Welcome to the last edition of The Edge for 2022

It’s been another extraordinary year and one that has felt like a return to some semblance of normality.  After two very long years, in February we finally opened our borders to all fully vaccinated visitors. Families were united, and we could again entertain the thought of overseas travel.

For me 2022 has been defined by many things: high inflation and rising interest rates, the tragic Ukraine conflict and flood crisis in NSW and Queensland, and the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.  The global recovery from the pandemic has cast a shadow over financial markets, and it remains to be seen whether central banks can safely navigate the challenge of moderating inflation.

As a firm we’ve enjoyed some industry recognition throughout the year with 15 of our advisers honoured in the Barron’s Top 100 Adviser List and the Financial Standard Power 50. We also had one of our rising stars, Shayne Sommer honoured as Financial Adviser of the Year at the 2022 Women in Finance Awards.

We’ve made great progress with the establishment of our Shadforth Advice Teams, offering an improved client experience and efficiencies in the way we deliver advice.

In this edition of the Edge, we discuss estate planning, the importance of reviewing your strategy throughout your life, and understanding where your assets sit in terms of ownership. And for those leaving employment, we present some of the considerations for taking annual leave or cashing it in on retirement. As always, your adviser is available to help you navigate and understand the implications of these decisions.

For those of you considering a long-overdue overseas holiday we share some ideas for unusual destinations and itineraries to whet your appetite.

As always, if you have any feedback or thoughts you would like to share with me, please do so via email at ceo@sfg.com.au.