Getting Your Financial House in Order
Look, we get it. Everyone's financial situation is different, and jumping into savings strategies without understanding where you actually stand can feel like shooting in the dark.
Before we talk about where your money should go, let's figure out where it's currently going. Most Australians who walk through our door in Wetherill Park think they have a decent handle on their finances. But when we sit down and actually map things out? That's when the real picture emerges.
Over the past few years working with families across NSW, we've noticed something interesting. The people who succeed with savings aren't necessarily the ones earning the most. They're the ones who took time upfront to understand their baseline. And that's exactly what this preparation phase is about.
What You'll Need to Bring
- Three months of bank statements from all accounts you regularly use. Yes, including that savings account you haven't touched since 2023.
- Recent pay slips or income documentation showing your actual take-home amounts. We need the real numbers, not what you think you earn after tax.
- A list of your recurring expenses that might not show up monthly on statements. Things like annual insurance premiums, quarterly rates, subscription services you forgot about.
- Current debt information including credit cards, personal loans, car finance, and mortgages. Interest rates matter here, so grab those details too.
- Your superannuation statement from the last financial year. Many people overlook this, but it's part of your overall financial picture.
- Any existing investment accounts or assets that generate income or require ongoing payments.
How the Assessment Process Works
Initial Documentation Review
We spend about 45 minutes going through everything you've brought. This isn't just data entry – we're looking for patterns, identifying regular expenses versus one-offs, and spotting areas where money might be slipping through unnoticed. Most people discover at least three subscriptions they'd forgotten about during this stage.
Cash Flow Mapping
Here's where things get real. We build a visual map of your money movement throughout a typical month. When does money come in? When do bills hit? Are there crunch periods where everything seems due at once? This takes another hour, and it's probably the most eye-opening part for most people.
Priority Identification
Not all financial goals are created equal. Some need immediate attention, others can wait. We talk through what matters most to you right now – whether that's building an emergency fund, paying down high-interest debt, or starting to save for a house deposit. This conversation usually takes 30 minutes and sets the direction for everything else.
Reality Check Discussion
This is the honest conversation about what's actually achievable given your current situation. We're not here to sell you unrealistic dreams. If your expenses are eating 95% of your income, we need to address that before talking about investment strategies. Takes about 20 minutes and sometimes involves difficult truths.
Why This Groundwork Matters
I've been doing this work since 2018, and the biggest mistake I see people make is skipping this foundation stage. They want to jump straight to "tell me where to invest" or "what's the best savings account." But without understanding your baseline, any strategy we build is just guessing.
Last month, a couple came in wanting advice on property investment. Turns out they were carrying $18,000 in credit card debt at 21% interest. That needed sorting first. Three months later, after clearing that debt and building some buffer savings, we could actually have a meaningful conversation about their next steps.
The preparation phase isn't glamorous. It's spreadsheets and bank statements and sometimes uncomfortable realisations about spending habits. But it's the difference between a financial plan that works and one that falls apart after two months.
— Ingrid Kalmbach, Senior Financial Analyst
Ready to Get Started?
We're booking initial assessment sessions for September through November 2025. Come see us at our Wetherill Park office with your documentation ready, and we'll spend about two and a half hours building your financial baseline.