, how do we make sure you’ve got a budget to do that? How do you buy your first house? It’s a different conversation opposed to ‘how do we boost your retirement?’, which is unsexy to our demographic. There’s a misconception that financial advisers are going to make you have a budget where you don’t get to do anything fun – that’s not our belief. It’s about balancing achieving your short and medium-term goals and planning for long-term stuff as well.

q. Do you think financial advice is something everyone could utilise?

I think financial advisers have done a rubbish job by promoting financial advice as exclusively for old rich people. I really truly believe that everyone has financial goals like getting out of debt or saving, starting a business, or buying a house. Most people just need a plan, otherwise, it’s very easy to get off-course.

I think financial advice is really relevant for anyone that has goals. A lot of what we do is behavioural coaching because this concept of Ying and Yang within relationships comes out all the time with money – people’s money behaviour is innately within them.

q. What did you learn about money growing up? What did your parents teach you about money? How do you feel about money?

Some people hate money and have a really negative connotation. Some people are enamoured with the idea that ‘I’m going to be rich and it’ll solve all my problems’. We work out how we can get people aligned because otherwise people’s money behaviours really conflict, and it can create tension.

It can be really interesting around how we help people move forward better as a couple, and that’s good when we’re working with millennials because you’re working with newer couples. When you’ve been together for 50 years and you’re undoing half a century of money habits it’s a much bigger journey.

q. Why did you choose to grow your business in a co-working space?

Sydney has a new wave of small businesses, and it’s so important to know that you don’t have to forego all the wonderful things big businesses have just because you don’t have the scale. Co-working means you’re able to band together and access the same quality for less.

Book in for a 15 minute call ? with ? & ?.

Kellie Landrey Principal Buyers Agent at Scoutable, shares with the Fox and Hare crew the potential impact of the pending federal election on aspiring property investors.

With many news outlets and polls expecting Labor to win, their proposed policy changes will have a potential impact on the property market. ?

Negative Gearing

According to news.com.au, 1.3 million people or 10% of taxpayers use negative gearing to claim a tax break.

Negative gearing is when the interest on the loan is higher than the net rental income, meaning the investor is making a loss. The loss is claimed as a tax deduction. The net rental income is the rental income minus the expenses associated with owning the property, such as maintenance, management and depreciation.

For example, your loan interest repayments are $30,000 per annum and you have $5,000 per annum of property expenses. If your rental income is $20,000 per annum, this gives a loss of $15,000. This means you can reduce your taxable income by $15,000. For someone who is earning $100,000 per annum, their taxable income will now be $85,000 per annum. You will reduce your tax payable and save just under $6,000.

Labor is proposing to remove the right to claim these losses (negative gearing) to all established properties from 1 January 2020 (new build properties not affected). Any investment property purchased prior to 1 January 2020 will continue to be able to claim negative gearing.

Capital Gains Tax

When you sell your investment property you are required to pay tax on the profit.

Capital gains tax does not apply to your principal place of residence.

Currently, the capital gains tax rule provides a 50% discount (as long as you have owned the property for one year). For example, you purchase an investment property for $1,000,000 and sell it over one year later for $1,200,000, your profit is $200,000. Applying the 50% discount, you must add $100,000 to your taxable income in the financial year that you sold the property. Labor proposes to reduce the discount from 50% to 25%. Following the above example, you will add $150,000 to your taxable income.

Any investment made prior to 1 January 2020 will remain at the 50% discount rule.

With the possibility of a labor win, it may be a good time to consider investing before 1st January 2020.

If you would like to discuss negative gearing or capital gains tax further, book in a coffee with Fox & Hare ☕. To learn about Scoutable’s services and how they can assist with your property search, click here.

F&H client shares their experience when lodging an insurance claim ⤵️

1. Any type of insurance is a bit of a begrudging purchase, what were your thoughts when I initially brought up the topic?

To be honest, I was a bit reluctant. At the time it seemed expensive, and I didn’t see the immediate benefit. It felt like something I didn’t need. Like you say, it’s quite a begrudging purchase, and it’s quite a boring one too. Most people would rather spend their money on something fun, like a holiday!

2. Why did you end up taking out the recommended cover?

In the end we took the view that it’s something you’re better off having in case you need it, rather than the other way round. Turned out, we were right!

3. You recently had a claim, do you mind sharing what the claim was for?

Over the Christmas holidays I was cycling with my father in law. We were heading down a hill at a pretty decent speed, and a car pulled out of a T junction on my left. He hadn’t seen me. I went straight into him and ended up with multiple breaks on my left hand side and a punctured lung.

4. Were there any unexpected costs that came up as a result of your injuries?

Mostly it was the cost of not being able to work. I required follow-up treatments and physiotherapy sessions, so there was a fairly big cost there. Then there were other costs which you initially don’t think of – travel to and from appointments, medical stuff like heat packs, ice packs, weights and equipment for rehab work. I’ve also had to take up swimming, so additional gym memberships are another.

5. Did you initially think that getting a claim paid was going to be a difficult process? How did your experience contrast or confirm this thought?

Yes, I was expecting a lot of back and forth, having to prove the extent of my injuries and that I wasn’t at  fault for the accident. It turned out to be pretty simple, the doctors filled out some forms, I submitted some payslips, and Glen did the rest! I received my benefit payment quickly, too.

6. When big things happen to people, often friends and family don’t really know what to do or say. From your experience, what tips would you give to people who want to help out in a time of need but don’t know where to start?

That’s a big question. I think everyone is different in that regard, but for me it was nice to receive messages or small gifts just to show that people cared and were thinking of you. F&H sent me a nice gift pack with chocolate and vitamin drinks! Some people sent flowers and even books to read off Amazon, which was very thoughtful. An accident like I had changes your perspective very quickly and it sparks change in your life. One of the biggest things I will be mindful of in the future is how long lasting the consequences of something like that can be on someone.

Book in a free coffee with us ☕

The Hare features in the latest edition of Urban Village to share his tips for killing your financial goals AND booking your dream holiday.

Is booking and lavishing yourself with your dream holiday the same as buying property or retiring early? Of course it is! Whether you’re looking to create your likeness in gold bullion, put the kids through private school or buy a seat on the inaugural Virgin Galactic space flight you can be certain that, in theory, the goal setting process is just as familiar as imagining, booking and enjoying your dream holiday.  

Follow these three simple steps to envision, enact and enjoy your wildest dreams! 

1. Dream up (and write down) the ideal destination for you.   

Nobody books a holiday to a place they don’t want to go. Goal setting should be exactly the same! You wouldn’t choose a holiday destination ‘just because’ and there is no reason why your financial destination should not be the same. Dream up your ideal scenario, somewhere that you’re certain you will be happy and go for that! Whether that be home ownership, early retirement or a Mariah Carey sized closet full of Jimmy Choo’s, envisage it, own it and count down the days until you’re there enjoying it.  

2. Break It Down Into Baby Steps 

The process of transferring our dreams and aspirations from an idea to reality is never an easy one. We don’t just wake up one day in Tokyo! Before we can even think about that steaming bowl of ramen in Shinjuku, we’re charged with working out how to actually get from our comfortable Surry Hills digs to Japan. There is annual leave to consider, the funding of the project and wrangling the schedules and needs of anybody else who might be joining us. Just like waking up in Tokyo, waking up in your own home (or Mariah sized shoe closet) is unlikely to ever happen without meticulous planning. Once you’ve envisaged the destination, break it down into manageable steps, read how other people have done it and formulate a plan that’s going to work for you.  

3. Execute the plan with military precision

Admittedly, transit is never as enjoyable as the final destination but that doesn’t mean the journey is any less exciting. There is the monotony of counting down the days, the screaming terror of realising that the traffic on O’Riordan St might actually cause you to miss your flight this time, arduous security lines and the list goes on. For better or worse, life is extraordinarily unpredictable and things can change in a heartbeat. The only constants are you and your attitude toward getting things done. When you’ve got a clear plan to follow and you do in fact follow it, only the most heinous of circumstances can slow you down. Don’t worry about the snarling traffic, overzealous airport security and shameful people standing two abreast on the escalator. You’ve got a plan, just stick to it! You’ll touch down in no time.  

Those that have goals succeed, because they know where they are going  

Want to chat about your goals? ? Book in a free coffee with us today ☕

Jess and Glen share their golden rules for creating financial freedom in your 20s with Lucinda Starr:

1. Pay yourself first
2. Consider your investment options
3. Create a plan, and be prepared to adapt
4. Find someone to hold you accountable

At Fox & Hare, we specialise in helping Millennials create an attainable savings plan, set clear goals and as a result, regain control of their money.

Read more ?

Grab a ? coffee to start your journey to financial freedom ✨☕

The Hare discusses on Lawyers Weekly, the top 3 financial mistakes lawyers make:

1. Doing nothing – The fear of making the wrong choice is real and most often presents itself as the statement ‘I just don’t know where to start’.
2. The more you earn, the more you spend –  Even when there are an extra four or five zeros at the end of the pay cheque there still seems to be nothing left at the end of the month.
3. Not spending money on what’s really important – It’s really important to align an investment or cashflow strategy to a particular goal. These goals range from the mild, like buying a home, paying for private education for the kids and travelling the world to the unadulterated and wild.

Many lawyers don’t know where to start when it comes to managing their money. Some are waiting for a sign, others are looking for the perfect moment and many believe they’re too strapped for time to finesse finance as well as law. Whatever the poison, the outcome is the same.

Read more

Who we work with ?

Glen speaks to Tahn Sharpe from Professional Planner about how advisers should be taking the opportunity to celebrate their inclusivity and review the way they interact with their LGBTI clients. Glen and Jess believe advice firms don’t need to be explicit in their support for the LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) community, but would be well-served by conveying an inclusive outlook.

“You don’t have to say that you want to work with LGBTI people on the homepage of your website,” Glen says, “but make sure that someone who was part of that community would know that you work with anybody, regardless of their orientation or background.”

“The way we position our business is to ensure that we’re inclusive of everybody in the community regardless of gender, sexual orientation or ethnicity,” he explains. “Financial advice is personal and people want to ensure that they’re coming through a non-judgemental environment.”

The inclusivity issue is one Glen says extends to staff and clients. He works extensively with Out for Australia – a group whose mission is to provide role models and mentors for “aspiring LGBTI professionals” ­– and wants to encourage people to feel confident in bringing their “whole selves” to work.

Read More.

Book in for a free coffee chat ?☕

There’s so much confusion and complexity around money and finances. At Fox and Hare, we aim to make sure people have a clear game plan so they know how they’re going to achieve their financial goals.

The three things we want you to know about your finances include:

1. It’s not scary. The worst thing you can do is do nothing.
2. Start small. Start now. You don’t need to wait until you’ve got a million dollars
3. It’s your money. I am a financial adviser, but I advise people. At the end of the day, you shouldn’t take what anyone else says as gospel – you need to understand why what you’re doing is going to set you up for success.

Read More.

Have a free coffee chat with us ☕

Glen features on the latest ‘Goals Based Advice’ Podcast where he discusses Fox & Hare’s preparation before opening the doors and the first year in business.

Listen here

Find out more about the Fox & Hare here ??

Over the last 12 months we’ve seen house prices across Sydney soften and a roller coaster ride on the share market sparked whispers of GFC round 2. What does this mean for the budding investor? Should we panic? Should we be ripping our cash from the ATMS and stuffing it into our mattresses or plugging it into time shares on the Gold Coast?

The truth is there is no steadfast answer and when considering which investment strategy is right for you (we at Fox and Hare don’t personally advocate for either of the strategies listed above) but there are 4 questions that can help point you in the right direction.

1. What are you investing for?

It’s really important to align your investment strategy to a particular goal. These goals range from the mild like buying a home, paying for private education for the kids and travelling the world to the unadulterated and wild. This variety is truly the spice of life and I don’t think the people of Sydney will ever stop surprising me with the things they spend their money on. What they all have in common though is a goal. Something that they’re working towards and once achieved/purchased/paid for will signal their success.

“Those that have goals succeed because they know where they are going”

2. How do you feel about risk?

Let’s begin by establishing that ALL investment strategies come with a degree of risk. Investment properties can be damaged or destroyed (recently the roof collapsed on my home in Redfern!), the stock market can crash and interest rates can fluctuate. It’s not all doom and gloom though! There are a number of ways to minimise risk and depending on whether you’re into white knuckle investment rides or something a little less taxing there are options out there for you.

My personal risk management favourite is diversification. In English ‘don’t put all your eggs in one basket!’ If you spend every last dollar on property and the market collapses, it’s high seas ahead. If you purchase a cheaper property and use the remaining cash to break into the stock market you’ve spread your risk a little thinner. Time is also of the essence and the length of time you’re exposed to an investment strategy can have implications on its output.

Nobody likes a one trick pony!

3. What are the costs associated with investing?

There are usually unexpected and almost always unwelcome costs (who knew that a roof could be so expensive?!) when investing, and while Murphy’s law is unpredictable the ATO most certainly is not. It’s absolutely necessary that you accept you’re not only coughing for the initial investment but will be facing off with tenants, unruly stock markets, changing laws and the taxman as well. It’s imperative that we know and accept the TRUE cost of our investments over their entire lifespan.

4. Are we in it for the long run?

Let’s face it, your money is not the only thing you’re investing. You’ve worked hard for that cash and parting with it is going to be hard. Investing can be incredibly emotional so it’s important to remain disciplined. Property is a standout example here, people are much more likely to fall in love with a property they want to live in themselves. Of course, you should love where you live but the flip side of the coin says your investments should be working relationships. Investment is all about the numbers!

Book in a free coffee chat ☕

LGBTIQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer) students and young professionals often fear how their sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status will impact their careers causing anxiety and uncertainty. Glen Hare the Out for Australia National Partnerships Manager, discusses the work they do in supporting those experiencing such feelings on Weekend Breakfast.

Read More.

Who we work with ?✔️

Before seeing any property professional—from a buyer’s agent to a property manager— or forming your investment team, Jess and Glen encourage investors to ask themselves five questions. This will assist in getting the greatest value and ultimately maximise investors wealth-creation potential.

1. What is important to me?

2. What are my life goals?

3. Where does my money go?

4. What is my risk appetite?

5. What’s my potential adviser/agent/property manager like?

Read More.

How we can help ?

Despite the downward trend in some property markets across Australia, Glen and Jess believe that the best time to start investing is now.

“Everything is okay. We’re bombarded with stories of properties softening and the share market volatility and things like that, but I still think that the best time to start investing is now. If you’re looking at a good asset, over the longer term, it should perform well, based on history.”

“The biggest challenge that a lot of people reach out to us for is their uncertainty. They’re not sure what the best thing to do is. Sometimes, they end up doing nothing.”

Read More.

How we can help you start ↗️

A financial adviser is an important part of the team that any successful property investor should have, but with many having ties to lending organisations, how do you choose the one that has your best interests at heart?

The Fox and the Hare feature on the latest Smart Property Investment Podcast to share their views on the current financial advice sector within Australia, unpack how the royal commission will impact the space going forward and reveal how you can choose the right financial adviser.

Read More.

Who we work with ?

Glen discusses a range of difficulties young professionals experience when pondering investing.

Young professionals are doing without smashed avocados and toast and saving tens of thousands of dollars in cash, but they don’t know how to invest the money.”There are so many options with what they can do with their money that they end up with choice fatigue and as a result they do nothing,” Hare says. In some cases, people are saving for a home deposit but they are more cautious about buying a house due to the recent softening of the property market.  Others are putting aside surplus income in their savings account but are not sure which investment route to take.

Read More.

At Fox and Hare’s latest Wine + Wisdom event, Jess discusses the goal-setting mistakes property investors make.

Any good plan needs a goal, but many property investors are not thinking hard enough or long enough when it comes to the end result of their investing, according to Jessica Brady of Fox & Hare. Speaking at a property investing event this week, Ms Brady said she notices a lack of goal-setting with her clients when she asks what their strategy is. When advising clients on how to invest into property, she said investors can get the best outcome if they have an idea of what wealth means for them.

Read More.

Glen Hare, Adviser – Fox and Hare

Our average client is in their early 30s, so Hayley and Kael are the perfect couple for us. Hayley is fairly reserved but a really clear thinker, while Kael is a bigger personality and more outgoing.

Hayley is actually a client of my partner, Liam, who runs fitness boot camps. He trains another client, and Hayley overheard them talking one day. So I guess that’s how we met – a combination of personal relationships, client reinforcement and burpees!

They came to us because – like a lot of our clients – they were starting to earn good money and weren’t sure what to do with it.

We helped them with everything – cashflow strategy, insurance and budgeting. They are looking at buying a property and talking about private school education and how much they need to start putting away now, even though they haven’t conceived yet.

They’re pretty down to earth, both coming from regional Western Australia. They’re really honest and open, and keen to hear what their options are.

The meetings are pretty relaxed, too. We’re in Darlinghurst and we often meet on a Saturday morning, which suits them well, as Kael doesn’t work in the city.

I think they were a bit unsure about receiving advice at first. They are really good in their own careers – Hayley is a lawyer, Kael’s a business development manager – but really unsure as to the best way to structure their finances. I see it every day, clients get to their mid-30s and they’re like, ‘Shoot, I’m not a kid anymore, I don’t want to just blow all my money like I did in my 20s.’

Their goals and values are fairly aligned. Sometimes couples have different ways of seeing things, which can create a little bit of tension, but they’re both pretty switched on and they know what they want.

Hayley Warren, Legal Counsel – RCR (construction company)

Kael and I are getting married in February, and we thought it was time to look at merging our wealth and setting up for a life together.

Neither of us had ever seen a financial planner before. We want to buy a property together, and we thought that if we pooled our income we could potentially get to our goals quicker than if we did it separately.

I do a boot camp with Glen’s partner, Liam, and when I mentioned that I needed a financial planner he said he knew someone. So, I got in touch and we organised a coffee to see if it was somebody we could work with, personality-wise. Glen’s young himself and they’re obviously targeting that younger demographic, who don’t tend to get financial advice that often.

What they show you in terms of modelling and what you can achieve is kind of exciting, but I think we’re paying for accountability as well.

It’s going really well. You don’t get too far down the road before you have to make an investment in an adviser, but I think you’ve got to take a bit of a chance with these things.

Glen is great, he could essentially be one of our mates. He’s really clear in explaining things to you, and he checks in all the time to see whether you’re understanding the advice he’s giving you.

I think it helps having someone your age who is doing the things you’re doing. It’s easier for them to understand where you spend your money and the things that are important to you in your life. Older advisers are kind of set in their ways, whereas Glen and his business partner, Jess, seem quite open.

We only came on board this year, so we’re relatively new, but we’ll definitely be clients for a while. We’ve got savings plans for kids we don’t even have yet!

For an industry so intent on progression, little change has been achieved in recent years. The traditional archetype of a financial adviser still exists and – to a large extent – so too does that of the traditional client. Jamie Williamson shares Fox & Hare’s plan for change.

Read More.

Q. What are your top tips for increasing productivity?

Quite often it is the small changes that make the biggest impact on our overall productivity and energy, and we under-estimate these significantly.

Here are six easy ways to increase your productivity at work so you can get the job done in an authentically effortless manner:

1. Make a move

A simple 10min walk around the block not only rejuvenates the body but re-oxygenates the brain. Fresh air helps you to think better and increases your energy levels. Your brain needs twenty percent of your body’s oxygen. More oxygen brings greater clarity to the brain, improves your concentration, helps you to think more clearly and has a positive effect on your energy level. This simple act can rejuvenate you for another hour or so, increasing your productivity and decreasing the drain on your energy levels.

2. Fuel your body for performance

We know that eating healthily makes us feel and look good, but it also gives our brain the fuel it needs to think productively. I’m sure you’ve heard it all before….but it’s all true! Ensure you’re consuming lots of leafy greens and veggies along with some protein and healthy fats. Avoid high GI foods like white pasta, bread and rice as they tend to fill you up quickly but make you feel tired, sluggish and searching for more food sooner.

3. Shift tasks

There’s nothing worse than forcing yourself to push through a task and wasting energy trying to complete it. Instead of sitting at your desk feeling stressed that your productivity is declining, help your brain recalibrate! Shifting tasks is the best way to achieve this. Whether it be focusing on some light admin or simply making yourself a warm drink. Your mind will feel refreshed, making that initial task no longer seem so daunting. Just make sure this doesn’t turn into a procrastination exercise!

4. Get a better night sleep

How hard is it to get your work done and be productive when you’re exhausted? There is a reason we’re told not to drive a car while tired. The same goes for trying to work while tired too. Turning to caffeine is not the answer, sleep is! It is so crucial for brain function, so aim to have enough sleep that you feel energised when you wake to maximise productivity during the day.

5. Work at your personal pace

Ever noticed that everyone in the office works at a different pace? Some are ‘fast paced’ and can switch between tasks quite easily, preferring to work in shorter bursts. Others prefer to settle into a task and work at it for longer periods of time without distractions. Whichever one you are, it’s important to work at your personal pace, and not try to be something that you’re not! This will help you be in your element and, as a result, increase productivity.

6. Don’t sort your to-do list by ‘priority’

Of course, it’s important to recognise what your priority tasks are, but make sure you’re working through them based on when you have the energy to complete them. Ever tried to do a heavier task with no energy? It takes you twice as long and it’s far more draining. Recognising what times of the day you work best will help you get through your more important tasks at a productive rate.

Imagine how it would feel if you had an extra hour of productive time throughout the day simply from going for a 10min walk, or structuring your day according to your natural pace? Most often we tell ourselves we are too busy to walk away from the task at hand, when in actual fact the task itself could be slowing us down.

Q. How can people sustain high performance?

We talk a lot about high performance and often people tell us their businesses and organisations are already high performing cultures. When I hear this my automatic response is, ‘Yes, but is it sustainable?’ If the effort levels are not sustainable (which most often they aren’t) then it’s simply a high burnout culture.

To be sustainably high performing you need to understand your natural pace, identify your energy drains and structure your days according to your energy. Think of an athlete and how they train leading up to an important game or event. If they pushed at 100% every day, by game day they would be exhausted. Yet, in business this is seen as standard protocol. High performance is performance up, effort levels down. When effort levels are above performance, you’re in burnout mode.

Q. I am so guilty of coming out of conferences with a huge amount of ideas but don’t find the time to implement. How do we (I!) fix this?

Think about what it is you want to achieve and what’s the ultimate result you want to drive? Is the information you’ve gathered going to support you to achieve your desired outcome, or was it just a bunch of great information? Everything we do should move us closer to our desired result. If it’s going to help you drive results, you make it a priority. When people say they don’t have time, it’s just an excuse. When you change your language your perception/view of the situation changes. Rather than saying, ‘I don’t have time to implement that great sales plan from the conference’, say ‘generating revenue is not a priority for me.’ I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sit well with me!

Q. Three people alive or dead you would want to coach and why?

Cate Campbell – Olympic Swimmer

On paper, she is the best female swimmer in Australia. Unfortunately, at both the most recent Olympics and Commonwealth Games she let her mindset overpower the task at hand. Her level of resilience is significantly below that needed to compete at such a high level. High performance is a state of mind. If you don’t believe you can achieve it, you never will.

Aspiring/next generation of leaders

I know this isn’t a person in particular, but I’m a big believer in investing in yourself and investing in those coming behind us to perform at their optimal best. Throughout my career, I’ve seen so many people with so much potential be held back by limiting beliefs and beliefs engrained by those around them. I.e. ‘You’re not really a typical sales person’, or ‘when you reach a certain level in your career, then you’ll be entitled to a coach.’ I’ve heard it all! But have they ever been coached to be a good sales person? To get to that next level? The high performers who have not yet achieved this skill set or rank but know they are on the fast track toward it will generally deserve it earlier and, therefore, will invest in a coach for themselves to get them there sooner. These are my kind of people!

Women in general

Being one, I have a pretty good insight into what makes us tick. I see a lot of woman stall in reaching their potential based mainly on their limiting beliefs and the dreaded ‘imposter syndrome’. This isn’t a feminist thing for me (or whatever title you want to attach to it). I’ve achieved what I have in life purely because I’ve challenge those limiting beliefs that haven’t served me. And I believe women in particular struggle to do this effectively. Overall, my goal is to help people be more awesome….because I believe everyone can be.

Q. What’s the best advice you would give people considering getting a coach?

It’s fast becoming more the norm that anyone who takes performance in business and life seriously absolutely has a coach. It’s worth considering why successful, high-performers all use coaches. What are they on to? Eric Schmitt (CEO, Google), Oprah, Bill Clinton, Barak Obama, Serena Williams (outside of sports), Richard Branson – all avid coach advocates.

Our view on coaching is that it’s only a cost if you don’t implement. Assuming the coaching is good, you are highly likely to implement, which means the initial outlay turns into an investment on which you get an excellent return. With a coach challenging you, showing you who you are in a mirror (despite what you had thought), keeping you accountable, helping you build your level of self-responsibility and growing your skills in both business and self-perception, you are inevitably going to perform significantly better than you would have done on your own.

“Money doesn’t grow on trees.” Or does it? “Money can’t buy you happiness.” Or can it? No doubt money is a popular topic of chatter, especially with the financial year end approaching, which gives us all an opportunity to reflect on our own personal finances and see how we are sorted for the coming year. In having a chat with some mates recently it became apparent that comfort with, and an understanding of, personal finances varied greatly amongst friends. Some friends are reading AFR on the reg, have purchased apartments and are diversified in multiple markets, others have but a savings and checking account, others still prefer to keep each fortnightly pay in cash under their mattress.

While I am no expert, I do have expert friends. I wanted to write this piece to educate my friends, and readers, and demystify the investment market. Sometimes all the words are confusing, sometimes it doesn’t even sound that interesting, however, I feel strongly that if you have any income at all, you should be trying to extract as much as possible from each dollar. I speak to Glen Hare of Fox & Hare Wealth and Andrew Macken of Montgomery Investment Management, mates of mine and local financial gurus, about how one achieves baller status.

Read More

Advisers need to look beyond the stereotypical client and reach out to a more diverse range of people, Fox and Hare adviser Glen Hare says.

By targeting one demographic – wealthy, middle-aged men – advisers are stopping potential clients from understanding the value of advice, Hare says.

“Because the industry has been so focused on the white, pale male with the bags of money, the ideal client for the next generation doesn’t really know when it’s the right time to seek advice,” Hare explains. “The profession has never reached out to them, so they don’t really know what an adviser does because the profession hasn’t spent any time educating them.”

Read More.