Getting Your Financial House in Order
Before diving into complex analysis, you need the basics sorted. Think of it like renovating a house – you wouldn't start decorating before checking the foundations are solid.
View Learning ProgramWhat You'll Need Ready
Most clients come to us with scattered records and half-forgotten accounts. That's completely normal. But getting organised makes everything that follows much easier and more accurate.
- Bank statements from the past six months – all accounts, including ones you barely use
- Recent payslips or proof of regular income (three months gives us a decent picture)
- A list of debts with current balances – credit cards, loans, mortgages, everything
- Monthly bills and regular expenses documented somehow (even rough estimates help)
- Super statements if you have them – many people forget these exist
- Details of any investments, shares, or property you own
The Four-Stage Preparation
We've refined this approach over years of working with Australian households. Each stage builds on the last, so skipping steps usually means backtracking later.
Document Gathering
Collect everything financial. Don't worry about organisation yet – just get it all in one spot.
Reality Check
Review what's actually coming in versus going out. Most people are surprised by the numbers.
Goal Setting
Define what stability looks like for your situation. Be specific – vague goals rarely work.
System Setup
Create a simple tracking method you'll actually use. Complex spreadsheets gather dust.
Common Preparation Mistakes
I've been doing this since 2018, and the same issues crop up repeatedly. People underestimate their spending by about 30% on average. They forget annual expenses like insurance or rego. And almost everyone has at least one bank account they've stopped monitoring.
The other thing – and this matters more than you'd think – is timing. Running analysis during December or January gives skewed results because spending patterns are unusual. Mid-year works better for most households.
We typically schedule initial consultations for September through November 2025, giving you the Australian winter months to gather documentation without the holiday rush affecting your financial picture.
— Callum Ashford, Senior Stability Analyst
Resources That Actually Help
- Simple budget template that focuses on Australian living expenses
- Debt prioritisation calculator accounting for local interest rate environments
- Super consolidation checklist with ATO integration steps
- Monthly expense tracker designed for irregular income patterns
- Goal-setting worksheet that breaks down big targets into manageable pieces
Ready to start the preparation process?
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