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You don't need excess to retire happily ever after

Apr 28, 2023

How much do you need to retire?

The advice provided on this document is General Advice Only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs. If any products are detailed on this document, you should obtain a Product Disclosure Statement relating to the products and consider its contents before making any decisions.



I like reading about the Roman Stoics. In particular, Epictetus who was a slave and would go on to inspire the great Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. One of my favourite passages from Epictetus is: “It is quite impossible to unite happiness with a yearning for what we don’t have”. 


This passage is very relevant in finance. For some it is “keeping up with the Joneses”…… you will never be truly happy continuing to strive for possessions you don’t need or don’t truly want. Besides the Joneses are miserable anyway.


For others it may be retirement. Sure you need to accumulate enough wealth to live a comfortable retirement, but once this is achieved why work in a job which may not be your passion?


You are wasting your one true asset, time to pursue the things you enjoy, for something which is not important, accumulating more wealth which you will never spend.


We have an article that discusses how much money you need to retire. It is an eyeopener that your retirement savings are usually going to be enough to provide for the life you want to live. 


Your purpose. Well that’s up to you to find. Retirement kills the spirit of those who lose their purpose in life, so you must retire and have a purpose still.


However, thinking that you will be happier in the future once you obtain something will often leave you disappointed. Yearning for more will not make you happier. Understanding what you have is enough, will!


Let me know if you wish to discuss this topic further.


-Shaun Liddicoat

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28 Apr, 2023
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The Baltimore Broker

28 Apr, 2023
The Baltimore Broker

2020 Federal Budget

22 Oct, 2020
The 2020 federal budget was delivered on Tuesday 6th October. There were no major impacts identified to members financial strategies other than anticipated tax cuts and other stimulus measures .

Coping in Volatile Times

07 Jul, 2020
Investment markets have been extremely volatile over the past 3 months with the Australian Share Market falling approximately 33% , followed by a 22% recovery. It is important during this time that you continue to be rational and appreciate that the share market is there to serve you and not to instruct you . Imagine if a random stranger came knocking on your door, asking you to sell your home to them at a far reduced price. The rational reaction is to remain calm and tell the stranger to get off your doorstep. Yet many people don’t act this way and sell perfectly good assets at reduced prices . The stock market is the only thing that I can think of where people sell at a discount and buy at a premium and it is simply a device which transfers wealth from the impatient to the patient . In the background we have a clear understanding of what your assets are worth and will only recommend you sell these assets at a premium or if you need the money. We will also be recommending you continue to acquire assets at low prices. There are no secrets in investment markets and success is based more on qualities of temperament than qualities of intelligence. I would expect a lot of volatility in the months to come as the world grapples with employment issues , a coronavirus vaccine , government stimulus and debt issues . It is important to understand that these issues will eventually become distant memories and should not influence your long term goals and aspirations. Want to talk more about your investment goals? Contact us

Investment Update:- March 2020

06 Jul, 2020
Prefer to read? Here is the full transcript below: As previously communicated to members, over the past six months, Cloud Financial Planning has been busy working with Avalon Financial Services and ASIC, in obtaining our own Australian Financial Services Licence . Things are progressing well with the application, and we are hopeful of having an outcome later in the year. This will act as a key protection mechanism for ourselves and you the member. We remain conservatively minded on investment portfolios at this stage and continue to use a rational approach to investing. The US has never printed so much money before and has never spent it so quickly either. Some economists argue that government debt is no longer an issue in society. I would say if you believe that, then you must also believe in the tooth fairy. No one knows how much more of this easy money can be printed. With the US being over $22 trillion in debt and with a cashflow deficit of over $1 trillion per annum, the US finds itself in a precarious position with many young people worried about their future….. and rightly so. Much of this debt has found its way onto share market, which is inflating share prices and creating a large divide between the rich and poor. Generally speaking, there is a large disconnect between share prices and what companies are earning. This has created a heightened level of risk, especially if interest rates were to increase. However, I expect this policy of excessive US government debt to continue if Donald Trump wins the next election or if Mick Bloomberg is elected President. On the contrary, in the unlikely event of Elizabeth Warren or Joe Biden becoming the next US President, then I can foresee a change in direction and with that would bring increased taxation on the super wealthy and a major US share market correction. While there are still some shares which trade at fair valuations, these are becoming harder and harder to find. It is inevitable that share prices will once again realign themselves with company earnings. It is not until the tide goes out that you realise who’s swimming naked and so I am encouraging members to be selective with their investment choices. I wish you well and please be in contact should you wish to discuss anything further.
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