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Secure your future

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This, in many ways, is the culmination of everything you’ve been working towards. We want to ensure that your successful business sets a great foundation for your future.

What does that future look like?

Everyone has a different dream, a different ideal life. This means every person needs a different plan to get there. As we put together your plan we’ll work closely with Perpetual’s team of experts, who draw on a 130-year history of growing and protecting clients’ wealth.

We will first seek to understand the life you want for you and those you care about. Then, we’ll help you achieve it. We will structure your finances effectively and tax efficiently and ensure your investment portfolio protects your wealth while freeing up capital so you can enjoy the benefits of your hard work.

If you are a business owner, as well as looking after your family’s future, we’ll also help you to secure a successful future for your business.

As a specialist part of Perpetual, we provide trustee, estate management and lifestyle assistance services to leave you with less admin and more time for things you find fun, fulfilling and fruitful.

 

Secure your future

 

 

Retire or rewire

If you’re a business owner, your business is probably your world. It’s an important part of your identity and gives you structure, a sense of community and constant mental stimulation. Take it away and you may feel a terrible loss. As part of planning your future, we’ll help you identify what will make you happy and fulfilled in the next stage of your life.

 

 

Retire or rewire

It all comes back to money

Slow down or re-start

Hard stop or stagger?

Health is non-negotiable

It all comes back to money

Whatever your plans, you’ll need money to make them happen. We’ll work to maximise the value of your nest egg. Then we structure your finances to manage everything from income generation to asset protection, estate planning and aged care.

Slow down or re-start

For some people, the traditional idea of retirement still holds. They want to rest, lead life at a slower pace and enjoy the end of long years of hard work. For others, it can be the start of a new chapter which might mean a new business, board roles, volunteer work or launching into a creative pursuit.

Hard stop or stagger?

Sometimes, stopping swiftly is the only option. For business owners though, organising a staged retreat can be better all round. Your company can slowly get used to you not being there and you can slowly draw wealth out of the business while working out what’s next.

Health is non-negotiable

Whatever your plans, you won’t be able to enjoy them without good health. This is not just your health, but the health of anyone you care about. For older Australian health care costs are almost always their largest expense – we can help you plan for and manage that cost.

 

 

Trustee Services

You’ve spent your life working hard to build your wealth. But what happens when you live well into old age and need assistance with your affairs? Or when you’re not around at all? For your wealth or legacy to endure, your assets need to be protected and properly managed. One of the best ways of doing this is through a trust.

 

 

Trustee services

Perpetual

What is a trust?

Charity and philanthropy

Don't want to be a trustee?

Perpetual

Fordham is a specialist part of Perpetual, which is Australia’s oldest trustee company. By partnering with us, you benefit from our deep knowledge of the legislative environment, diverse trust structures, investment strategies and tax considerations.

What is a trust?

A legal structure which authorises a trustee to manage your assets for your beneficiaries. It can be established during your lifetime or through your will. It protects your assets, because they are owned by an entity rather than individual beneficiaries and can provide a tax-efficient way to manage or transfer assets.

Charity and philanthropy

You know the causes you feel passionately about, but do you know the best way to make an impact? We can help you structure your charitable giving so it’s tax- effective, gives you the level of involvement you want and has the greatest possible impact.

Don't want to be a trustee?

If you have been appointed trustee, perhaps for a family member’s trust, and wish to step back from these responsibilities, we can help you find a replacement in line with the procedures set out in the trust deed.

 

 

Lifestyle assist

If you have been appointed trustee, perhaps for a family member’s trust, and wish to step back from these responsibilities, we can help you find a replacement in line with the procedures set out in the trust deed.

 

 

Lifestyle assist

Aged care advice

Your personal concierge

Property management services

Aged care advice

No matter our age, we all strive for independence. Yet the reality is, as we grow older, you, or someone you care for, may require a bit of extra help. We can help you find a suitable independent living or aged care home that meets your needs and do everything to ensure a smooth and stress-free transition.

Your personal concierge

Think of it as your personal concierge who takes care of everything, from everyday tasks like paying bills or organising extra assistance around your home, to more complex jobs like tax returns, investment management or legal advice.

Property management services

How much time do you spend managing your property portfolio? We can assist with the management of all types of property. We take care of all aspects – from maintenance, compliance and management of agents, through to sales and purchases.

 

 

Estate management

If you’ve had a successful career and built up significant business and personal wealth, managing your estate is likely to be very complex. It’s unlikely your loved ones will want to be left to sort this out when you’re gone. We can give you peace of mind by acting as your professional executor.

 

 

Estate management

Estate executorial services

Estate planning

Philanthropy

Estate executorial services

An appointed executor assumes the legal responsibilities and risk associated with its administration. We carry out every step in the estate administration process – from verifying assets and liabilities, to calculating tax implications, arranging payments and taking responsibility for administering any ongoing trusts.

Estate planning

The first step we recommend in planning for the final stages of your life is estate planning. It includes a will - but goes much further to cover all bases including trust structures, asset protection, business succession planning, charitable bequests and powers of attorney.

Philanthropy

As well as looking after those closest to you, you may like to dedicate part of your estate to charitable causes. If you sell your business and decide to donate part of it to a charitable foundation, your tax deduction can be spread over five years.

Richard.vanderMerwe-2_WEB.jpg
Richard van der Merwe
BBus, FCA, FBA, Specialist Accredited Adviser
Senior Partner
03 9611 6066
Contact me
Richard van der Merwe
Richard.vanderMerwe-2_WEB.jpg

Richard van der Merwe

BBus, FCA, FBA, Specialist Accredited Adviser Senior Partner
Phone 03 9611 6066
Bio

Richard commenced with Fordham in 1984 as a graduate and progressed to partner level in 1997. He is a Fellow Chartered Accountant and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

As a Specialist Accredited Advisor with Family Business Association, Richard has a deep understanding of family and business dynamics, succession planning and inter-generational wealth planning. Richard brings a unique perspective to family shareholder issues, succession planning, family office and governance. This includes valuations and transactions involving extraction of wealth from complex structures whether it is through succession, management buy-in, trade sale or corporate listing. He has been advising some client family groups for three and four generations.

Richard sits on the Finance Council of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, it’s Investment Sub Committee and the Priests Retirement Foundation of the Archdiocese. He is Chair of his family’s Private Ancillary Fund, has previously sat on the Clark Rubber Franchising Advisory board and been Deputy Chair of a public offer superannuation fund.

Industry specialisation: Private businesses, their owners and wealthy families

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