Anne Graham

Integrated Financial Advice firm Kearney Group, is thrilled to announce that AnneGraham, one of Australia’s foremost financial advisers, has joined the firm and will commence services from Kearney Group’s Fitzroy premises on 9 September 2024.

Anne is an award-winning Certified Financial Planner® (CFP) with over 30 years of professional experience. Her distinguished career in financial planning is built on strong academic and professional foundations that include accreditation as a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA), a Bachelor of Business (Accounting), and a Masters in Applied Finance.

Her outstanding service to clients has earned her numerous accolades and prestigious positions on boards and committees, including Securitor Financial Group’s National Advisory Council, Deakin University Department of Accounting Advisory Board, and the Future2 Foundation Board. Anne is also the co-founder and past CEO of Story Wealth.

Reflecting on her new role, Anne Graham stated: “I’m thrilled to join Kearney Group and refocus on what I love most, in the next phase of my career– delivering exceptional financial advice and mentoring the next generation of advisers. This move allows me to concentrate on my clients without the demands of running a business.” Anne says her clients can expect a seamless transition and continued excellence in service as she begins this new chapter with Kearney Group.

“To my long-standing clients, thank you for your unwavering support over the years. I am confident this transition will only enhance your advice experience, with access to Financial Planning, Accounting, Tax, Business Advisory, Bookkeeping, Lending, and Insurance, all under one roof through Kearney Group’s Integrated Advice model.”

Paul Kearney, Founder and CEO of Kearney Group, expressed his enthusiasm: “We are delighted to welcome Anne Graham to Kearney Group. Anne and I have known each other and collaborated closely for over 15 years. I have always admired her dedication, expertise and the high regard in which she’s held within our professional community. This new partnership brings together some of the finest practitioners in the country and I cannot wait to see what we create together.”

Anne’s approach to financial planning is centred around the three pillars of collaboration, education and clarity; a philosophy that aligns seamlessly with Kearney Group’s Integrated Advice Team model. Her appointment to Kearney Group underscores the firm’s commitment to offering top-tier financial advice, provided by the nation’s best advisers.

The post Kearney Group welcomes renowned Financial Adviser, Anne Graham appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Future2 is the foundation of the financial planning profession in Australia. Through its annual Future2 Make the Difference! Grants program, Future2 supports young Australians experiencing social, financial or physical hardship.

More than $1 million has been contributed by Future2 to benefit disadvantaged young people across Australia since its inception 11 years ago. The milestone was achieved by awarding $181,000 in new Future2 grants to 19 not-for-profit organisations in 2018, including special drought relief grants for struggling farming communities.

Future2 Chair, Petra Churcher AFP® says, “We have an ambitious target to increase our distribution in grants to $200,000 in 2019. We would like to see this annual amount double to $400,000 per annum. It is an ambitious target, and the extensive experience that Ms Berry, Mr Humphrey and Ms Maragna bring across a wide range of areas will be an absolute asset to the Future2 Board of Directors and our collective drive to make a positive impact to families and young people facing difficult circumstances.”

Each of the new directors brings a wealth of experience:

• Ms Julie Berry CFP® has been practicing as a financial planner for almost 30 years. She is a director of the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and Chair of Firm for 360 Financial Advantage. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She has served as both the Chair and board member of the FPA and as Chair and Board member of the Institute of Financial Advisers in New Zealand. She is also a life member of the FPA and a recipient of the Money Management Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Mr Hugh Humphrey is a senior executive in the financial services industry, with an interesting and diverse background in management consulting and telecommunications. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Sydney, an MBA from Henley Business School at the University of Reading in the UK, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Mr Humphrey has been on the Board of The Infants’ Home for almost five years.
• Ms Olivia Maragna CFP® is Chief Executive of Aspire Retire. She features on the 2019 Barron’s Top 50 Financial Advisers honour roll and presented a Hall of Fame Award for Business Achievement. She is a well-recognised finance commentator and advocate for the financial planning profession. She is the finance columnist for several national newspapers and has a regular finance segment on ABC radio.

Mr Peter Bobbin, Mr Patrick Canion CFP® , FPA CEO Mr Dante De Gori CFP® , Ms Anne Graham CFP® , Ms Alison Henderson CFP® , Mr Joseph Hoe CFP® and Dr Michael Neary CSC continue to serve on the Future2 Board under the ongoing leadership of Ms Petra Churcher AFP® as Chair.

The post Future2 welcomes three new Board Directors appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Anne Graham

I’ve always been proud to be an adviser, but it’s now more difficult than ever. Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud of my team and the work we do, but in general terms when I look back over the last 12-18 months there’s not been a lot to be proud of – on the surface at least.

The issues and behaviours raised in the Royal Commission have been surprising at best, shameful at worst. And now, we’re dealing with the aftermath which will continue for a long time. The process of working through and resolving the poor behaviours of the past will be long and messy but those who come through the other side will be better for it.

Now, back to me. When self-pity and anxiety start to raise their ugly heads, the main issues that occupy my mind are many and varied: what do I do about licensing? How is my succession plan tracking? What is the business valued at and do we still use the same models? When will I find time to prep for a 3.5-hour exam that my career is riding on? How do I support my team and keep them engaged? Will I end up in jail because I forgot to do a file note?

Ok, that’s all a bit extreme. The one thing that isn’t in that never-ending list of woe are my clients

Like many advisers in recent times, I question why on earth am I still doing what I do? Who would be an adviser in this climate? Where is the upside? Do I really make a difference?

And like many advisers, I need to look back at what got me into the advice profession in the first place. And that was to help people.

Sounds corny and sentimental, but it’s true.

We all have our stories and case studies, many of them have a common thread.

We’re not geniuses, most of what we know can be learned by anyone with a desire and interest to do so. In fact, we are likely to be replaced by some extent with AI.

However, what good advisers bring to the table (in addition to their technical skills) is empathy, common sense and a genuine desire to make a difference.

So, when I have a deadline to respond to compliance checklists, prepare for an audit, or respond to queries from associates, all that drops away when I get an email or call from a client. My focus shifts to their issues and concerns. Why? Because it’s more fun, rewarding and fulfilling than FDS, OASA, AFSL, SOA, FFS (yes, fee for service, not the other one).

What does a typical week of client work look like and why is it so rewarding? Let’s have a look:

Claire* is divorced and in her late 60s with adult children she doesn’t see very often. We first met Claire about eight years ago when she was referred by her solicitor. She had little experience managing money, let alone a budget, and her goal was to make sure her money lasted as long as she did. She purchased a home, invested funds tax effectively and commenced drawing regular income. In theory, the plan ticked all the boxes: it meets best interest duty, is easy to understand and implement, is flexible to adapt to a changing legal environment.

In practice, life gets in the way and is more complex. Claire suffers from anxiety, depression, insecurities and low self-esteem and as a result of this, spends more than she can afford on designer handbags and French champagne (the real stuff, not the sparkling wine). When we dig deeper, the source of the anxiety and insecurities becomes clear – concern about health and the impact breast cancer had on her view of the future.

What makes me proud when working with Claire? Despite the challenges, we believe in Claire and helping her deal with her issues. I’m proud because the advice, coaching, accountability and care we show Claire is what’s saving her from relying entirely on the age pension and maintaining financial independence for years to come.

Patricia* Bill* and Jane*– Patricia (and her husband Bill*) were in their 80s and were long standing client for many years. The words that describe Patricia and Bill are feisty and gentlemanly. Patricia had a penchant for scarves and Bill had a penchant for bookkeeping. As time went on, Bill required aged care and we helped and guided Patricia through that process. Explaining the complexity of aged care fees and options available, in a simple way that Patricia could understand was challenging but with a little patience and care, Bill was able to receive quality care and Patricia was comfortable with the decisions she’d made. When the time came for Patricia to move to aged care herself (a week after her Bill died) we helped her daughter Jane through the process. In a very short time, she had to come to grips with not only her mother’s failing health, but her mother’s finances and the world of aged care. Decisions regarding the home and aged care fees had to be made and once again we proposed options, trying to make the complex simple. Sadly, Patricia passed away (scarves were a feature at her funeral) and we’re helping Jane with the Estate and her inheritance.

What makes me proud when working with Jane? Being in a position of trust. When people like Patricia, Bill and Jane have complete confidence and faith in your advice it is a great responsibility. Advising this lovely family and developing friendships during what are the most difficult times is a privilege. Assisting with the stewardship of the family’s hard-earned wealth, in a genuine and caring manner is rewarding.

Maddie* and Tracey* are a terrific couple who care for others more than themselves. Maddie works full time in a tough job whilst Tracey looks after elderly family members – parents, aunts and even neighbours. It’s just what they do. They are in their 50s and have a love of cars, singing, and travel. We’ve worked with Maddie and Tracey on developing their retirement plan ensuring there is flexibility to consider their non-financial goals. Maddie works far too much, conscious that she’s not only supporting Tracey and herself financially, but she’s also indirectly supporting others.

What makes me proud working with Maddie and Tracey? When difficult and challenging decisions need to be made, two confident, smart and caring women turn to me for advice and guidance. I’m proud that they’ve achieved their goals and are now in a position where Maddie can take on a part time job, with reduced income but will still be able to meet their retirement and personal goals.

For many of us, being an adviser isn’t just about working with clients and giving them information and advice they need to achieve their goals. It’s also about building something bigger than us and guiding and training the next generation of advisers and financial planning teams.

With that in mind I’m also proud to be able to provide career paths for new advisers, Jessica and Jess. Being able to support their studies, supervise client meetings, guide them through the advice process and develop rewarding careers is exciting.

I’m proud to have built a business that is solid enough to withstand the many changes we’re experiencing in our world.

I’m proud to support graduates who want a career in financial advice, whatever that will look like in 5-10 years.

I’m proud of my adviser community. It’s in tough times that we can see who we really are and sometimes it’s not real pretty. It’s great to know that our community, my community, is strong, supportive and caring. We’re all experiencing rapid change and whilst onlookers may think we compete against each other, the truth is we’re more collaborators than competitors.

Even though the thought of a new career, or retirement is attractive at times, I’m proud to be an adviser and I’m sticking it out.

By Anne Graham, CEO Story Wealth Management

*Not their real names.

———

Read more in the series:

• Proud to be an Adviser – Part one – Jenny Brown
• Proud to be an Adviser – Part two – Tristan Barnes
• Proud to be an Adviser – Part three – Eugene Ardino
• Proud to be an Adviser – Part four – Adam McCarthy
  

The post Proud to be an Adviser – Part five – Anne Graham appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Anne Graham and David Graham

The blurb says that “Mount Anne Circuit is one of the world’s great bushwalking challenges. It combines all the elements for a wilderness epic: a spectacular objective, sub alpine crags, exposed scrambles, deep forests and idyllic lakes.”

I’m looking forward to the idyllic lakes but not so sure about the ‘exposed scrambles’.

I’m also not so sure about the 20kg pack we each have to maneuver over those exposed scrambles!

The Mount Anne Circuit is an unsupported pack-carrying bush-walking experience. The geography and weather will be variable, we will be hiking for 5 days/4 nights, carrying all the equipment and food required. There will be no showers or other amenities. I’m not sure if we’ll be dragging our unwashed, unkempt, exhausted selves into the FPA Congress immediately after the hike.

Panoramic views while ridge walking on Mt Anne.

If we do I hope to be rewarded with donations for Future2!

Training for this important fundraiser has been a little less organised than my last one leaving me somewhat nervous about the scrambling, trekking, climbing and pack-carrying but what keeps me and the other participants going is the tremendous cause we are supporting.

Simply put, Future2 Foundation is helping disadvantaged young people by providing grants to non-government funded programs. Grant applications are sponsored by members of the FPA and funds are donated by the financial planning community – businesses, planners, staff and clients. It’s all about connection, community and caring.

Bestlife Inc based in Carindale Qld is a great example of a Grant recipient. “The Sleepover Program” is a wonderful initiative that provides quality out-of-home weekend opportunities for youths between the ages of 6 and 19 living with disabilities. The Program, supported by a Future2 Grant, allows these kids to participate in everyday childhood activities, improve their life skills, develop friendships and build lifelong networks.

So, this is the beauty of the Future2 Challenges:

• we get to have an adventure and take on a challenge;
• you get to participate vicariously and donate some funds;
• our clients get to hear how planners are supporting the community;
• our teams get to feel part of something bigger than themselves; and
• young people get to experience activities they otherwise wouldn’t be able to.

That’s why I do silly things like climb mountains.

Anne Graham

Donate here.

More about Future2 

More about Bestlife Foundation

The post Another year, another Future2 Challenge! appeared first on AdviserVoice.

(Left to right) Anne Graham, Kara Treeby, Sarah Leslie and David Graham

With women currently representing only around 20% of Australia’s financial advisers, it’s extremely rare to find a financial services company that is predominantly women, but that is exactly the case for Story Wealth Management.

Bucking the trend of male dominated financial services companies, three out of four of Story Wealth Management’s directors and seven out of nine team members are female.

Headed by award-winning advisers Anne Graham and David Graham, Story Wealth Management was formed after the recent merger of Sigma Wealth Management with Thinc Wealth, a respected and energetic company run by Sarah Leslie and Kara Treeby. Their respective business’ historical growth and success is an indicator that women have a lot to offer the profession.

“Thinc were a great example of a successful company focussed on providing an exceptional service to clients,” says Anne, “and the synergy with Sigma Wealth Management was obvious. Together we are a powerful team that can provide a comprehensive range of advice and services to help clients achieve their goals.”

The change in name reflected the fresh start for the resulting company, and also highlighted to clients the company’s commitment to bringing clients’ stories to life through great financial advice and management.

Anne, who serves on a number of boards and committees in addition to her client work, believes more women will enter the profession as demand grows.

“The workforce in Australia is changing, with greater representation of women across the board, and the financial services industry will not be immune to that,” says Anne.

Anne hastens to add that it’s not a case of women being better advisers than men; the issue is that clients sometimes don’t have the option of working with a female adviser given the limited number of experienced, qualified women in the profession. “Our client base encompasses all types of people, and they generally select their adviser based on how that person meets all of their needs, in terms of their ability to understand their goals and partner with the client to achieve them,” explains Anne. “Our clients value the skills and experience of our team, and we’re proud to offer them a service that they love.”

“Any industry benefits from better representation of their client base, and the financial services industry without doubt can count any member of the Australian community as a potential client. Why wouldn’t you include women in your team?”

The answer to that question seems to be that women are still entering the industry at a lower rate than men. However some key players have recognised that the imbalance is not good for the industry and are working on remedying the situation.

For example, BT Financial Group launched the Stella Network in 2013 to increase the representation of women in the industry generally, and in their own organisation specifically. In 2015 they cited an noticeable improvement in the ratio of female advisers in their own team, with around 45% of new advisers in 2014 being women.

Though it might take some time for the balance to be redressed, Story Wealth Management are proud to stand out in the financial services profession.

“In the end, it’s our financial and market knowledge, our extensive experience, and our genuine interest and concern for our clients that earns us our success,” says Anne. “But it’s also great that we can offer a real point of difference in a heavily male dominated industry.”

The post The Story is this…these women are taking the financial services industry by storm appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Anne thanks her guide Francis.

After 12 months of thinking, planning, fundraising, conditioning and let’s face it, trepidation and denial, on 24^th February 2016 we finally reached Uhuru Peak which at 5895 meters is the very top of Mt Kilimanjaro.

After hiking and camping for 5 days, we were fast approaching the pointy-end of the trip. We had an early start with a relatively easy “stroll” from Mawenzi to Kibo which was our base for the summit climb.

Kibo is at 4,730 mtrs and the high altitude affected my breathing and caused mild headache. When resting I felt fine but as soon as I started moving breathing became slightly laboured, as if I’d been running for a while.

The terrain is alpine desert which is a barren landscape (only 600mm rainfall a year) apart from the wreckage of a small plane which crashed a few years ago and the occasional porter/hiker making their way to Kibo, there isn’t much to see.

Life at the top.

The 5 hour walk was quite easy and we reached camp in the middle of the day to rest up and prepare for our ascent that night. The afternoon briefing reminded us of the risks to be aware of, in particular managing altitude sickness. We were shown the Portable Altitude Capsule or (PAC) which was somewhat of a reality check – in an emergency the patient would be transferred to the PAC and given oxygen, then escorted quickly down the mountain. Even though when inflated it looked like a giant red hotdog, the remote fact that it could be needed was a reminder of what we were about to embark on.

One of our guides noted that they were to be viewed as “more than our best friends because we need to be honest with them”. They were there to help us and it was that comment that comes back to me during the climb.

After an early dinner of soup, veg stew and rice we all went to bed to sleep for a few hours to then be woken at 11pm for a midnight start. The temperature was quite cold so layers were important. I wore: 2 pair socks, 2 pair gloves, thermals (top and bottom), fleece pants and top, hiking pants, water/wind proof pants and gaiters. On top I had thermal top, fleece top, down jacket, gortex jacket. I had two hoods on plus the Future2 beanie. We had to bring water in our packs – both the bladder with a tube and a drink bottle. Despite insulating the drinking tube, it froze during the climb.

The plan was to stop every hour for quick drink and snack. There were many other groups climbing and although we were constantly moving, it was quite busy at times and 30 minutes in, people were starting to come back the mountain(with their guide) looking dreadful – reminiscent of the Walking Dead. We were climbing over scree (volcanic dust and pebbles) in a switchback fashion due to the steep incline.

Anne at Uhuru Point.

I was the slowest and therefore the last climber of our small group. I definitely wasn’t alone as Francis, my newfound friend and guide, stayed with me the entire time. In fact, Francis could see early on that I was struggling to keep up so stepped in front of me, told me to “follow my feet” and go “pole pole” (slowly slowly). He set a pace I could maintain, constantly checked on me and offered to take my pack. I had to be a best friend and be honest so I agreed.

At the “cave” which was our second stop there were quite a few other intrepid mountaineers and it was lovely to be given hot, sweet tea. I was feeling pretty average by then though with headache worsening and nausea – and not being able to eat anything wasn’t a great start. Having a doctor with us was great as Jane gave me something for the symptoms and I continued on.

As we moved further up the mountain, it became rockier and physically challenging. It was very steep in parts and due to the thin atmosphere, difficult to breathe. It felt like I was running a marathon but reality was, I was going at a snail’s pace.

Reaching our first landmark which was Gilman’s Point was a genuine achievement. I was overcome with a wave of emotion – still feeling unwell but totally thrilled I’d got that far (after about 4 hours of climbing in the dark). I also knew we had at least a further 2 hours of climbing to reach the Summit!

The next 2 hours or so were tough. There was black ice on the trail, narrow and awkward trails and snow and ice piled up along the edges. The temperature was about -15C and the wind was extremely strong at about 50 knots.

The scenery was magical – snow, ice, glaciers, the stars above and a very bright Mars. Unfortunately I didn’t appreciate it was much as I should have as walking required all my attention and concentration!

Sunset on the mountain.

The team had reached Uhuru at sunrise – I was about 20-30 minutes behind them. After the obligatory photo, Francis and I started the return journey which was still challenging but much quicker. David had waited for me at Gilman’s point and we made the decent together. Going back down the mountain is an adventure in itself – and I now know why the climb starts in the dark. If we could see what’s ahead, we probably wouldn’t have done it!

It took about 10 hours or so for me to complete the climb and the thoughts that kept me going were:

• One step in front of the other
• It’s not a race
• When you think your body’s had enough, it’s only 40% done. That’s when you need to draw on reserves and mental strength
• What on earth was Scot of the Antarctic and Sir Edmund Hillary thinking when they took on their expeditions?

At no point did I think I wouldn’t make it and nor was I fearful. There is no doubt that my intrepid and experienced guide Francis was key to my success.

Getting down the mountain wasn’t the end of our adventure. After returning to camp and washing, eating and resting, it’s time to pack up the tents and have a final hike of 5-6 hours for the day! There was no rest.

As challenging as the hike was, I would do it again in a heartbeat. Our amazing team (Julie Berry, Sam Hunt, David Graham and me) raised nearly $40,000 for the Future2 Foundation. Thank you to our generous financial planning community, friends, family and clients.

Anne Graham (with David Graham)

———-

Read more about Anne’s journey here:

2 November: Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – Hiking IS different to running…believe me!

12 August: Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – The generosity of strangers (and friends)

22 July: Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – training in the US

23 June: Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – 1,000 Steps Kokoda Walk

11 June: Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – Boots and birthday

27 May: Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – Oh, what the hell have I done?

12 May: Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – Want to climb a mountain? Of course I do…

The post Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – I’m now a Kili Climber appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Anne Graham, 2013 AFA Excellence in Education Award recipient.

At sunrise on 25 February, four CFP professionals reached the summit of the world’s highest freestanding mountain knowing that they had raised tens of thousands of dollars to help disadvantaged young Australians through Future2, the foundation of the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA).

For Julie Berry, Anne Graham, David Graham and Sam Hunt the Future2 Kilimanjaro Challenge (17-28 February) was both about fulfilling a personal goal and raising vital funds to help empower disadvantaged young Australians.

The team’s initial fundraising target of $16,000 ($4,000 each) was blown out of the water by the generous support of friends, colleagues and families, to reach over $39,500.

The Future2 Kilimanjaro team spent seven days on the mountain accompanied by a team leader/ doctor and local guides and porters. Their route took them up the north eastern side of the mountain, near the Tanzania-Kenya border, through lush farmland and into the pine forest, making a gradual ascent to moorland and finally a rocky, moon-like landscape.

At midnight on the fifth day, they started the trek to the summit under the stars, navigating a narrow switchback trail by torchlight and climbing slowly to 5,686m. On reaching Uhuru Peak, the mountain’s highest point at 5,895m, they unfurled a Future2 banner despite temperatures of -15°C and punishing winds.

Future2 Chair Matthew Rowe CFPâ applauded their spirit and achievement. “It’s only with the help of individuals like Julie, Anne, David and Sam that Future2 can make grants to community not-for-profits across Australia, funding diverse programs that give these kids hope for a better future.”

Future2 ran this fundraising challenge in partnership with Inspired Adventures (IA), a specialist fundraising and travel company.

The funds raised by the Future2 Kilimanjaro Challenge were ear-marked for four organisations who received multi-year grants in 2014:

• BackTrack Youth Works, Armidale NSW
• Bridge Builders Youth Organisation, Lilydale VIC
• Women’s Health & Family Services, Northbridge WA
• Palngun Wurnangat Association, Wadeye NT

The Future2 foundation draws its support from financial planning professionals and others linked to the profession to make a lasting difference in the lives of young Australians living in social and financial disadvantage.
For more information, visit: www.future2foundation.org.au

By Julie Berry, Anne Graham, Inspired Adventures team leader/doctor Dr Jane Taylor, David Graham and Sam Hunt.

The post Financial planners conquer new heights to help kids in need appeared first on AdviserVoice.

The view from Mt Bogong, Victoria.

With less than seven weeks to go until we start our massive adventure, the pending New Year brought with it new resolve to ramp up the training for our Future2 Foundation Mt Kilimanjaro Challenge.

Not having done very long hikes we decided to tackle Mount Bogong which at just under 2,000 metres is Australia’s second highest mountain.

This decision was based on the following deep reasoning and extensive research:

• One of our clients suggested it would be a good hike (thanks Brett)
• It looked scenic and beautiful
• It was there, so why not?
• We had some time available.

Entrance to the walk.

We arrived at ground zero at 6am New Years’ Eve, kitted out with our boots, poles, packs, water, snacks and brand new hiking pants (thanks Santa). Given the forecast for Melbourne was 39 degrees we thought an early start was a good idea to beat the heat.

The hike was 16km in total, with 12km of challenging climbing and descending. We took the Staircase Spur route and as the name suggests, there were a lot of “stairs”. The track was well marked for the entire trek and very quiet with only a few hikers passing us on the return journey.

Mt Bogon track.

The landscape changed over the course of the day from quite rugged and beautiful bush to bare ghost gums to heather on the top of the mountain. Beautiful wildflowers, enormous tree ferns, fallen trees and an abundance of wildlife helped make the journey marginally bearable. The heat was manageable but the flies were insufferable!

After 10.5 hours of solid hiking I was ecstatic to return to firm, level ground and back to our hotel. Needless to say it was a quiet and sober evening.

Did I enjoy spending my NYE feeling hot and uncomfortable, batting away flies and insects, and feeling pain in every single muscle (including those I didn’t know I had)? Not really.

Would I do it again? Absolutely – to look back at Mt Bogong as we drove out of the Valley knowing I had climbed it the day before gave me a real thrill and sense of achievement.

I know Mt Kilimanjaro will be 100 times harder and more challenging but after Mt Bogong I am just a little more prepared than I was previously.

When I think of the grant recipients for Future2 Foundation the challenge of climbing a mountain is nothing compared with the challenges they face on a daily basis. So rather than having a whinge about sore muscles and annoying flies I’ll focus on the upcoming challenge and hope you’ll help by donating funds here.

Thanks so much for your support and interest in Future2 Foundation – it means more than you know.

February update – only 15 sleeps to go!

With only 15 sleeps to go, here’s an update on our team’s progress.

All of us are busy trying to fit training and preparation into our normal schedule of work and family commitments. Whilst my children are young adults, Sam Hunt has a young family and he’s doing an amazing job of making time for what needs to be done. Organising a joint training session didn’t quite work with our schedules so he decided to “hit the road around 5am and punch out a couple of kms”. Very understated.

Julie Berry is sorting out her gear and “searching the internet to see what it might REALLY be like and looking for hints and tips to get us to the top”. We’re all in the same boat there and I must say that Youtube has provided us with more than I wanted to know. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

We all believe in the great work Future2 does. As Julie said “It will be an awesome challenge and has been a great opportunity to talk to people about Future2 and the great work they do.  If you meant to donate and haven’t gotten around to it, jump on to the website and lend your support it will be greatly appreciated by all”.

To support us in our adventure visit our everyday hero pages here:
Julie Berry: http://future2kilimanjaro2016.everydayhero.com/au/julie-climbs-kilimanjaro-for-future2
Sam Hunt: http://future2kilimanjaro2016.everydayhero.com/au/samkilimanjaro
Anne and David: http://future2kilimanjaro2016.everydayhero.com/au/anne-david-climb-kilimanjaro-for-future2

I’ll give David the last word: “The support we have received from family, friends and colleagues has been overwhelming. So now there is no choice but to get it done. To quote the late great Bernard ‘Doc’ Neeson, “this is it folks, over the top”. “

Anne Graham (with David Graham)

———-

Read more about Anne’s preparations here:

2 November: Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – Hiking IS different to running…believe me!

12 August: Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – The generosity of strangers (and friends)

22 July: Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – training in the US

23 June: Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – 1,000 Steps Kokoda Walk

11 June: Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – Boots and birthday

27 May: Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – Oh, what the hell have I done?

12 May: Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – Want to climb a mountain? Of course I do…

The post What I did on New Years’ Eve (and it’s not what you think) appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Anne Graham

The winners of the 2015 Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) Awards have been chosen and will be revealed next week at the FPA Professionals Congress on the 18 – 20 of November in Brisbane.

The fourth Gwen Fletcher Memorial Award winner has also been confirmed and will be announced at the event.

According to Anne Graham, CFP® of McPhail HLG Financial Planning and one of the judges of the FPA Awards this year, the awards recognise and celebrate outstanding financial planners who show true professional leadership in the community.

“Winning an award or even becoming a finalist acknowledges planners who are ‘the best of the best,’ providing a valuable point of difference in the eyes of colleagues, peers and clients.

“Apart from the personal and professional benefits of winning an award, the FPA Award application process is a good exercise, as it gives planners the opportunity to reflect on the specific contribution they make to their business and to the everyday lives of their clients,” said Ms Graham.

Mark Rantall, CEO of the FPA, said the calibre of the FPA Award candidates this year was impressive as always, adding that the new “University Student of the Year Award” also attracted a high standard of application.

“Education is key to ensuring a strong future for the financial planning profession, and we are thrilled to see budding financial planners demonstrate excellence early on.
“We hope the FPA Awards inspire future financial planners to invest in education and deliver great results for their clients and community while making a meaningful contribution to our profession,” said Mr Rantall.

The practitioner categories for the FPA Awards this year are as follows:

• FPA CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional of the Year Award
• FPA Financial Planner AFP® of the Year Award
• Future2 Community Service Award

Winners of the practitioner categories will receive free entry to next year’s FPA Professionals Congress and $5,000 towards professional development or a professional event.

The winner of the University Student of the Year Award will receive free entry into the CFP® certification program.

The post FPA selects top financial planners for 2015 Awards appeared first on AdviserVoice.

We don’t have all the equipment yet but we were able to test out the hiking boots, new backpack and water bladder (with a little sippy thing attached). The hiking boots just have a different feel to runners and walking/hiking with poles is a bit hit and miss. I definitely got a few odd looks walking through the main street of Anglesea in my very attractive boots and poles, but I didn’t let that deter me.

Remembering to eat and rest regularly during the hike was odd. The hike was about 12kms and took us about 3 hours all up to complete, not including the coffee stop at the end. As I’m used to running 10kms with no fuel or rest it felt a bit slack to stop and smell the wattle but it will definitely be slow and steady when hiking up Mt Kilimanjaro so once again, this is something we need to practice.

In addition to the above here are 5 more reasons hiking is different to running:

1. Music

I like to run with music. In fact, I find it very difficult to run without it (read on to find my favourite running song**). Hiking however seems less of an individual pursuit and more of a group activity. Although we (by we, I mean I) didn’t talk all the time, it didn’t seem right to isolate myself with my iPod and earphones.

2. Equipment

When running, all I need is a pair of, er, runners. When hiking planning ahead and ensuring you have the right equipment – water, snacks, backpack, poles, boots, etc. – is imperative. Hiking is not as spontaneous as running however there is some fun in planning the trip and thinking ahead.

3. Physical impact

Admittedly the hike we did wasn’t very hilly and the terrain wasn’t too difficult but hiking is much less taxing on the body than running. Having said that, walking for 3 hours with a backpack, boots and poles does test the body in a different I definitely noticed some aches and pains from the hips down, so more hiking and less running is definitely required.

4. Time

Running is great for the time poor. I can fit in a reasonable workout in 30 mins and actually feel as if I’ve done something. The training we need for Kili requires big slabs of time to be allocated and this is a challenge in itself. Not only do we need to plan the transport times to and from our preferred hiking trails, in addition we need to allow upward of 3 hours to get a decent hike in.

5. Pace

One of the big challenges for me is pacing myself and realizing that not only was it ok to stop, but it was very important to stop. Not going all out is a bit foreign to me but learning to pace myself is another discipline required to make it through the Kili Challenge. In some ways I’m treating the hikes as a form of meditation or mindfulness which is fine as long as I don’t get lost again.

With just over 3 months til we leave for Tanzania hiking around Melbourne and Victoria will be our focus, together with some strength and cardio training. I know it’s tough but someone has to do it.

Thanks for your support and please continue reading my posts. More importantly, you can donate to the Future2 Foundation here.

** favourite running song is Foo Fighters “All My Life”

Anne Graham (with David Graham)

———-

Read more about Anne’s preparations here:

12 August: Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – The generosity of strangers (and friends)

22 July: Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – training in the US

23 June: Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – 1,000 Steps Kokoda Walk

11 June: Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – Boots and birthday

27 May: Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – Oh, what the hell have I done?

12 May: Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – Want to climb a mountain? Of course I do…

The post Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – Hiking IS different to running…believe me! appeared first on AdviserVoice.