Re-Invent Yourself. Find New Money. FREE GIFT

FREE GIFT

When you first contacted me, it was because you thought that you would be needing extra money later on.

Here’s a FREE GIFT that may help.

It’s the 169 page ebook “Attract Money Now” by Joe Vitale.
Send me an email to ceo@hobbiesforprofit.com and I’ll bounce it back to you.

USE NEXT SATURDAY

If you are frustrated about your next career path, ask a trusted buddy (who should be positive and creative) to help you brainstorm a new direction.

My suggestion is to just block out next Saturday, and the two of you go somewhere where you won’t be disturbed – perhaps you could hire a meeting room at your local library.

Have your friend prepare in advance what others see as your strengths and weaknesses.

Then cross hatch that with what you see as opportunities and threats.

At the end of the day, you probably will have a clear direction where to begin to further research.

However your friend’s job is not yet done. They have to mark firm review dates for further meetings with you over the next twelve months.

REINVENT YOUR PROFESSIONAL SELF

It is possible to reinvent your work identity when making a challenging mid-career switch, says Harvard Business Review. Just don't overthink it.

The Management Tip of the Day offers quick, practical management tips and ideas from Harvard Business Review and HBR.org (http:www.hbr.org).

"A mid-career switch can be challenging, especially if you've become pigeonholed in your current role. But it's possible to recreate your work identity, as long as you don't get stuck at the introspection phase.

Take action by doing these three things:

1. Craft experiments. Take on freelance or pro bono assignments that allow you to try new roles while staying in your current job.

2. Shift connections. To move in a new direction, you need a new network. Reach out to people who can give you a fresh perspective on what you're trying to achieve.

3. Make sense of it all. Tell others the story of who you hope to become professionally. This will help clarify your intentions and keep you motivated. Plus, you might win the support of your listeners."

- This management tip was adapted from the book "Harvard Business Review on Advancing Your Career."

SUCCESS YET – OR STILL TRYING?

Over the last five years I have met a number of people who have been downsized or have become so bored with their jobs that they are in the process of reinventing their career.

Through no fault of their own, the business that employed them has changed, shifted or reinvented itself. And while some think that we’re toast and the economy is sunk, I simply say, hang on, take baby steps and consider things differently and get started: Here’s how:

Firstly write out all the things you know (this can include intangibles). And then write down all the things you love, forgot you loved, once loved or once dreamed of.

So now, if money were no object, and you were 100% assured of success, what would you do that encompasses some of those elements?

And also ask yourself - what did I want to be when I was 8?

Whichever the situation, there seem to be a lot of people between 45-65 who are no longer in the jobs they held for decades or industries they thought they'd retire from.

Downsizing can be a wake-up call to new challenges and a re-evaluation of your lifestyle. The chance to do what you've always wanted to do now that the kids have grown. Or it can mark a serious downturn to your lifestyle.

What is your experience: are you reinventing your career and lifestyle on purpose or are you finding you have to cobble together various work options just to make ends meet?

I’d love to hear your experiences

CAREER BURNOUT

Are you feeling burned out in your job?

If so, you’re not alone. Job burnout is an all-too-common phenomenon in today’s workforce.

And while there’s no magic wand you can wave to get rid of it, there are steps you can take to improve your situation.

Here are some of them:

Understand why you are feeling burned out.

Get specific. For instance: “I’m working too many hours. I don’t like what I’m working on. I’m experiencing too much conflict with my co-workers. I feel stuck and trapped.”

Understanding the specifics of the source of your burnout opens the door to asking, “What steps can I start taking to make changes in the long term?”

Question black-and-white thinking.

Black-and-white thinking keeps you limited and feeling trapped. It limits you to either/or choices.

For example, does if your industry is shrinking, does this give you the opportunity to move to where the economy is growing?

The reality is that there is frequently a whole spectrum of possibilities between those either/or ends of the spectrum. You may not be able to fix the situation completely to your liking, but you may be able to make it 30 percent better. And 30 percent better is 30 percent less pain.

Find your energy source.

List of things that have excited you since age 10 and then pick one and ask why was it so stimulating?

There will be common themes - your energy sources, if you will – so that’s where you’ll want to be heading.

Look at the 360-degree picture.

How you feel at work isn’t solely related to what’s happening at work.

Do what I describe as a personal energy audit.

Ask, “What is giving me energy? What is draining my energy? What supports me? What depletes me?”

Do that for all the areas of your life, including work, relationships, and health.

Commit to change.

The simple act of committing to change reduces their frustration significantly.

Why? Because part of frustration comes not just from what’s happening today, but also knowing that it’s going to be repeated day after day after day into the future.

So committing to change takes a lot of the weight of that future frustration off their shoulders.
Meditate.

No post on job burnout would be complete without mentioning meditation.

Find a way to slow down and stay grounded; it lets you stop spinning energy off in all directions.

Exercise.

Exercise is the great stress reliever.

It has the dual benefit of immediately relieving stress and giving you more energy in the long run by being more fit.

Find meaning.

Finally, look for ways to derive meaning from your work.

That could mean identifying what the benefit of what you’re doing is and focusing more on that.

Or it could mean finding ways to make a difference, like mentoring a younger colleague.

By Curt Rosengren writing in US Money 15 September 2011

Until next time

I’m Bernard Kelly – Australia’s Encore Career Strategist

Mobile 0414 778 518 skype Bernard.Kelly1944 ceo@hobbiesforprofit.com

Investment Strategies 1 September 2011

I’M NOT PARTICIPATING

If you’re intrigued why the current doom and gloom isn’t reflected in my writings, it’s because I’ve decided not to participate.


CAN’T SAVE FOR RETIREMENT? TRY THIS

Our long-term savings rate in Australia has been just 5 cents in every $100 dollars earned.
However we are good at paying our bills.

And a mortgage is just another bill – so when you put in place an investment property with a mortgage, it’s just a form of savings towards a comfortable retirement.


WESTPAC: “FOR LESS THAN YOU THINK”

Westpac is advertising “an investment property for less than you think”.

Well, if you’re thinking anything above zero – think again.

The reality today is that if you’re paying too much tax, when you combine the tax savings available with the $10,000 government cash grant, then your personal out-of-pocket contributions will be around zero for a four bedroom + ensuite family home, with air conditioning and double garage etc.

So – in this instance - I agree with Westpac.


YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS COULD BE ZERO!

Here is a typical investment that I’m currently sharing with my private clients in the south west suburbs of Brisbane.

It’s a four bedroom + ensuite family home with air con on its own block in a family suburb, within an easy drive to diversified economic zones (where the jobs are).

It is brand new, yet to be sold by the developer, and currently rented at $370 per week and priced to sell at $399,850.

On an income of $105,000 your tax credit would be $10,458 (which you get back proportionately every payday) and your out-of-pocket contributions in the first year would be $93 per week.

On the basis that rents increase $30 per week per year, in the second year your contributions would be $63 per week, then $33 then in the fourth year it would be done to $3. These total $9,984 and – with your $1,000 deposit – your total outlay would be just $10,984.

Now the Queensland government has a $10,000 cash grant available, payable on the day you acquire ownership i.e. a month from now. So in effect you would hardly be putting your hand into your pocket at all!

And you keep doing this whenever the bank says you can afford another.

Let me know if you need more information – phone me (Bernard Kelly) anytime on 0414 778 518

LOWER PRICED SUBURBS WILL OUT-PERFORM

With the new banking rules that limit the maximum term of a loan for anyone over 50, the logical outcome is that those suburbs which people in late career tend to favour (i.e. those inner city suburbs) will have less growth, because finance for homes in those suburbs will become progressively harder to find.

Fortunately the very successful investment strategy that I share with my private clients will benefit from this seismic change in property values.

To understand property investing better, contact me – Bernard Kelly – anytime. My mobile is 0414 778 518

LOW BRISBANE PRICES VANISH – 5 YEAR VIEW

It’s a statistic that the gloom merchants won’t acknowledge, but the most affordable end of Brisbane's property market is shrinking rapidly with house sales under $300,000 dropping 95 per cent in five years.

Brisbane's Affordable Market Overview report, from PRDnationwide research analyst Josh Brown, reveals sales below $300,000 have dropped from 2,307 transactions over six months to December 2005 to 125 sales in December 2010.

"The Brisbane market has definitely seen a shift in what is considered affordable," Mr Brown said.

Acknowledgements: The Sunday Mail (Qld) 10 July 2011


WHO SHOULD YOU ASK FOR ADVICE?

I was quite impressed with this commentary that I received recently from Michael Yardley at Metropole Property Strategists in Melbourne.

Let me quote from it:

“The idea for writing this message to you today came to me when I read an interview with a leading property economist who admitted one of his big regrets was that he didn't own an investment property, yet for years he predicted the next property hotspots.

“This is a common trend amongst economists and financial advisers. While they are meant to know which way the economy is turning and where to find the best investments, it is interesting how many people have the theoretical knowledge, but very few have actually taken action.

“To do well financially in this new more turbulent phase of our property markets, you are going to have to educate yourself so that you can make your investment decisions based on facts, not on headlines, guesses or speculation.

“If you want to improve your investment knowledge, let's look at the options of who you could ask and who you should listen to when you want to become a better educated investor:-

1. Family - How many millionaires do you have in your family?

2. Friends - Are they financial experts? How much do they have?

3. Your accountant - Has your accountant become rich specifically by applying his own investment advice?

4. Lawyer - Has your lawyer become rich following his own investment advice?

5. Financial planners - Be aware that financial planners make commissions based on the investments they sell. How many of them have personally invested in property? You should realise that many financial planners come from the background of having been in the insurance industry and have done some extra study to get a financial planner license. They understand insurance and superannuation and managed funds, but in general do not have a good understanding of real estate.

6. Stockbroker - What returns have they received on the shares they have invested in?

7. Real Estate Agent - How many properties do they own and over what period of time have they bought them? According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average estate agent earns less than $40,000 per annum.

8. The financial media - How much research have the journalists actually done and what investments have they got?

9. Investment books - Is the author independently wealthy from the information that is being taught or is their income derived from selling books?

10. Investment seminars and workshops - Is the person an investment expert in their field? How long have they been financially secure or do they make their money teaching others?

“When recently reading the BRW Rich 200 List, I found it interesting that there were no economists or stockbrokers in the Rich 200 List.

“Over the years I have found it fascinating how many people have the theoretical knowledge but very few have the right "mindset" to take action.

“So when you look at it this way, it’s not really the average Australian property investor’s fault that they don’t develop the financial independence they desire.”

TODAY’S INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE

"The game of life is not so much in holding a good hand as playing a poor hand well."

-- H. T. Leslie (19th century British hymnist)

NEXT ISSUE

In our next issue, I’ll keep you up-to-speed with what’s happening with retirement planning.
Remember, even if an investment property doesn’t increase one penny over the next ten years, you’re still going to be $100,000 better off.

PROFITABLE HOBBIES

You can now buy my manual “37 case studies of Profitable Hobbies for immediate application” at
http://www.retirelaughing.com.au/blog/make-money-with-my-hobby/

At $19.75, it’s excellent value if you think you’ll be needing an additional source of income at some stage.

HERE’S MY BLOG

My blog is at www.retirelaughing.com/blog

I use this for current news – as part of my social network tools

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK

Go to www.facebook.com/propertysuccess

I’M ALSO ON YOUTUBE

www.youtube.com/retirelaughing



Regards


Bernard Kelly www.retirelaughing.com mobile 0414 778 518
Australia’s Retirement Strategist®

“expect to reap an extra $449,999* when you’ll really be needing it”.
PS As I don’t spend my advertising budget on traditional media, I’m able to pay you $5000 for successful referrals

About Bernard Kelly:

Bernard Kelly BEcon MBA CRPC Australia’s Retirement Strategist®, is a highly sought-after advisor, retirement authority, thought-leader, author and radio commentator because he makes the complicated and mundane topics of investing and retirement fun! Bernard has over 20 years’ experience providing families with financial thought. He is the author of Live Your Dreams in Retirement, Property Investing for Couples, Goolwa by Breakfast and Raising Decent Kids into Substantial Wealth and publishes a fortnightly newsletter that reaches thousands of subscribers worldwide.

19 Prospect Street, Box Hill 3128 Australia. Tel 61-3-9899 8577 mobile 0414 778 518

A BETTER WEBHOST FOR YOUR WEBSITE

Following my own advice, I have now established my own “profitable hobby” – a webhosting service. Go to

www.cheapesthosting.net.au

and also

www.valuewebsites.info

Investment Strategies 1 August 2011

WESTPAC: “FOR LESS THAN YOU THINK”

Westpac is advertising “an investment property for less than you think”.

Well, if you’re thinking anything above zero – think again.

The reality today is that if you’re paying too much tax, when you combine the tax savings available with the $10,000 government cash grant, then your personal out-of-pocket contributions will be around zero for a four bedroom + ensuite family home, with air conditioning and double garage etc.

So – in this instance - I agree with Westpac.

ZERO CONTRIBUTIONS EXPLAINED

Here is a typical investment that I’m currently sharing with my private clients in the south west suburbs of Brisbane.

It’s a four bedroom + ensuite family home with air con on its own block in a family suburb, within an easy drive to diversified economic zones (where the jobs are).

It is brand new, yet to be sold by the developer, and currently rented at $370 per week and priced to sell at $399,850.

On an income of $105,000 your tax credit would be $10,458 (which you get back proportionately every payday) and your out-of-pocket contributions in the first year would be $93 per week.

On the basis that rents increase $30 per week per year, in the second year your contributions would be $63 per week, then $33 then in the fourth year it would be done to $3.

These total $9,984 and – with your $1,000 deposit – your total outlay would be just $10,984.

Now the Queensland government has a $10,000 cash grant available, payable on the day you acquire ownership i.e. a month from now.

So in effect you would hardly be putting your hand into your pocket at all!

And you keep doing this whenever the bank says you can afford another.

Let me know if you need more information – phone me (Bernard Kelly) anytime on 0414 778 518

LOWER PRICED SUBURBS WILL OUT-PERFORM

With the new banking rules that limit the maximum term of a loan for anyone over 50, the logical outcome is that those suburbs which people in late career tend to favour (i.e. those inner city suburbs) will have less growth, because finance for homes in those suburbs will become progressively harder to find.

Fortunately the very successful investment strategy that I share with my private clients will benefit from this seismic change in property values.

To understand property investing better, contact me – Bernard Kelly – anytime. My mobile is 0414 778 518

LOW BRISBANE PRICES VANISH – 5 YEAR VIEW

It’s a statistic that the gloom merchants won’t acknowledge, but the most affordable end of Brisbane's property market is shrinking rapidly with house sales under $300,000 dropping 95 per cent in five years.

Brisbane's Affordable Market Overview report, from PRDnationwide research analyst Josh Brown, reveals sales below $300,000 have dropped from 2,307 transactions over six months to December 2005 to 125 sales in December 2010.

"The Brisbane market has definitely seen a shift in what is considered affordable," Mr Brown said.

Acknowledgements: The Sunday Mail (Qld) 10 July 2011

WHO SHOULD YOU ASK FOR ADVICE?

I was quite impressed with this commentary that I received recently from Michael Yardley at Metropole Property Strategists in Melbourne.

Let me quote from it:

“The idea for writing this message to you today came to me when I read an interview with a leading property economist who admitted one of his big regrets was that he didn't own an investment property, yet for years he predicted the next property hotspots.

“This is a common trend amongst economists and financial advisers. While they are meant to know which way the economy is turning and where to find the best investments, it is interesting how many people have the theoretical knowledge, but very few have actually taken action.

“To do well financially in this new more turbulent phase of our property markets, you are going to have to educate yourself so that you can make your investment decisions based on facts, not on headlines, guesses or speculation.

“If you want to improve your investment knowledge, let's look at the options of who you could ask and who you should listen to when you want to become a better educated investor:-

1. Family - How many millionaires do you have in your family?

2. Friends - Are they financial experts? How much do they have?

3. Your accountant - Has your accountant become rich specifically by applying his own investment advice?

4. Lawyer - Has your lawyer become rich following his own investment advice?

5. Financial planners - Be aware that financial planners make commissions based on the investments they sell. How many of them have personally invested in property? You should realise that many financial planners come from the background of having been in the insurance industry and have done some extra study to get a financial planner license. They understand insurance and superannuation and managed funds, but in general do not have a good understanding of real estate.

6. Stockbroker - What returns have they received on the shares they have invested in?

7. Real Estate Agent - How many properties do they own and over what period of time have they bought them? According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average estate agent earns less than $40,000 per annum.

8. The financial media - How much research have the journalists actually done and what investments have they got?

9. Investment books - Is the author independently wealthy from the information that is being taught or is their income derived from selling books?

10. Investment seminars and workshops - Is the person an investment expert in their field? How long have they been financially secure or do they make their money teaching others?

“When recently reading the BRW Rich 200 List, I found it interesting that there were no economists or stockbrokers in the Rich 200 List.

“Over the years I have found it fascinating how many people have the theoretical knowledge but very few have the right "mindset" to take action.

“So when you look at it this way, it’s not really the average Australian property investor’s fault that they don’t develop the financial independence they desire.”

TODAY’S INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE

"The game of life is not so much in holding a good hand as playing a poor hand well."

-- H. T. Leslie (19th century British hymnist)

NEXT ISSUE

In our next issue, I’ll keep you up-to-speed with what’s happening with retirement planning.
Remember, even if an investment property doesn’t increase one penny over the next ten years, you’re still going to be $100,000 better off.

PROFITABLE HOBBIES

You can now buy my manual “37 case studies of Profitable Hobbies for immediate application” at
http://www.retirelaughing.com.au/blog/make-money-with-my-hobby/

At $19.75, it’s excellent value if you think you’ll be needing an additional source of income at some stage.

HERE’S MY BLOG

My blog is at www.retirelaughing.com/blog

I use this for current news – as part of my social network tools

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK

Go to www.facebook.com/propertysuccess and "LIKE" the page

I’M ALSO ON YOUTUBE

www.youtube.com/retirelaughing



Regards


Bernard Kelly www.retirelaughing.com mobile 0414 778 518
Australia’s Retirement Strategist®

“expect to reap an extra $449,999* when you’ll really be needing it”.

PS As I don’t spend my advertising budget on traditional media, I’m able to pay you $5000 for successful referrals

About Bernard Kelly:

Bernard Kelly BEcon MBA CRPC Australia’s Retirement Strategist®, is a highly sought-after advisor, retirement authority, thought-leader, author and radio commentator because he makes the complicated and mundane topics of investing and retirement fun! Bernard has over 20 years’ experience providing families with financial thought. He is the author of Live Your Dreams in Retirement, Property Investing for Couples, Goolwa by Breakfast and Raising Decent Kids into Substantial Wealth and publishes a fortnightly newsletter that reaches thousands of subscribers worldwide.

19 Prospect Street, Box Hill 3128 Australia. Tel 61-3-9899 8577 mobile 0414 778 518

A BETTER WEBHOST FOR YOUR WEBSITE

Following my own advice, I have now established my own “profitable hobby” – a webhosting service. Go to

www.cheapesthosting.net.au

and also

www.valuewebsites.info

Lifestyle Strategies 15 July 2011

RETIREMENT IS ONLY A FUZZY EXPECTATION

For anyone on modest wages, you cannot realistically expect to produce enough wealth in 40 of working to sustain 25-30 years of retirement living. If you doubt this, just run the numbers.

However that hasn’t stopped us from thinking that a comfortable retirement is within everybody’s reach.

But it is becoming clear that most employees will never be able to retire, and the sooner we face this fact and plan for it, the better off we will be.

That doesn’t mean I don’t think people should save their money and do their best; just that, for a lot of people, doing their best is not going to be enough.

The goal for about half of us will be, perhaps, to be able to work only part-time in our latter years. That’s what many “retired” folks already do today. They work part-time, or they freelance, or they do temporary work part of the year, such as working in retail in the lead up to Christmas.

The pension will be around in the future, but it almost certainly will be scaled back. We’re fools if we think we’re going to be able to live on it. Look at what they're done already to the Widow's Pension.

Unless you’re making a generous salary, stop dreaming of spending your retirement traveling around. It’s not going to happen. Scale your expectations down a few notches. Plan to keep your house and to only have to work part-time. Hopefully, that will be doable.

Most of the financial experts out there are directing their comments only to their fellow well-off citizens. It makes sense, of course — there isn’t much fee income in financial planning for the poor.

So you need to do something totally different to your peers. My suggestion is to use the equity in your family home, plus the potential tax credits off an investment property, and rent from the tenant to tuck aside your first investment property. It’s really quite easy.

Alternatively – take whatever hobby you have and turn it into a “profitable hobby”.

Acknowledgements: Michelle Teheux “The Pekin Times” 6 July 2011

IF YOU’RE AT EARLY RETIREMENT

If you’re early into your retirement, you could well have an interesting time as part of Australian Business Volunteers – working in Oceania or South East Asia.

The focus is on “enterprise development”, and assignments for volunteers are generally three to four months, and they’ll pay you travel expenses, and on-site you’ll get a living allowance and accommodation.

You could be a pastrycook, kindergarten teacher, public servant , postman or you may have some banking experience, but if you’re got an adventurous spirit, ABV will have a place for you.
More detail www.abv.org.au

VIDEO – RETIREMENT PLANNING FOR WOMEN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqqG79dcwVs

Here’s good advice for women with years to implement different strategies – such as your teenage granddaughters.

WEBSITES - FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR WOMEN

There are numerous web sites that focus on the financial interests of women, from asset allocation to retirement planning.

They are typically American, and here are just a few:

BlueSuitMom.com offers an array of financial subjects important to women. www.bluesuitmom.com/money/.

MsMoney.com features financial health goals and fundamentals.

Women's Institute for Financial Education provides features on a variety of financial matters, such as saving, budgeting and planning. Go to www.wife.org/money-invest.htm.

Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement spotlights five key financial categories under "Your Financial Future" on its home page. www.wiserwomen.org.

“GOLDEN GIRLS” SITCOM OFFERS SOLUTION

Many of us are approaching our retirement years with modest financial resources.
I’m sure that’s not what was intended, but nevertheless, that’s a fairly common situation – especially for women.

To make the most of our retirement years, we’ll need creativity, compassion, determination, a willingness to provide mutual support, and some luck.

Which reminded me of that popular TV show Golden Girls, which is now having another life on GEM (the second of Channel Nine’s other channels), as it offered a creative example of how to solve the “not enough money/don’t want to live alone” dilemma.

Remember the story line? It was that Blanche Devereaux, a widow played by Rue McClanahan, owned a home in Miami. Blanche placed a room-for-rent ad at a local grocery store, and she soon had two new tenants: another widow, Rose Nyland, played by Betty White and a divorcee, Dorothy Zbornak, played by Bea Arthur. Later they were joined by Dorothy’s mother, Sophia Petrillo, played by Estelle Getty, when her retirement home, Shady Pines, burned down. Blanche, Rose, and Dorothy were in their sixties, and Sophia was in her eighties.

Can that old sit-com give us some insight of a possible solution for anyone without adequate financial resources?

BOOK REVIEW “TOO MUCH TOGETHERNESS”

I recently came across Miriam Goodman’s second book “TOO MUCH TOGETHERNESS: Surviving Retirement as a Couple,” by Miriam Goodman; Cedar Fort, $9.99, 115 pages

She is also the author of “Reinventing Retirement” a handy treatise on your financial readiness for retirement

This new book offers advice on planning the end of a career and the beginning of the rest of a couple’s life together.

Each chapter begins with a quote from an author or other expert that sets the tone of the unique topics covered. Goodman does a good job covering issues such as different perspectives on socialization, varied interests and energy levels, hopes and dreams, health and dividing the work.

“Too Much Togetherness” is geared to women, but Goodman believes cooperation and compromise will benefit both husband and wife. People live longer now and more technology is now available. The transition to retirement should smooth for the person who has always worked hard.

At a time when everything old is new again, women frequently look forward to making up for lost time and doing the things they couldn’t do when they had family and/or work obligations.

On the flip side, after years of faithful commitment to a career, a man may be looking forward to winding down, relaxing more and staying at home for a change.

Rich in interviews, anecdotes and good advice, Goodman provides a guide to issues that all couples must face. She has created a concise and useful book.

Acknowledgements: Deserert News, Salt Lake City, 19 June 2011

ENCORE CAREERS – IN SIX WORDS

Civic Ventures in San Francisco recently ran a competition: “Tell us about your encore career in six words”.

Without further ado, here are the 10 top vote getters:
• Done climbing ladder; now lifting others. (Grand prize winner)
• From power suits to passionate pursuits.
• Medicare and Masters in the same year.
• Lost my job. Found my purpose.
• Empty nest, full heart, new direction.
• Former programmer, future minister. Why not?
• Losing fears, changing gears, new career.
• Energetically renewed by renewable energy work.
• Been there. Done that. Now what?
• Gray hair, hell of a crown.

And here are a few honorable mentions, by theme.

On the transition:
• Rags to riches. Unemployed to entrepreneur.
• Self reinvention is my heart’s intention.
• Free: used blackberry, briefcase. Will deliver.
• Kids left building, mother for hire.

On the choice of a specific encore career:
• Substitute teach. Life’s a constant education.
• Nursing. More than worth the wait.
• Surprise! Tending the dying enriches life.
• Wrote off old job. Teaching writing.

On hardship and recovery:
• My midlife crisis fixed my life.
• Lost home, lost job, found purpose.

On pride, experience and age:
• Graduated at 60, doctorate in life.
• Lost my teeth, found my voice!
• Feel important for the first time.
• Age 59: End of the beginning.
• Crowning achievements in my later years.

On change – and refusing to move to the sidelines:
• Following my passion is finally okay.
• Work got stale but I didn’t.
• Perfect job came late. Retire? NOT!
• I refuse to be a dinosaur.
• Changed gears so often, transmission busted.

On optimism:
• Backpack full; mountains still to climb.
• New script for the third act.
• Didn’t follow recipe, cake still baking.

On the power of helping others:
• Looking for gift, gave of myself.
• Returned to the nonprofit world. Paradise regained.
• Many jobs, one thread: social justice.
• Investing in others pays big dividends.
• Giving back what was freely given.


NEXT ISSUE

In our next issue, I’ll keep you up-to-speed with what’s happening with retirement planning.

Remember, even if an investment property doesn’t increase one penny over the next ten years, you’re still going to be $100,000 better off.

PROFITABLE HOBBIES

You can now buy my manual “37 case studies of Profitable Hobbies for immediate application” at
http://www.retirelaughing.com.au/blog/make-money-with-my-hobby/

At $19.75, it’s excellent value if you think you’ll be needing an additional source of income at some stage.

HERE’S MY BLOG

My blog is at www.retirelaughing.com/blog

I use this for current news – as part of my social network tools

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK

Go to www.facebook.com/propertysuccess

I’M ALSO ON YOUTUBE

www.youtube.com/retirelaughing

there's about 40 vidios there


Regards


Bernard Kelly www.retirelaughing.com mobile 0414 778 518
Australia’s Retirement Strategist®

“expect to reap an extra $449,999* when you’ll really be needing it”.

PS As I don’t spend my advertising budget on traditional media, I’m able to pay you $5000 for successful referrals

About Bernard Kelly:

Bernard Kelly BEcon MBA CRPC Australia’s Retirement Strategist®, is a highly sought-after advisor, retirement authority, thought-leader, author and radio commentator because he makes the complicated and mundane topics of investing and retirement fun! Bernard has over 20 years’ experience providing families with financial thought. He is the author of Live Your Dreams in Retirement, Property Investing for Couples, Goolwa by Breakfast and Raising Decent Kids into Substantial Wealth and publishes a fortnightly newsletter that reaches thousands of subscribers worldwide.

19 Prospect Street, Box Hill 3128 Australia. Tel 61-3-9899 8577 mobile 0414 778 518

A BETTER WEBHOST FOR YOUR WEBSITE

Following my own advice, I have now established my own “profitable hobby” – a webhosting service. Go to

www.cheapesthosting.net.au

and also

www.valuewebsites.info

Investment Strategies 1 July 2011

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK

Go to www.facebook.com/propertysuccess and click the LIKE icon

QUEENSLAND OFFERS $10,000 GRANT

In an effort to boost the state’s economy, the Queensland government has announced a $10,000 cash grant for the construction of new homes.

Known as the Queensland Building Boost grant, it will be available from August 1 this year to Jan 31, 2012 for house and land packages valued at less than $600,000. The grant will be paid as cash, upfront, at settlement.

The significance of this is that for an investor earning $90,000, regular out-of-pocket contributions for an investment of $400,000 with rent $380 per week would be $106 per week.

But if you put this $10,000 grant into a separate bank account and drew it down at the rate of $64 per week for three years, your personal contributions would be just $42 per week.

Then, after two years, you would have had two rental increases, so your personal contributions would continue at the same rate in the fourth year, but fall towards zero in year five, and then cease.

That’s how property can work for you!

If you want to take advantage of this grant for an investment property, contact me without delay.

I’m Bernard Kelly www.retirelaughing.com mobile 0414 778 518
Australia’s Retirement Strategist®
“expect to reap an extra $449,999* when you’ll really be needing it”.

IT’S THE PERFECT TIME TO INVEST (1)

The quarterly survey of 24 economists published in the “Australian Financial Review” 27 June 2011 predicts that the economy will continue its upward trajectory as mining gets back to normal (after flooding in Queensland and cyclones in Western Australia) and food production resumes (after the floods) in New South Wales and Victoria.

And of course the benefits of the massive investment in mining - $51 billion this year and $83 billion next year – are flowing down into the broader community, which generally means that the Reserve Bank will increase interest rates to control inflation.

Then the report from BIS Shrapnel “Residential Prospects 2011 to 2014” predicts that the median price of houses in Brisbane will rise 15% to $505,000 over the next three years.

So now is the time to invest.

If you want me to help you explore your options, contact me – Bernard Kelly – anytime. My email is admin@retirelaughing.com

IT’S THE PERFECT TIME TO INVEST (2)

Recall those discussions about a “property cycle” – well, the low point is obviously now.

Warren Buffett says “be greedy when others are fearful, and fearful when others are greedy”.
So it seems to me like it’s (right now) the perfect time to be Greedy with your property investment strategy.

Then again “some people make things happen, some people watch what happens and some people wonder what happened” is as true for property investment as in other industries.

Where would you rate yourself?

Growing wealth through property investment isn’t a get rich quick scheme so, and it doesn’t really matter at the price you enter.

It’s the time in the market that is the key determinate of your ultimate property success.
If you need my wisdom and expertise, phone me – Bernard Kelly - anytime. My mobile is 0414 778 518

IT’S THE PERFECT TIME TO INVEST (3)

Right now I am now able to offer you a house and land investment package at 16 Bullo Bvld in Marsden, Brisbane. This house has recently been completed and is tenanted at $370 per week.

It has four bedrooms with ensuite, air conditioning, double garage etc on its own block. It is fully landscaped with pathways, fences and letter box. There is not another penny to spend.

It is available direct from the developer at $399,500.

It is rare for me to be in position to be able to offer a fully completed and tenanted package. With this investment, you will be able to enjoy the benefits immediately.

Floor plans and photos are available. Phone me 0414 778 518

This investment ticks all the boxes. It will attract a continuing series of ideal tenants, it will provide maximum financial returns to the investor, it is located in the south west suburbs of Brisbane (which is the best of the 35+ regional investment markets across Australia).
Anticipated capital growth is the highest, you have the proximity to diversified economic zones (where the jobs are) rents are - relatively - slightly better in Brisbane than in other capital cities, the purchase stamp duty is the lowest in Australia, and the annual land tax is zero for new investors.

The location will always determine 50% of your long term success, the property itself will deliver 30% of your success, and the final 20% is due to the packaging which I ensure each of my private clients acquires.

You won’t do better.

SUPER – HOPE v. REALITY

As I have said before, to encourage retirement savings, superannuation has become a vehicle to save tax as it will always struggle with the goal of wealth creation.

The basic premise of wealth creation through super is: in order for you to have the necessary funds that you will need at retirement, you must begin putting some money into your super every month, and you'll need to continue putting a monthly amount into your investment vehicles for as long as you can, up and until you retire.

The story continues to make an assumption like this: over the years you will earn an average annual rate of return of 8% compound on your investments. So if you saved $800 each month for 360 months (30 years), and you were to earn an average annual rate of return of 8%, you would be rewarded for your discipline and financial acumen with an amount approximating $1,087,519

However, assume that the real economic rate of growth i.e. after inflation is a realistic 2% pa, not 8%.

At a 2% average real-world return on your investment, after 30 years, you would end up with only $389,454 of today’s purchasing power.

If you plan to draw $60,000 pa (in today’s money) this $389,454 approximates only six or seven years of retirement income.

Now I know you haven’t been earning $105,000 pa since age 21 – which is what you need for the 9% super guaranteed levy to generate that $800 per month savings – and that super (after fees) is unlikely to generate long term earnings of 8%, and also that incomes increase over time, so your monthly savings could increase. So it’s a false sale.

However my purpose here is to have you focus on the question “what really will super generate for my retirement?” and encourage you to do the maths for yourself.

I know you will be disappointed, which is why I advocate residential investment property for your long term financial security.


NEXT ISSUE

In our next issue, I’ll keep you up-to-speed with what’s happening with investment properties.
Remember, even if an investment doesn’t increase one penny over the next ten years, you’re still going to be $100,000 better off.

PROFITABLE HOBBIES

You can now buy my manual “37 case studies of Profitable Hobbies for immediate application” at
http://www.retirelaughing.com.au/blog/make-money-with-my-hobby/

At $19.75, it’s excellent value if you think you’ll be needing an additional source of income at some stage.

HERE’S MY BLOG

My blog is at www.retirelaughing.com/blog

I use this for current news – as part of my social network tools


I’M ALSO ON YOUTUBE

www.youtube.com/retirelaughing



Regards


Bernard Kelly www.retirelaughing.com mobile 0414 778 518
Australia’s Retirement Strategist®

“expect to reap an extra $449,999* when you’ll really be needing it”.

PS As I don’t spend my advertising budget on traditional media, I’m able to pay you $5000 for successful referrals

About Bernard Kelly:

Bernard Kelly BEcon MBA CRPC Australia’s Retirement Strategist®, is a highly sought-after advisor, retirement authority, thought-leader, author and radio commentator because he makes the complicated and mundane topics of investing and retirement fun! Bernard has over 20 years’ experience providing families with financial thought. He is the author of Live Your Dreams in Retirement, Property Investing for Couples, Goolwa by Breakfast and Raising Decent Kids into Substantial Wealth and publishes a fortnightly newsletter that reaches thousands of subscribers worldwide.

19 Prospect Street, Box Hill 3128 Australia. Tel 61-3-9899 8577 mobile 0414 778 518

A BETTER WEBHOST FOR YOUR WEBSITE

Following my own advice, I have now established my own “profitable hobby” – a webhosting service. Go to

www.cheapesthosting.net.au

and also

www.valuewebsites.info

FREE GIFT

I’ve got a free gift for you – a breathtaking beautiful catalogue of photos for The 1000 Islands, in the St. Lawrence River, Canada.

The photos are quiet superb – I personally use them as a “thankyou” when someone does something special for me.

Just hit the reply email button on your browser and I’ll send them to you.

AN INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE

We’re clearly all getting older, but most of us are not getting old … at least not yet.

WE’RE DOING QUITE NICELY, THANKYOU

While inflation in Australia rose 6.3% in the two years March 2009 – March 2011, household income rose 7.3%.

So the long term trend of our continually improving living standards continues on track.

I can’t see any change to this – with the estimated $380 billion investment flowing into the mining sector over the next five years, it will eventually flow through to the rest of the economy.
All of this explains why Fair Work Australia has just awarded the lowest paid a $1,000 pa wages increase, and why the Reserve Bank of Australia will continue to increase interest rates.

And with a massive shortage in housing accommodation, no wonder I continue to recommend investment property to provide for your long term financial security.

I’m Bernard Kelly - Australia’s Retirement Strategist® My email is admin@retirelaughing.com

BREAK YOUR SPENDING HABIT

If you have five years of more before retirement, why not save one third of your take home pay?

You could well save $80,000, and be well prepared for living cheaper indefinitely.

I’m now at an age when I can see that we’re like prisoners, chained to our jobs, our expensive homes, expensive holidays and restaurants.

However, people from lower socio economic groups live quite well – compared to people with far less (say in Africa). As do pensioners here in Australia, in later life, after a successful career.

As affluent consumers, most of us don’t even realize there’s any other way to live. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

As an affluent consumer used to spending large amounts of money to obtain food, stuff, and entertainment, it’s hard to imagine how it’s possible to spend practically nothing on furniture, a few dollars on clothing, very little on food, almost nothing on transport, and generally less on everything else.

With the dawning realisation that retirement risk has been effectively shifted to individuals from either the government or employers (with the steady erosion of the pension and the switch to superannuation), it’s far more common now to be considering a long term financial plan, practicing healthy living and helping to insure against life's uncertainties, whether its health costs, long-term care or out-living one's savings.

So if you have five years of more before retirement, why not save one third of your take home pay? You could well save $80,000, and be well prepared for living cheaper indefinitely.

RETIREMENT STRATEGY – KEEP WORKING

In the crucible of capitalism, over a third of US employees expect to work past age 70 or never retire, according to a recent Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies survey.

Just over half (54%) of those surveyed planning to retire in their 60s with only 6% of people plan to retire before age 60.

And workers who plan to eventually retire are increasingly pushing back their retirement date. Some 40 percent of workers say they now expect to retire later than they did a year ago, up from 28 percent who said this in last year’s survey.

The 60s remains the most popular decade for retirement, with “For workers now the plan is simply to work as long as possible and work at as old an age as possible,” says Catherine Collinson, president of the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies.

“If you expect to live to 95 and you retire at 75 versus 65, that gives you 10 additional years to generate income and save, and 10 fewer years that you need to save for.”

Retirement no longer means a permanent exit from the workforce. Even once they begin calling themselves retired, just over half (54 percent) of employees expect to continue to work at least part time.

The most common reasons for working past age 65 are financial, including not having enough savings (34 percent), wanting extra income (18 percent), and needing health benefits (9 percent).

However, many retirees also say they will work to stay involved (19 percent) or because they enjoy what they do (16 percent).

However, not everyone gets to choose their retirement date.

A retrenchment, health problem, or the need to care for a spouse or relative could force you into retirement earlier than planned.

Many workers (31 percent) anticipate that they will need to provide financial support to family members.

But only 19 percent of workers have a backup plan for retirement income if they become unable to work before their planned retirement date.

4,080 employees of for-profit companies with 10 or more workers were surveyed by Harris Interactive online.

Source: Emily Brandon writing in http://money.usnews.com 23 May 2011

NEXT ISSUE

In our next issue, I’ll keep you up-to-speed with what’s happening with investment properties.

Remember, even if an investment doesn’t increase one penny over the next ten years, you’re still going to be $100,000 better off.

PROFITABLE HOBBIES

You can now buy my manual “37 case studies of Profitable Hobbies for immediate application” at http://www.retirelaughing.com.au/blog/make-money-with-my-hobby/

At $19.75, it’s excellent value if you think you’ll be needing an additional source of income at some stage.

HERE’S MY BLOG

My blog is at www.retirelaughing.com/blog
I use this for current news – as part of my social network tools

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK

Go to www.facebook.com/propertysuccess and "like' the page

I’M ALSO ON YOUTUBE

www.youtube.com/retirelaughing



Regards


Bernard Kelly www.retirelaughing.com mobile 0414 778 518
Australia’s Retirement Strategist®

“expect to reap an extra $449,999* when you’ll really be needing it”.
PS As I don’t spend my advertising budget on traditional media, I’m able to pay you $5000 for successful referrals

About Bernard Kelly:

Bernard Kelly BEcon MBA CRPC Australia’s Retirement Strategist®, is a highly sought-after advisor, retirement authority, thought-leader, author and radio commentator because he makes the complicated and mundane topics of investing and retirement fun! Bernard has over 20 years’ experience providing families with financial thought. He is the author of Live Your Dreams in Retirement, Property Investing for Couples, Goolwa by Breakfast and Raising Decent Kids into Substantial Wealth and publishes a fortnightly newsletter that reaches thousands of subscribers worldwide.

19 Prospect Street, Box Hill 3128 Australia. Tel 61-3-9899 8577 mobile 0414 778 518

A BETTER WEBHOST FOR YOUR WEBSITE

Following my own advice, I now operate my own “profitable hobby” – a webhosting service. Go to

www.cheapesthosting.net.au

and also

www.valuewebsites.info

Property Strategies 1 June 2011

$500,000 THRESHOLD FOR SMSFs

One quarter of Self Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) struggle to make a positive return, a survey by management consultancy Oliver Wyman has found.

Annual management fees paid to accountants, financial advisors, brokers and the mandatory auditor – as well as amortisation of establishment costs – can come in towards $30,000 annually, and SMSFs.

And those with less than $500,000 in assets may not generate sufficient to pay these fees, the survey revealed.

Oliver Wyman is a member of the global Marsh & McLennan: “the world's leading insurance broker and risk advisor”.

VIDEO – WHAT WILL IT COST ME?

Generally, if you’re earning around $80,000 your out-of-pocket contributions to own an investment property may only be around $20,000 over the next six years.

Here’s my video on the topic http://bit.ly/lERpQi

YOU’LL NEED INFLATION-PROTECTED ASSETS

If you’re an Australian aged 65, the probability of you living to age 84 is 50%. Women will live a few years longer, men a few years less.

However if you're a married couple in your 60s there is a 50% probability that one of you will live to age 95!

However, and no matter when your “estate event” will incur, you need to consider how inflation can erode your income.

If you assume the long term rate will continue to about 3% per year and you need $60,000 per year to live now, in 10 years you would need $80,000, and in 20 years you would need $108,000!

So your retirement portfolio must be in inflation protected assets.

Which is why the very successful investment strategy that I share with my private clients has its focus on residential property.

If you want to know more about how to protect yourself against inflation, contact me – Bernard Kelly – anytime. (All you need to do is hit the return button on this email.)

AVOID BECOMING “COLATERAL DAMAGE”

There are storm clouds ahead for anyone approaching retirement, and who knows what will happen over the next 20-25 years?

In these uncertain times, when most of us don’t have enough for a comfortable retirement, you need to take evasive action to avoid being caught up as collateral damage in some widespread negative event.

We all know now – to our cost - that super funds have a fixation with equities, so diversification can be virtually important.

And we all know how inflation will impact on us in the decades ahead – precisely the same as it has ever done.

Until the Global Financial Crisis of 2007 hit us all, few of us had a Plan B for our retirement (and for those with one, it was “continue to work”.

Now of course that Plan B has become Plan A for many of us so let me suggest a new Plan B.

How about renting out rooms in your home?

At least with a plan – any plan – you are less exposed to becoming collateral damage.

If you would like me to help you consider your options, feel free to contact me – Bernard Kelly – anytime.

I‘m Australia’s Retirement Strategist®.

FLOATING DOWN THE RIVER OF DENIAL

In America, it is now predicated that their Medicare program will be insolvent by 2024, and that funds held aside for Social Security pensions will be exhausted by 2036.

The good news for us here in Australia is that there will now be an on-going realisation that we need to provide for ourselves, as governments worldwide are no longer capable of funding ample retirement incomes for everyone.

But most of us are still floating down the river of denial.

I am sure that “the pension” will remain as the ultimate backstop for the truly poor, but if you own your own home and had a decent education, my feeling is that the criteria to be paid the pension will be framed against you.

We are seeing this already, of course. For example, for a married couple on the pension, when you turn 70 your second car is considered unnecessary, and your pension is shaved.

If you want me to help you prepare for long term financial security, feel free to contact me – Bernard Kelly – anytime. My mobile is 0414 778 518

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO THE US HOUSING MARKET

The US housing market collapse had its genesis in 2002, when George Bush took action to allow everyone to own their own home. At the time only 7% of the poor did.

So he had HUD (the government agency for Housing and Urban Development) guarantee loans for new home buyers.

Now at the time there was a national program in place that only required a 2½% deposit and then the banks would lend the balance. So what happened was that property developers “left behind” 2½% of the purchase price as a deposit – in the name of the buyer.

So new home buyers didn’t have to contribute one penny, and then the government agency would guarantee their loans.

This lent to a building and lending frenzy, with Wall Street selling off huge chunks of these “government guaranteed” mortgages.

By the time that HUD put a stop to these games, 22% of the poor had purchased homes. That was in March 2007 when it withdrew its guarantee.

Suddenly all those chunks of mortgages out there didn’t have a government guarantee, and when the financial community realised that many of the borrowers would never be able to afford to pay off their mortgages, these mortgages became virtually worthless (as in America, borrowers are free to walk away from mortgages). Hence the global financial crisis.

And even to this day, across America, there is still in excess of a year’s supply of new homes.

DIVERSIFY YOUR RETIREMENT FUNDS

Nothing is sacred from the claws of a desperate government, as we saw last year in France and in New South Wales and now in Ireland:

Drowning in debt and faced with unpopular, unrealistic, ridiculously unpopular austerity measures, the Irish government has announced that it will now tax private pension savings.

This means Ireland is now following in the footsteps of a rather ignominious list of nations like Argentina and Hungary attacking private superannuation funds.

New South Wales was a bit more subtle last year when – for similar reasons – it introduced an “anti-fraud” home buyers’ tax – now thankfully being repealed by the O'Farrell government.

The Irish government has decided that the easiest, most concentrated pool of assets to find is accumulated private pension funds.

So - could the government tax superannuation funds in Australia?

Well last year, the French government went through an elaborate process to change its pension laws, ‘legally’ allowing politicians to take retirement funds from the public in order to pay off other debts.

And in the US, funds put aside for government funded pensions have been raided for years and Congress routinely ‘borrows’ from Social Security to make up budget shortfalls

The moral here is to ensure that your retirement assets are diversified.

ON BUYING SHARES …

“June.

“This is one of the particularly dangerous months to speculate in stocks.

“The others are July, January, September, April, November, May, March, October, December, August, and February.”

– Mark Twain 1835-1910

NEXT ISSUE

In our next issue, I’ll keep you up-to-speed with what’s happening with investment properties.

PROFITABLE HOBBIES

You can now buy my manual “37 case studies of Profitable Hobbies for immediate application” at
http://www.retirelaughing.com.au/blog/make-money-with-my-hobby/

At $19.75, it’s excellent value if you think you’ll be needing an additional source of income at some stage.

HERE’S MY BLOG

My blog is at www.retirelaughing.com/blog

I use this for current news – as part of my social network tools

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK

Go to www.facebook.com/propertysuccess

I’M ALSO ON YOUTUBE

www.youtube.com/retirelaughing



Regards


Bernard Kelly www.retirelaughing.com mobile 0414 778 518
Australia’s Retirement Strategist®

“expect to reap an extra $449,999* when you’ll really be needing it”.
PS As I don’t spend my advertising budget on traditional media, I’m able to pay you $5000 for successful referrals

About Bernard Kelly:

Bernard Kelly BEcon MBA CRPC Australia’s Retirement Strategist®, is a highly sought-after advisor, retirement authority, thought-leader, author and radio commentator because he makes the complicated and mundane topics of investing and retirement fun! Bernard has over 20 years’ experience providing families with financial thought. He is the author of Live Your Dreams in Retirement, Property Investing for Couples, Goolwa by Breakfast and Raising Decent Kids into Substantial Wealth and publishes a fortnightly newsletter that reaches thousands of subscribers worldwide.

19 Prospect Street, Box Hill 3128 Australia. Tel 61-3-9899 8577 mobile 0414 778 518

A BETTER WEBHOST FOR YOUR WEBSITE

Following my own advice, I have now established my own “profitable hobby” – a webhosting service. Go to

www.cheapesthosting.net.au

and also

www.valuewebsites.info