Affinity EMAG February 2014 by 6StarDigital

MAGAZINE NEWEST PROVIDERS

See our ever-growing list of provider benefits, designed with you, our members, in mind… ASSOCIATION SPOTLIGHT Dental Members Australia AFFORDABLE DENTAL TREATMENT FOR ALL AUSTRALIANS

WHAT’S NEW AT AA! Affinity FUNDRAISING Affinity SHOPPER Affinity TRAVEL

Issue 16 - February 2014

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Over the next seven days, charity IAIM Australia is aiming to find an incredible 1,000 people who know that reducing some of our major social problems - violence, mental health issues, loneliness, social exclusion depends on babies getting the best possible start in life. If you are one of these people, all it takes is 90 seconds of your time, and a commitment to donating (a fully tax-deductible) $3 a week. You'll not only be helping to change the life course for thousands of Australian families under stress, but you will also get some amazing warm fuzzy feelings for doing soâ&#x20AC;Ś

Click here for the 90-second sign up https://www.gofundraise.com.au/beneficiary/babies and *share* to help us reach our target of 1,000 donors!

AFFINITY MAGAZINE 9

AFFINITY ALLIANCE IS CONSTANTLY UPDATING AND ADDING NEW PROVIDERS SO MEMBERS CAN ENJOY THE NEWEST AND HOTTEST OFFERS EVERY MONTH.

Be Part Of Our Team!

Join our ever growing list of new providers.

AFFINITY MAGAZINE 7

AFFINITY ALLIANCE

VALUED PARTNERS: FINANCE & INSURANCE:

AMEX AUTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND (ANZ) BILL OWENS INSURANCE BROKERS CAIRNS PENNY CITIBANK COVERMORE TRAVEL INSURANCE JOE VELLA INSURANCE BROKERS KIB INSURANCE BROKERS NATIONAL AUTRALIA BANK OPTIMUS 1 INSURANCE BROKERS OZFOREX SD LOANS & LEASING YELLOW BRICK ROAD YOUR RISK ADVISER INSURANCE

LEGAL & HR / IR SERVICES:

ADVANCED PERSONNEL MGT CBC STAFF SELECTION HR DYNAMICS JOHN HARTIGAN & ASSOCIATES LEAPFROG RECRUITMENT MACDONNELLS LAW MILLER HARRIS LAWYERS OMEGA LAWYERS OUTSOURCE MANAGEMENT PTY LTD SAFTEY IN THE WORKPLACE SKILL 360 AUSTRALIA WORKLIFE HOME COMMUNICATION & TECHNOLOGY: MG PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS NEXT TELECOM PRONTO SOFTWARE TELEQUIP TELSTRA THINK OFFICE TECHNOLOGY TJ MICROSYSTEMS TRUE NORTH TECHNOLOGY

TRAINING & EDUCATION:

CAIRNS COLLEGE OF ENGLISH CAIRNS LANGUAGE CENTRE COLLEGE OF AUSTRALIAN TRAINING IGNITE PERFORMANCE SOLUTIONS MCLEOD TRAINING ORGANISATION QUEENSLAND TRAINING SERVICES SEJUMI INSTITUTE OF FURTHER EDUCATION TROPICAL NQ INSTITUTE OF TAFE

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS: A UNIFORM CHOICE ACTIVE MINERALS AUTRALIA AFFINITY CONFERENCE & EVENT MANAGEMENT ARCHERS BLOCKEY CONSULTING BUSINESS INTERVIEW CHANNEL BUSINESS MAPPING SOLUTIONS CAIRNS CONVENTION CENTRE CAIRNSLIFE MAGAZINE CAROL SHIPWAY MIGRATION SERVICES CI IMAGES DIRECT EMPLOYMENT SERVICES EUTILITY EVOLUTION BITES FAR NORTH TRAINING & CONSULTANCY FLEXIBLE TRAINING FUJI XEROX BUSINESS CENTRE G.K. CONSULTING HASTINGS DEERING INDIPENDENT CAPITAL ADVISERS JCURVE SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS JIM’S BOOKKEEPING JULIE’S HOME SERVICES KONEKT MEMBERSHIP GROWTH MOORE STEPHENS QLD NEATO EMPLOYMENT NICHE DESIGNS NO WORRIES AUSTRALIA NQ EXHIBITIONS OMEGA GREENPOWER PATHWAYS TO THE FUTURE Q.I.T.E RAATSICC SAM HARROP BUSINESS COACH SELECT CARBON BIOCHAR PTY LTD SIGNATURE STAFF SOUTHERN CROSS SAFETY & WORKWEAR STAFFING SOLUTIONS NQ THE ENTERTAINERS THE HOTEL NETWORK TheSPACE CAIRNS TOTALLY WORKWEAR TRANSFORMATIONAL PATHWAYS TRINITY ACCOUNTANTS WORKLINK

MARKETING & ADVERTISING: 99.5 SEA FM & 103.5 HOT FM GRANT BROADCASTERS DESTINATION CAIRNS MARKETING EBEYONDS INFUSION MARKETING INSPIRED BY MARKETING LIKED BY DESIGN REALVIEW DIGITAL RPS INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANCY SEVEN NETWORK SIGN-UP.TO SIMPSON MARKETING SOUTHERN CROSS TEN SUZANNE ASHMOORE GRAPHIC DESIGN TRADE SHOW ORGANISERS PRINTING & PROMOTIONAL: ALL SIGNS PRINT & DESIGN LOTSA PRINTING INFLIGHT PUBLISHING NEWART OFFICE CHOICE AUTO: AUDI CENTRE CAIRNS AUTO ONE CAIRNS AVBS – VEHICLE BUYING SERVICE BATTERY WORLD BMW AUDI ALFA ROMEO JEEP PEUGOT RENAULT CAIRNS ACCIDENT REPAIR CENTRE CAIRNS BATTERY FACTORY CAIRNS LUXURY COACHES KAT VEHICLE SHELVING KMART TYRE & AUTO MARK DODGE AUTO REPAIRS NQ CRASH & 4WD SPARES PACIFIC TOYOTA PORTS NORTH PRIVATE FLEET–VEHICLE BUYING SERVICE SCENIC MOTORS BEAUDESERT SEA SWIFT PTY LTD WESTCO MOTORS

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HOUSE & GARDEN: ALPHACOOL ANTENNAS CAIRNS CUMMINGS LOCKSMITH DJARRAGUN ENTERPRISES FINLAY HOMES JACKSON & JACKSON LASPINA HOMES PETER & PAULS CARPET CLEANING & PEST CONTROL DESIGN, ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION: ALLARO HOMES BLUESCOPE DISTRIBUTION CA ARCHITECTS CAIRNS REGIONAL COUNCIL CAIRNS STEEL FABRICATORS CAPE ALUMINA CFP HYDRAULICS DIXON HOMES DRAKE INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERING TESTING SERVICES FGF DEVELOPMENTS FNQ COASTAL CONCRETE GENESIS ENGINEERING GLOBAL WELDING SUPPLIES GO COMMERCIAL HANSON CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS JOHN MAC ISAAC & ASSOCIATES MMP ARCHITECTS NEATER CONSTRUCTIONS NORWELD ENGINEERING PEDAL THORPE ARCHITECTS PROFORM TOPS & LAMINATE NORTH PROPERTY4YOU QUAID REAL ESTATE & QUAID AUCTIONEERS REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUSTRALIA ROCLA PIPELINE PRODUCTS SAIL STRUCTURES STUBER CONSTRUCTIONS TAURUS FABRIC BUILD THIRKELL CONSULTING, ENGINEERS, BUILDING THOMSON ADSETT ARCHITECTS TUTT BRYANT HIRE CONFERENCE VENUES: CAIRNS CIVIC THEATRE JUTE THEATRE COMPANY SEVILLE MERCY CONFERENCE CENTRE STAGING CONNECTIONS STRICTLY BUSINESS EVENTS

AFFINITY SHOPPER: ADVANTAGE SPORTS AMANTE JEWELLERY AUSSIE FARMERS DIRECT BEACON IMPORTS BIOGUARD AUSTRALIA BJ BRADY FUNERALS BLUSH PHOTOGRAPHY CAIRNS HARDWARE CO. CAIRNS ONE PHOTOGRAPHY CAIRNS WHOLESALE PAINT DIRECT FACTORY OUTLET ENJO EREADERS R US ESSENTIAL BRANDS GROUP QLD FUEL FOR LESS HARVEY NORMAN HIRE FOR BABY HOPPENS CARPETS ISUBSCRIBE JENKINS RUBBER SHOP JUST JEWELLERY LAKE BARRINE NURSERY LOST GOLF BALLS LOVEGREEN PHOTOGRAPHY MOTORPASS PETALS FLORAL NETWORK PHARMACY ONLINE POWERBUY IT REGENCY JEWELLERS RONALDS JEWELLERS ROYALTAG SIGNED SEALED DELIVERED SIMPLY HAMPERS SPENDLESS SHOPPING SWIMART POOLS THE AUSTRALIAN BUSHSTORE THE RACK’ N STACK WAREHOUSE WHITE LADY FUNERALS WOOLWORTHS WISH GIFT CARDS ZANUI HOME WARES HEALTH & WELLBEING: ANGSANA RESORT & SPA ASPEN MEDICAL BALANCE! HEALTHCARE BAY AUDIO HEARING SPECIALIST CAIRNS FERTILITY CENTRE CAIRNS ORTHODONTICS CALANNA PHARMACY CARE CHIROPRACTIC CHIROPRACTIC WORKS ENDOTA DAY SPAS GOODPRICE PHARMACY HEALTH MANAGEMENT CAIRNS HOLY SPIRIT CARE SERVICES JADE COSMETIC & WELLNESS CLINIC JOHN GRIFFITHS DENTAL REHAB MANAGEMENT AUSTRALIA STEP INTO LIFE VISION DIRECT WAY TO WELLNESS

TRAVEL–ACCOM-ENTERTAINMENT: ACCOR PACIFIC AVIS CAR & TRUCK RENTAL BIG CAT GREEN ISLAND REEF CRUISES BOUTIQUE COLLECTION APARTMENTS BUDGET CAR & TRUCK RENTAL CAIRNS SHERIDAN HOTEL ENTERTAINMENT BOOK FLIGHT CENTRE CORPORATE TRAVEL HALFMOON BAY GOLF CLUB HILTON CAIRNS HOTELS.COM KEWARRA BEACH RESORT MANTRA GROUP MAREEBA LODGE MERCURE HOTEL CAIRNS MOVIE TICKETS NOVOTEL OASIS CAIRNS OCEANS HOTELS & TOURISM PULLMAN REEF HOTEL CASINO QANTAS CLUB QANTASLINK QUICKBEDS RAIL EUROPE RED BALLOON SHANGRI-LA HOTEL SHOWBIZ ATTRACTIONS TICKETMATES-EXPERIENCE OZ-GIFT IT NOW VIRGIN LOUNGE DINING & WINING: AFFINITY DINING BALLANDEAN ESTATE WINES CAFÉ CHINA CORAL COAST CATERING DUNDEES ON THE WATERFRONT KANIS WATERFRONT ROLF BINDER WINES – BAROSSA VALLEY STRATFORD DELI & CATERING UNION JACK HOTEL

What’s In store for you this month… Editors Letter

Association Spotlight

Dental Members Australia introduces it’s affordable dental plans to the public. Affinity PROFESSIONAL

Legal, HR/IR, Insurance, Foreign Exchange, Business Coaching, Networking Affinity TRAVEL

Explore some of the greatest parts of the world through Affinity Travel where you will get discounts of up to 70% on accommodation and flights. Affinity COMMUNICATIONS

Affinity LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT

Affinity NETWORKING

Affinity FUNDRAISING

Affinity HEALTH & WELLBEING Affinity SHOPPER

COMING SOON 36

AFFINITY MAGAZINE

Editors Letter !

Affinity Professionals Affinity Travel Affinity Lifestyle & Entertainment

Well here we are, February has come and gone and so too have the seasons along with my New Year Resolutions! Happens like clockwork and I am sure that you all will definitely agree with me. We make ourselves these totally unrealistic goals, only to let ourselves down by the second month of the year, in my case, sometimes sooner….

Affinity Fundraising Affinity Networking Affinity Communications

Well that may be true on an individual and personal level, however I am absolutely positive that Affinity Alliance as a company is going to exceed everyone’s expectations this year, including mine. If the first few months are anything to go by, it will be a fantastic year.

The transition from ENewsletter to EMagazine was a huge success and everyone seems to love the new format and layout. We will with each month, feature regular articles from some of our major providers and of course our “Association Spotlight” will focus on one of our valuable organisations, giving them the perfect opportunity to promote themselves to our much loved members.

The Affinity EMag will also update you on any new providers as well as monthly specials in addition to the fabulous discounts we have already negotiated for you. We have broken the EMAG into 8 Main categories to make it a little more “USER FRIENDLY” and even easier for you to digest…

! ! ! ! !

Well that is it from me for now, so until the next issue of our fabulous EMAG, stay safe, stay well informed and most of all, stay YOU…

Affinity Health & Wellbeing Affinity Shopper

! ! NEW ONLINE DIRECTORY

Something worth mentioning is our new Online Directory which is busy taking shape thanks to our IT Guru Julian Fields from TechAuditors and we are hoping to introduce the Search friendly version in late April. This will certainly make the task of sifting through all of our providers, a much easier one for our members. We will announce the launch date as it approaches, so stay tuned…

! Fiona McTaggart Editor In Chief AA Managing Director

If you would like to advertise your organisation or business with Affinity Alliance to offer our members even more value for money, please contact our head office on 1300 793 044 or email admin@affinityalliance.net.au for details.

DINING DIRECTORY

Great news for the Dining & Wining Directory as next month we will be offering you even more discounts from even more Restaurants across Australia and New Zealand. This month has seen Affinity Alliance collaborate with a very large organisation that will certainly rock your socks. This is just a teaser for now, all will be revealed in the next issue of Affinity EMAG.

! www.affinityalliance.net.au FREECALL 1300 793 044

LOCAL

07 3041 4239

FAX

07 3041 4240

ASSOCIATION SPOTLIGHT !

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ASSOCIATION SPOTLIGHT

DENTAL MEMBERS AUSTRALIA Have you been putting off regular dental checkups? Avoiding having that sore tooth looked at? Scared of what might need to be done, not to mention the cost? At Dental Members Australia we know how difficult it can be, which is why we’ve created Australia’s leading dental payment plan. About DMA Our interest-free, direct debit dental plan lets you spread out your dental costs while promoting the regular dental attendance that’s so important to preventive care. Dental Members Australia membership plans cover regular dental care, like scale and clean, and high-value treatments, like teeth whitening and crowns. So if you want an easy, professional way to achieve that confident, healthy smile, join by visiting our List of DMA Dentists.

Types of Plans

gives individuals, couples and families a comprehensive ongoing program of prevention, maintenance and treatment at no cost. You save from $150/year. Specifically, this includes this includes two dental examinations, two dental X-rays, and two scale and cleans and preventive dental advice and therapy. Any further work you and your dentist agree on, like teeth whitening or braces for your children, is discounted depending on the treatment for members — ask your DMA dentist. Benefits of the Care Plan: • Avoid “bill shock” by spreading payments over time.

1. DMA Care Plan

• Claim dental work under your membership payments on private health insurance

Because everyone should have access to great dentistry! From $1/ day…

• Remember that regular visits to add to your dentist add up to huge savings over time

In return for a nominal monthly/ fortnightly payment (from $30 per month/individual) charged by your preferred DMA dentist, our plan

• Discount on additional dental work • No waiting period

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Interest-Free Dental Plans from $1 per dayâ&#x20AC;Ś Because everyone should have access to great dentistry!

2. DMA Treatment Plan For when your teeth need extra special or sudden, unexpected corrective treatment.

This can be costly. However, with the DMA Treatment Plan you can pay weekly, interest-free, direct debit instalments during the treatment period, which can be up to 48 weeks.

If you have private health insurance at the completion of your payment schedule you will receive a tax invoice to take to insurer to claim your lump sum payment. For more information and to join, visit our List of DMA Dentists or Enquire Here To keep updated on when a DMA dentist becomes available in your area LIKE us on FACEBOOK…or visit our website www.dentalmembers.com.au

AFFINITY MAGAZINE 19

coming soon…

Affinity Alliance Dinning Directory

“Our custom built loyalty solution helps you build meaningful relationships with your customers…”

Affinity PROFESSIONAL ! LEGAL NETWORK INSURANCE FINANCE HUMAN RESOURCES INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

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Affinity LEGAL NETWORK A Sporting Chance at Dispute Resolution by John Campbell from Mediation Matters Mediation In recent articles, we have examined some actual case studies where people or organisations turned to mediation for the solution. These were cases in which John Campbell of Mediation Matters was the mediator and in which the demonstrated benefits of mediation were obvious. However, this article will examine other case studies more publicly reported. It will demonstrate that even in high profile disputes, mediation is a readily accepted method for resolving disputes. Sport brings to society a great many benefits - from the health benefits of participation, to the entertainment benefit of watching games live or on television. Many sports have become â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;big businessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in Australia and elsewhere in the World. With that aspect though, comes as an unfortunate consequence sometimes, dispute. Last year (2013) saw three(3) very high profile disputes referred to mediation. In the USA, there has been a raft of lawsuits seeking compensation fir damage said to have been caused to players who suffer concussion playing football. Actions have been taken against such sporting bodies as the NFL (National Football League) and the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association).

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The NFL In August, a CBS sports.com reporter (Ryan Wilson) reported that the NFL and several former players had reached a settlement in their “concussion lawsuit”. He reported that this happened following the appointment of a former United States District Court Judge as mediator. The lawsuit was a consolidated action of more than 4,500 retired football players against the NFL. Following the settlement reached through mediation, Judge Phillips said: “Rather than litigate literally thousands of complex individual claims over many years, the parties have reached an agreement…I am deeply grateful to Judge Brody for appointing me as mediator and offering me the opportunity to work on such an important and interesting matter”.

The NCAA Having seen the benefits of mediation in the ‘concussion lawsuit’ brought by thousands of former players against the NFL, the parties in a similar lawsuit decided to go to mediation. In this case, former players were suing the NCAA (a not-for-profit association of over 1200 institutions, organisations and individuals that organise the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States and Canada). The parties agreed to appoint the same mediator who mediated the NFL case (Judge Phillips). In so agreeing, the NCAA Chief Legal Officer said that “While the NCAA continues to believe these allegations are inappropriately made against the NCAA, we are willing to consider reasonable mediation options..."

The AFL The turmoil at Board level within the Brisbane Lions AFL Club was heavily reported in Australian media during September and October 2013. The Board was challenged by a powerful rival ticket, including as it did, AFL legend Leigh Matthews. The AFL identified the potentially devastating effects dispute can have on a club, so it invited the Brisbane Lions Board and the challengers to the Board, to a mediation at AFL Headquarters. In accepting the invitation, the Brisbane Lions acknowledged that it was in the best interests of the Club and its members, that the dispute be resolved as quickly as possible and saw mediation as a way this might be achieved.

It may not be surprising that the Boardagreed to mediation. In 2010, there was a dispute between the Fitzroy Football Club and the Brisbane Lions in relation to the new logo unveiled by the Brisbane Lions in 2009. The Fiztroy Football Club commenced a legal action in the Victorian Supreme Court, arguing that the new logo was not in accordance

with the merger agreement that had been reached between the two clubs in the mid 1990’s. The parties in that dispute, attended a mediation at which time the dispute was resolved.

Mediation Generally Sporting bodies in various Australian states encourage mediation of disputes arising from sport. In Victoria, ‘VicSport’ has a ‘Dispute Resolution Guide for Sport and Active Recreation Clubs’ that promotes and encourages participation in mediation where those involved in sporting clubs find themselves in dispute. Similarly, in South Australia, a specialist body (SSDC) was established to provide confidential and impartial mediation and dispute resolution services to the South Australian sporting community. Individual sporting codes often have mediation built into their policies and procedures. Hockey Australia for example, in its Member Protection Policy and Procedures Template (January 2012) deals extensively with the use of mediation as a means to resolve disputes that may arise.

Give Yourself a Sporting Chance Where mediation has been applied successfully in so many high profile disputes arising from sport, it is not hard to see that it can be applied in other types of dispute for similar success. Where the ‘big business’ of sport turns to mediation to resolve disputes, then so too should small business and individuals. As discussed in a previous article, it might in fact be more important for small business and individuals to engage in mediation, as they are often less equipped in terms of resources, to engage in expensive and protracted mediation. So give yourself a sporting chance of resolving any dispute you might be in, by considering the early referral of your dispute to mediation. Affinity Alliance recognises this and has secured the services of John Campbell of Mediation Matters, to help give you that ‘sporting chance’ when faced with dispute.

Advisers or product pushers? Financial planners employed by the big banks are far more likely to push in‐house products than give unbiased advice, an investor survey finds.

The public controversy over the market power of major banks is poised to engulf their wealth management businesses, with new research showing that advisers employed by banking groups are perceived by their clients to be among the hardest pushers of in‐house products. Financial planners employed by the major banks and leading wealth management groups have a credibility problem with investors, according to the latest market research on advice published by Roy Morgan Research. Only 14% of financial planners employed by National Australia Bank, Westpac and Commonwealth Bank are perceived to be independent of the product manufacturing arms of each bank. Investors also do not consider most advisers who market wares through AMP and AXA as independent. Only 28% of AMP planners and 33% of AXA advisers were perceived to be independent by clients. Investor responses to the latest survey, covering the 12 months to the end of September, confirm anecdotal evidence that most investors do not believe that they are getting unfettered advice from planners who are employed by or connected with the country’s major banks and wealth management groups. Roy Morgan has been conducting research into investors’ perceptions of advisers since 2006.

Selecting Your Financial Planner When selecting a financial planner to work with you to develop your financial plan, look for someone who has the qualifications and experience to provide you with the highest quality advice. The following provides you with a checklist of things to look for when selecting your financial planning partner.  Ensure they’re registered with ASIC, the national regulator of Australian companies.  They should be a member of their national body, such as the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) or the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA). These are the national bodies for financial strict code of conduct and have the authority to investigate complaints and discipline members if required.  The planner should be accredited to provide advice at the level or on the topic you require. There are a range of qualifications and accreditations within the financial industry. Ask your prospective planner what qualifications they have and in what areas they’re qualified to provide advice.  Ask if any bank or institution owns or has influence over the Planner, their Licensee or over the products that the Planner will recommend to you. This information should also be provided to you the Financial Services Guide and Statement of Advice. Your Financial Planner is licensed through My Adviser Pty Ltd’s Australian Financial Services Licence. They are privately owned and have no ties to any banks, institutions or product providers. They are also a Principal Member of the Financial Planning Association.

Source: George Lekakis

This editorial provides general information only. Before making any investment decisions, we recommend you consult a financial adviser to take into account your particular investment objectives, financial situation and individual needs. My Adviser Pty Ltd AFSL/ACL Number 238307 ABN 80 065 370 354 and its Authorised Representatives do not accept any liability for any errors or omissions of information supplied in this document. Version 1.0—Reviewed July 2011

MANAGING DEBT 20 September 2013

Are your purchases costing you more than you expected? Managing your finances to meet your day-to-day requirements as well as your long-term goals can be a complex task. Not all debt is bad, but understanding your level of debt, as well as the type of debt incurred, will help you manage it better. Borrowing money is easy – it’s making the repayments that can be difficult. Debt problems don’t strike without warning. Here are some of the most common signs that you may be in too deep. • Do you worry about checking the mailbox for fear of finding another bill? • Are you still paying off credit card bills from last Christmas? • Have you gone through two or more mobile phone providers? • Are you only paying off the minimum monthly credit card balance?

What to think about before you even apply for a loan Before taking out a loan, check: • The term of the loan. • What interest rate will be charged and how often must the repayments be made? • How is the interest rate determined – is it variable (the lender can move the rate up and down) or fixed? • Are there any fees over and above the interest payments, such as monthly service fees?

• Do you have outstanding personal loans that you used for holidays?

• What is the actual amount, in dollar terms, that will be paid over the life of the loan? On a house, over a term of 25 years, this will be several times the actual purchase price.

• Have you maxed out all your credit cards and applied for another?

• What type of security is required? For example, a mortgage on a house may involve the lender having title over the property.

• Is there nothing left in your pay once your debt repayments have been made?

• Is there a level of flexibility available? Can you repay the loan early? Is there a penalty for early repayment? • What happens if you experience short-term financial difficulties or are unable to repay the loan? • Is the contract covered by the National Credit Code?

My Adviser | Managing debt

Debt strategies Here are some basic strategies that can help if you find yourself in trouble. 1 B udget: Modify your budget to make sure it accounts for your debt repayments. Keep track of your spending for about three months to get a realistic idea of where your money is going. Once you can put this into perspective, you may find ways to reduce your spending and increase your debt repayments. 2 P ay off debts with the highest interest rates first: These can cost you more in the long run. Credit cards and personal loans tend to have a higher rate of interest than mortgages. If you have multiple loans and can afford to make extra repayments, it’s wise to start with the loan with the highest interest rate first, then work your way down. 3 U se your mortgage: Many of today’s home loans have facilities allowing you to reduce the interest you are paying on your mortgage without reducing the amount of readily available cash you have on hand. Features such as a redraw facility or an offset account effectively reduce the balance of your mortgage for the period of time that the funds are sitting in the account, which in turn reduces the interest calculated on the balance.

4 Consolidation: Think about consolidating your debts if you have more than one. But only do so if it will help minimise your overall interest payments and the fees and charges you pay. For example taking a personal loan (at an interest rate of 9 per cent) to pay off three credit cards (which have interest rates ranging from 12 per cent to 16 per cent), will save you time, paperwork and money in the long run. Consolidating a short term (high interest rate) car loan with a long term mortgage (low interest rate), may not save you money, so its best to get professional advice.

Don’t put your debt at risk When taking on a debt of any kind, it’s important to remember that unexpected things can occur that may impact your ability to pay off your debts. If you were unable to work due to injury or illness, would you be able to keep up with your financial commitments and protect the assets you’ve worked hard to accumulate? Before taking on a large debt, speak with your financial adviser about preparing for the unexpected through risk management strategies such as income protection insurance.

Ask your lender if these options are available to you, and always be aware of any fees or restrictions that they may have in place, should you wish to pay your mortgage off faster than the original term.

Ask your My Adviser financial adviser for more information.

My Adviser Pty Ltd ABN 80 065 370 354 AFSL/ACL No 238307

This does not constitute credit assistance under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (NCCP). You should note that we cannot suggest a credit contract, or a consumer lease for you, or act as an intermediary in relation to a credit contract, or a consumer lease, under the NCCP. If you require assistance on credit contracts, or consumer leases, we recommend that you contact an Australian Credit Licensee, or a person registered with Australian Securities and Investments Commission to engage in credit activities. Part of the IOOF group

WMA-12033

This is general advice only and does not take into account your financial circumstances, needs and objectives. Before making any decision based on this document, you should assess your own circumstances or seek advice from a financial adviser and seek tax advice from a registered tax agent. Information is current at the date of issue and may change.

YELLOW BRICK ROAD HELPS LOCAL HOME OWNERS “BUST THE MORTGAGE MYTHS”

Yellow Brick Road Browns Plains has announced a new campaign to help bust the myths that confuse consumers into making misguided decisions about their biggest financial commitment - their home loan.

The campaign, which was featured on Channel 9’s “A Current Affair”, was conceived from a Yellow Brick Road survey showing that nearly half of educated, hardworking Australians confessed to feeling confused and embarrassed about their financial situation.

Research compiled from Australian consumers aged 30-49 in the major cities found that nearly 49% of individuals claimed they didn’t speak to a professional about their financial affairs because they found it to be too complex and didn’t have the confidence to have a conversation about their finances. The research also revealed that 73% of respondents identified “trust” as the number one factor in making the decision to work with a financial services professional.

“The finance industry is very good at using confusion to their advantage,” says Yellow Brick Road Executive Chairman Mark Bouris. “In the consumer’s eyes, they might visit their bank, thinking that their loyalty is going to get them the best possible home loan rate, or they might be attracted to a lender advertising a discount, oblivious to the fact that the offer might not suit their needs. That’s why we have created this myth busting campaign, to shine some light on the truth and put the power back in consumer’s hands.”

“What we’re advocating is choice and transparency,” says Yellow Brick Road Browns Plains Branch Principal Ian Birtles-Crute. “We would rather have an educated customer who comes into our branch with a good idea of what’s already in the market. They know what features are important to them and they want to find a loan that’s going to work for them in the long run. We want to help them to get a better understanding of how the system works, which is why this campaign is so important for the people in our community.”

Yellow Brick Road has debunked 30 popular myths, and has created an e-book to help consumers educate themselves against the popular misconceptions that plague the market.

For example, many people think that it’s not worth refinancing to an interest rate only half a percent lower than their current rate. What most people don’t realise is that even a half percent could equate to tens of thousands of dollars in savings. As an example, the difference between a $350,000, 30-year variable rate loan at 4.74% compared to 5.24% is a savings of over $107 every month and nearly $38,500 over the life of the loan.

Another myth is that there is no difference if you make your repayments monthly or fortnightly. The truth is that because there are more than four weeks in a month, making fortnightly payments can actually get you well ahead. On an average $350,000, 30-year loan on a 4.74% interest rate, making fortnightly payments instead of monthly payments would chop out over $53,000 in interest payments and nearly five years off the loan term.

These myths and 28 others have been busted in Yellow Brick Road’s e-book, available online at www.ybr.com.au/myths. Mortgage holders can also check how much they can save by using the Yellow Brick Road online savings calculator.

For more information, contact:

Ian Birtles-Crute

Branch Principal Yellow Brick Road Browns Plains T 07 3133327 M 0404 174 995 E ian.birtles-‐crute@ybr.com.au

Chelsea O’Donnell

Head of Marke3ng & Communica3ons Yellow Brick Road Wealth Management T 02 8226 8202 M 0414 704 033 E Chelsea.ODonnell@ybr.com.au

About Yellow Brick Road Yellow Brick Road is a group of wealth management and financial services companies headed by Executive Chairman Mark Bouris. Yellow Brick Road offers tailored advice and services to Australians wanting to build financial security for the future. With its extensive neighbourhood based branch network, Yellow Brick Road is committed to delivering accessibility, quality financial advice and competition in the market. For more information visit www.ybr.com.au

AFFINITY MAGAZINE

Affinity HR/IR 7 Reasons Why Performance Review Systems Fail by Sharon Collitt from Employment Tool Kits

Top: Performance reviews are critical and, in most cases, expected by employees.

Have you ever heard the saying ‘employees are your best asset’, me too! So why do managers struggle to get the best return on investment from their employees, causing anxiety and frustration? This often results in employers screaming, ‘employees are my worst nightmare’. Sharon Collitt, HR Consultant, explains how you can use performance reviews to motivate employees and improve their productivity. This article is not designed to scare employers away from using performance review systems to effectively manage their talent, but to highlight why this is such a critical element to managing employees effectively to ensure that the business is able to meet its performance targets. Let’s go through the top 7 reasons why performance reviews often fail and how you can learn from them: When an employee takes offence to constructive criticism. Although delivering both positive and negative feedback is part of being an effective manager, there can be instances where non-complimentary feedback or disciplinary action is viewed by the employee as offensive, and, in extreme cases bullying. By only having review discussions once a year. This can lead to managers basing feedback solely on most recent performance, rather than total performance over the full course of the year. The results of infrequent reviews can skew individuals’ review results. For example, employees who display their best behaviour around review time attract favourable ratings, and the employees who have had a bad couple of weeks suffer sub-par results. This may not be an accurate reflection of overall employee performance.

Having review discussions when there is an employee issue. When performance reviews are only scheduled at times when an employee is not meeting performance expectations, the manager has ‘had enough’, complaints are received from colleagues or customers, or a company needs to terminate the employee. This discussion should be treated as a diminished performance discussion and not an annual review discussion.

When performance reviews are ‘sprung’ on the employee. Employees should be encouraged to prepare for their review conversations with their manager to ensure a two-way discussion. To tick the box. When a manager tells an employee they are conducting the review purely because “HR told me to do so” and display little or no enthusiasm for the process. Not training Managers effectively. When supervisors and managers have never been trained to properly evaluate an employee’s performance. Not following your own company policy. When performance reviews are scheduled for all staff on an annual basis, but this policy is not enforced ie some employees are reviewed and others are not. The employees who are reviewed might feel singled out and the non-

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reviewed employees may feel ignored. If your policy is to hold reviews with employees, then you need to do as you say or your employees will loose faith and trust. An effective performance management system requires considerable effort to develop,

Improving the career planning and job matching processes for employees. • Identifying problems that affect job performance (either employee or related or organisation related) and devising remedial action.

In order to get the most out of your next review cycle, take the time to think about what effort you need to put in to get the most out of it.

• Obtaining feedback on the effectiveness of other HR functions, such as recruitment, selection, training and development, career planning and job analysis. • Providing information for decisions surrounding remuneration and rewards. • Providing information to assist with legislation compliance, such as equal opportunity & dismissal legislation. • Reinforcing organisational values & objectives.

implement and maintain, but the benefits are plentiful, including: • Improving the relationship between manager and employee by bringing them together to discuss work issues in a non-threatening environment. • Identifying employee potential for promotion & succession planning. • Identifying training and developmental needs.

• Obtaining feedback to improve job design, allocation of resources, work scheduling, etc.

• Managers to meet with employees on a regular basis to discuss objectives & targets.

• Maintaining effective performance by identifying performance problems at an early stage, before the consequences become serious.

Performance reviews are critical and in most cases, expected by employees.

• Empowering employees to take their own initiative to improve performance.

Therefore getting it right in the first place will go a long way to achieving your company goals and having a highly motivated and productive workforce.

Affinity TRAVEL !

Save up to 70% off by booking with Affinity Travelâ&#x20AC;Ś Here are some of our valued partners. Call 1300 793 044 www.affinityalliance.net.au/travel

Affinity COMMUNICATIONS !

How to use LinkedIn for Lead Generation LinkedIn is a powerful lead generation tool. By using LinkedIn effectively, you can generate new leads, revisit old leads and nurture your professional relationships. Not only is the network a great destination for finding, building and strengthening connections, it is also a great tool for building thought leadership, promoting your content and staying in the know about industry news and trends. Here are some tips about how to use LinkedIn effectively for lead generation.

Create A Company Page Creating a company page on LinkedIn is one of the first steps you should take to support your lead generation efforts. By having a company page, you can promote your products and services and share updates about your company with your prospects. Fill out as much information as possible so that prospects can easily find out more about your business. Posting regular status updates on your company page is an excellent way to show your business’ expertise, thought leadership and credibility in your field. By providing interesting content, users will be more inclined to engage with your page.

Optimise your LinkedIn Profile Having a complete and regularly updated LinkedIn profile is vital when building your contacts and looking to generate leads. A completed profile will appear in search results 40 times more than the average LinkedIn profile, which gives you a better chance of connecting with prospects. Regularly updating your profile will ensure you look credible to users and help build your thought leadership.

Connect with prospects A basic account on LinkedIn will allow you to build relationships and maintain contacts. Be proactive about adding connections, for instance if you attend a

networking event, make sure to connect with the people you meet straight away. By transferring your offline connections online, you can ensure a greater longevity and a stronger relationship. LinkedIn’s advanced search is a helpful tool that can help you find contacts relevant to your business within your extended network. You can directly drill down and filter people by role type, company or industry, leading to high quality leads. You will be able to view second degree connections and depending on a person’s privacy settings, third degree connections. By upgrading to LinkedIn premium, you can contact people outside of your network (third degree connections and so on) and gain further insights into who is viewing your profile. When identifying potential leads it can be useful to ask yourself ‘what do I have to offer them and what can they offer to my business?’ If the answer is nothing, then the connection is not a valuable lead. LinkedIn also offers users the option to add notes, tags and reminders to contacts, giving users an easy way to manage their contacts as well as stay in touch regularly.

Personalise your connection request For valuable leads, it is important to tailor your connection request to increase your chances of being accepted. The default connection request message can send the wrong signal to the person you want to form a relationship with as it can imply either that you don’t have the time to send a personal request or you do not have anything in common. PersonalisePersonalise each connection request to make a good first impression. Include a reminder of how the person may know you and explain why they should connect with you. Mention something you both have in common, such as a group or discuss any mutual connections you have.

Join LinkedIn Groups Another great way to generate leads from LinkedIn is to take a longer-term approach of building

your reputation and developing relationships through LinkedIn groups. Interacting in LinkedIn groups can help build your profile and the profile of your business. Once you have identified your key area of expertise and searched for relevant LinkedIn groups, post thought provoking discussions which drive engagement with your target audience. Take the time to find valuable and engaging content which group members will appreciate and respond to. Ensure you are adding value to the conversation by commenting on other posts and answering questions if you know the answer.

Post valuable Content Posting status updates and posting into LinkedIn groups are excellent ways to showcase your business’ expertise and thought leadership in your industry. Use the‘Share an Update’ box at the top of your LinkedIn home page to add content rich information. Include images and links to ensure your content is engaging. You may like to post an interesting article, blog post or quote relating to your industry. You could also post news about your business or your own career, such as award wins or a new business win. Try to post at least once a day, as it will show up in the feed of your connections and ensure that you stay top of mind with them. Be strategic about when you post your status updates, as you should post at the time of the day you will get the most impressions. Generally companies receive more engagement in the morning; however it is worth monitoring which posts are receiving the most website traffic, likes, comments and shares. LinkedIn is a great tool for professionals looking to generate new leads for their business. Remember to regularly update both your personal and company profiles, engage with your connections and post valuable, interesting content.

by Fiona McTaggart Affinity Alliance & LookAtMeMarketing

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Phone: 1300 793 044

Email: admin@affinityalliance.net.au www.affinityalliance.net.au

Affinity LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT !

Affinity DINING Choose from over 6000 Restaurants across Australia & New Zealand….

Some exciting news… The exciting news is only the beginning, with the continued growth of our Dining & Wining Directory, Affinity Alliance is certainly expanding in leaps and bounds.

Adding up to 6000 more restaurants to our Dining Directory Thanks to our dedicated team members, Affinity Alliance has been able to offer our members more value for money than we could ever imagine. The new Dining & Wining Directory will be available in your Generic Member Directory or to view online as of April 2014. With so many additions, it has been a work in progress,but we know you’re going to love it!

About the Dining Directory Restaurants, Cafes and Bistros from all over Australia & NZ have become involved in what we can only describe as colossal. It has been a huge work in progress but we can now start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Members

will be able to show their Affinity Alliance Membership Card or Virtual card at participating restaurants and venues to receive their discounted offer. The online directory will make it easier for members to search state by state and dine at their favourite little bistro, cafe or fine dining venue.

Not only will you receive a full page in the AA Dining & Wining Directory, you will also receive a full page on all three of our websites

Become Involved

and regular monthly advertisements in our Affinity EMAG and infinite exposure to our 400,000 strong member database.

If you own a restaurant or venue and you feel that this is an opportunity not to be missed, then you would be right. The Affinity Alliance team is awaiting your submission. The requirements are simple and the return is great.

www.affinityalliance.net.au www.affinityallianceco.com.au www.affinityfundraising.net.au

This is a FREE offer and one that is too good to refuse, so best you get in early as submissions will be closing at the end of April 2014.

“Add your Restaurant to our Dining Directory and get more exposure” There is no cost involved. All that we ask is that you can offer an exclusive discount/benefit or service to our members upon dining at your venue. It really is that simple.

For more information on how you can become a part of the Affinity Alliance Dining & Wining Directory, contact our head office on

We will even set up your webpage and directory page if required.

or email your request to admin@affinityalliance.net.au and we will email you the requirements.

1300 793 044

Affinity NETWORKING !

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Affinity NETWORKING Effective Networking for Busy Entrepreneurs by Danielle Mayes from the Virtual Card Company The thought process…

will pave the way for you to introduce your business… simple!

Building a business is demanding and takes a lot of time to reach success. We all tend to assign lower priorities to the bottom of the pile. One of these priorities that most seem to put to the bottom of the pile is networking. You may think “boring” “tedious” and some would go as far as to say “what a waste of time”. Well I am about to dispel those thoughts because the simple fact of the matter is that without regular networking, your goals for success will take a lot longer than you had originally intended or planned.

The Elevator Pitch

When is best? Without you even being fully aware, you are networking everyday by constantly meeting new people with no disruption whatsoever to your busy schedule. The relevant question is, do you make a point of always mentioning what it is that you do? You don’t need to be too business like, just be casual, but make your job sound interesting and for most potential entrepreneurs, that shouldn’t be a difficult task. If you are passionate about your business, this will come naturally. You don’t want to come across as too pushy, you don’t need to. Simply strike up a conversation about what they do and then this

A good way for you to do this is to work out what your “Elevator Pitch” is. Think of it as if you were stuck in an elevator with like minded entrepreneurs and you had the time between floors to introduce your business to them and make it sound convincing? What would you say? This is your “Elevator Pitch”. For more information on how to create a successful “Elevator Pitch” and to gain access to a proven formula, please email geoff@dancingblindman.com. If you have a great “Elevator Pitch”, guess what will happen? Referrals!

Networking Groups The other option you have is to join a networking group. Admittedly, the majority of these, cost money to join and have limited spaces available. You do need to do your research on this to find the perfect fit for you and your organisation. Find the groups in your area and which ones you would get the most benefit from. You can attend most networking groups for free for the first two sessions and this is a great way to question some members to find if this is the right group for you. Do they have members that do presentations to boost their own business? Do they

arrange educational workshops that will help you or is it simply just handing out your business card? Some have extravagant fees to become a member and some are for free. Again this boils down to some good ‘ole fashion homework. Either way, don’t let budget cloud your decision making process and prevent you from choosing the perfect networking group for you. In saying that, if you are new to the whole Networking scene, perhaps start with some that are free to join, before you make your choice. This is a great way to explore how they are operated and how successful they are in generating new business for its members. The answer lies again in RESEARCH. In summary, networking is a great way of sharing ideas and knowledge with likeminded people. From gaining necessary feedback to discussing your point of view, it will help you expand your knowledge and see things from a whole new perspective. Either way you are presented with an opportunity to expand in every way possible…

Affinity FUNDRAISING !

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AFFINITY FUNDRAISING Fundraising Assistance With the launch of the new Fundraising program, Affinity Alliance is gearing up to work with some great NFP’s, Schools and Charities to assist with raising some much needed funds. The Affinity Fundraising Program is designed with these organisations in mind and know the struggles of organising such a mammoth task and being able to come out of it unscathed. The team have worked tirelessly to put together some helpful tips to hopefully make this task a lot easier during the planning stages. Even though planning a fundraiser is a large job, it is often very straightforward to do. Once you have everything organised to achieve your goal, it will be well worth your time and effort. By following this fundraising planning formula below, your fundraising event will have a greater chance of success.

Know Your Purpose A fundraiser is often done to raise money for a specific reason. Are you raising money for new sports equipment for your club or new computers for your school? So before planning a fundraiser, you must know why you need to raise money in the first place. From there, you can start formulating your goals and objectives.

Set your goals and objectives This is a very important step because your goal will lead you on to the next step. Aside from that, it gives you and your team motivation for the project. This is very similar to the “Knowing your purpose” section above. However this is where you decide how much money you need to raise.

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Top: Leave it up to the Fundraising Superheros to get the job done.

Set Your Budget When planning a fundraiser you must keep your budget in mind, so consider expenses that you will incur. Your plan should include a detailed spending plan that lists all the costs that will be needed to hold your fundraiser. Remember to include costs before, during and after the fundraiser.Â

Determine your target audience When planning a fundraiser you must also consider your target audience. To maximize involvement, identify who will be attending your event or buying the fundraising products. This is a crucial step when planning a fundraiser to ensure you reach your target. So who is your target audience? The general public, people in your neighbourhood, or are you focusing on a specific group like school-age children or your clubs fans. Deciding this ahead of time helps with items like advertising your fundraiser.

Fixing your Timeline To make your fundraiser a success, you must schedule the date and times. While organising a fundraiser, it is essential to set a schedule which will guarantee sufficient time for your group, but not so far in the future that people lose interest.

Also ensure that you have checked the calendar for other events like holidays and public events that may impact your fundraiser to ensure that there’s no overlapping of activities. However, if you need any help with this, seek advice from seasoned professionals who have been part of such events in the past. Our dedicated team at Affinity Fundraising will be only to happy to help.

Identify the setup of your Fundraiser In planning a fundraiser you need to make sure you’re organised ahead of time. It should cover all the particulars of the actual fundraiser. For example, you need to know dates, times, products, foods that will be served (if needed), volunteers etc.

Market your Fundraiser Promoting plays a key role inholding a successful and profitable fundraiser. In this case, you need to draw up your marketing strategy plan. The more people that know about your fundraiser, the greater chance it has of being successful and making a profit. There are many different ways to promote your fundraiser – social media (like Facebook and twitter), emails and newsletters are just a few. These marketing platforms are the latest advancement to help create a buzz about your fundraising event. If this all seems too much for you, the alternative is to let our Fundraising Group do all of the work for you. It really is that simple. Call us today on 1300 793 044 and take the first step…

Visit our website www.affinityfundraising.net.au

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Affinity HEALTH & WELLBEING COMING SOON…

Affinity Alliance remains dedicated to its members in providing the best there is in exclusive benefits and services across a wide range of Industries. If you feel that your business or company can offer our members an exclusive benefit and you want to be added to our long list of professionals and receive FREE advertising to our complete database, contact our HEAD OFFICE today 1300 793 044 Building our Provider List Our capability to deliver high quality, tailored and customised benefit programs with dedicated and personalised service, sets us apart. We appreciate that organisations today need to be flexible, innovative and affordable without compromising quality and value.

Who do we serve? Affinity Alliances has been built on strong values of innovation and integrity. We pride ourselves on delivering the highest levels of service for our people. We work hard to establish strong relationships with our clients and members by undertaking regular surveys and feedback reviews. Our member base is made up of professionals across a wide range of industries such as Architecture & Engineering, Medical and Dental, Finance, Information Technology, to name just a few.

What are the Benefits of an AA Provider

• Affinity Alliance invests in the marketing of your service via an integrated communications and marketing strategy. To maintain our quality standards and to deliver sustainable benefits, we enter into supplier Agreements will all of our partners. If you would like a copy of our Partner Agreement, please contact Head office on 1300 793 044 or email admin@affinityalliance.net.au

This Agreement outlines a differentiated offer (must be national and preferably in New Zealand too); which represents a genuine benefit for our members when compared with an equivalent public offer, and any other service, marketing or management information. Click on the link below to view the requirements of becoming an Affinity Alliance provider. CLICK HERE TO VIEW

• Expose your brand to our market • Increased traffic to your business through Affinity Alliance channels • Introduce your business to our stakeholder network • Access our fast growing member base • Your product information is promoted and marketed on Affinity Alliance’s website - saving you time and money • Increased number of sales, and in turn, revenue for your business • Brand recognition by association with our existing partners

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WANT TO ADVERTISE IN OUR MONTHLY EMAGAZINE? CALL 1300 793 044 OR EMAIL US TODAY FOR A MEDIA KIT

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Affinity SHOPPER !

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AFFINITY SHOPPER Our Brand New Site… I know what you are asking yourself and that is… how much more can Affinity Alliance offer us? Well the answer is simple, we will never be done sourcing and negotiating new benefits for our ever loyal member base. Just when you think we can’t get any better, along comes some other great offer to knock you off your feet in wonderment and here it is. Affinity Alliance has its very own Shopping website. Yes you heard it here first folks, we have an online shopping website jam packed with extraordinary bargains that are too good for you to refuse. So dust off that wallet, prepare your credit card and go shopping. The new site is of course aptly named www.affinityshopper.net.au and as previously mentioned, will save you bucket loads on everyday items as well as specialty goods. Take a trip down Affinity Shopping Lane today and see what bargains you can grab.

Save up to 70% on well known brands and retailers across a huge range of categories including: • Fashion • Health & Beauty • Home & Outdoor • Pet Products • Printer Cartridges • Technology • Toys • Wine & Drink Accessories

START SHOPPING NOW www.affinityshopper.net.au

PHONE 1300 793 044 shopper@affinityalliance.net.au

Affinity Alliance â&#x20AC;&#x153;Membership that Mattersâ&#x20AC;?

Phone 1300 793 044 www.affinityalliance.net.au