By Julia Schortinghuis BCom, PGDipEd, CFP, AFA
As a Financial Planner I have witnessed the ever-increasing cost of producing financial advice, which restricts many people from receiving information to help them achieve their financial goals. Whilst our superannuation and tax systems are considered highly robust and indeed world leading, they are equally complex and tricky to navigate.
Due to ever increasing regulation and compliance, albeit well intended, an unfortunate consequence is that the everyday Australian and those that need the most assistance are often unable to access professional advice. Money is a source of anxiety and strain for many and is the leading cause of divorce in Australia. Startling statistics show that on average WA women have less than half the savings of men and a third of WA women retire with zero superannuation – these statistics are amplified in regional areas.
This led me to take action and try to do something about it …. Financial education has been sorely lacking in our school system and money is often not spoken about in the family home. As good money management is a skill, it is really important to me that everyone has access to financial information and tips on how to develop good money habits that they can trust and understand.
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Through The Good Money Habits Podcast, I provide reliable and easy to understand financial education and tips to develop good money habits for anyone that would like it.
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I also invite my colleagues who are experts in their fields to share their wisdom and provide advice and information on a range of topics including goal setting, budgeting, superannuation, insurances, retirement planning, aged care, kids banking, estate planning and investment bonds.
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The biggest reward for me by creating the podcast is helping others understand more about their own personal finances and financial goals and providing steps for them to work towards financial security. Working in the community is fundamental for me and it is a privilege to be able to dedicate time and resources to this community project – free of conflict or agenda. In recent months my good friend Narelle Sisley has joined me on this project, generously volunteering her time to help promote the podcast through social media platforms to help us reach out to more Australians.
Together with my husband Bernard, I am a Director of Lighthouse Capital and have been specialising in the finance industry since 1994. I have worked across a range of roles including Vice President with Merrill Lynch Investment Management and over the years have developed a deep understanding of portfolio construction, asset allocation and portfolio risk management.
I was fortunate to be acknowledged by Financial Standard in 2018, 2019 and 2020 in the FS Power 50. I am a Certified Financial Planner, hold a Bachelor of Commerce, Post Graduate Diploma in Education and completed the Stanford University Executive Leadership Program in 2015. I was the State Chair of the Association of Financial Advisers Inspire Community of Practice 2015 – 2020, member of the Godfrey Pembroke Advisory Board 2014 – 2019 and currently sit on the Aquinas College Foundation Council. In 2020 I joined the PLC Foundation Investment Committee. I was Godfrey Pembroke Adviser of the Year in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 and a State Judge in the Telstra Business Women of the Year awards.
Perhaps most important of all, I am happily married with two teenage children and a cheeky cavoodle who keeps us on our toes.
Learn more about Julia!
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