With the festive season upon us, I would like to extend my warmest holiday wishes and thank you once again for your continued trust and support. This year has been one of growth, advancement, change, and challenge—all driven by our commitment to delivering financial peace of mind.
Digital Advancements and Client Engagement
We are proud to announce our move to a safe and secure client portal through MyProsperity. This platform provides an enhanced and secure way to access your financial details anytime. We pushed the button on this last month and will provide you with access through next year ahead of your next planning meeting.
The everyday adoption of technology continues to reshape how we connect throughout the year. This year, 62% of all meetings were conducted virtually, generally from a client’s point of view, over an iPad in the comfort of their own home. This saves commute time and provides greater flexibility for you—a trend we expect will continue to grow. Of course, the kettle is on, and our office is open for those who want to come in.
For those yet to try a “Teams” meeting, we encourage you to embrace this convenient and efficient method of engagement. The feedback from clients who have adopted it has been overwhelmingly positive, and our team is ready to assist with any guidance required to get you started.
Looking ahead, we are investing further in video capability to provide clear, concise, and digestible advice. Recorded advice sessions and summaries will become part of our toolkit in 2025 to ensure we continue delivering valuable insights in a format that works for you.
A Shout-Out to Our Admin Team
A special thank you to Kirsty and Tammy, who tirelessly work behind the scenes and directly with many of you, tackling countless queries thrown their way throughout the year. Tammy was instrumental in helping build out our MyProsperity portal, ensuring a smooth rollout, while Kirsty has been fantastic in guiding clients through navigating Teams. Both play a monumental role in managing the mammoth task of fee consent each year. Their hard work and dedication are truly appreciated.
A Changing Financial Landscape
The financial advice landscape remains dynamic. While we see continued conflicted interest from much larger industry peers, our focus remains on you. We are proud to be investment agnostic, ensuring that our advice is tailored to you and your needs, wants, and objectives—not an investment that suits our political persuasion.
At Forrest Private Wealth, our clients are not just numbers; you are real people with real stories. The depth of our relationships is what drives us to deliver meaningful outcomes that align with your aspirations.
Downsizing: Opportunities and Challenges
This year, we have worked with several clients navigating the significant step of downsizing. Whether for lifestyle or financial reasons, it can be a complex transition with both positive and challenging impacts. Strategies such as the downsizer contribution have helped many of you make the most of this opportunity. If downsizing is on your horizon, we are here to provide support and guidance to ensure the best possible outcome.
Thank You for Your Partnership
We are pleased to share that over 85% of fee consents have already been returned before Christmas. Thank you for your prompt attention to this process and for your continued faith in our service. Your trust is the foundation of what we do, and we remain deeply grateful for the opportunity to work with you.
A quick reminder: For those accessing Macquarie accounts, the Macquarie Authenticator is now the only method of login and approval (learn more here). Please ensure you have it set up for seamless access.
Christmas Hours
- Last Day Open: Thursday, December 19th (8:00 am – 12:00 pm)
- Closed: Friday, December 20th to Friday, January 3rd
- Reopening: Monday, January 6th (8:00 am – 4:30 pm)
After-hours monitoring is still in place if you require immediate assistance during the Christmas period. We’ll still be here over the holidays—if you need urgent support, Peter Stevens or Michael Bower are just a call away.
Planning a move, considering early retirement, or celebrating the empty nest? Let us know so we can keep your plans on track.
Have 15 minutes?
Let’s catch up for a quick virtual coffee—Michael and I are always happy to check in with you.
In closing, thank you once again for entrusting us with your financial future. We look forward to continuing our partnership and helping you achieve your goals in 2025 and beyond. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful, safe, and restful holiday season.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Warm regards,
Peter Stevens
Forrest Private Wealth