Centrelink & Aged Care

Age Pension

The age pension provides older Australians with income support to meet the ongoing costs of day-to-day living and retirement. The age pension and seniors card also includes a range of concessions and incentives to help older Australians with enjoying their retirement.

Integrity Financial Advisory can provide professional assistance with navigating Centrelink age pension options and benefits available.

Whether you're looking to help a loved one or in need of solutions for yourself, we're here to help you.

We’re here to help in the following ways:

Preparation of your age pension application and reviewing application forms.
Identification of opportunities and strategies that may assist with increasing and maximising your pension.
Ensure you are receiving the correct amount and appropriate pension for your situation both initially on application, and as a part of our annual review process.Working with your accountant and lawyer to ensure your needs or the needs of your loved ones are well supported.

Aged Care

As Australia's population continues to age, the proportion of people over 65 is rising. Many elderly people aim to remain independent and live in their own homes. But in some cases this just isn't possible.

We understand that the move from retirement to assisted living can present financial challenges. Not the least of which is managing your assets and navigating age pension options, even just contemplating the move to assisted living can be confusing.

Aged care is an increasingly complex area for everyone to navigate and some important choices have to be made. Issues such as the family home retention or sale, tax implications of any choices made, changing legislation, Centrelink, types of assisted living packages, care facility fee structures, accommodation deposits, and estate planning need to be considered.

And all this at a time of life when managing such matters can become increasingly daunting and difficult.

We specialise in guiding you through the decision processes on your journey from retirement living to aged care.

Here’s some of the ways we can help:

Strategies to fund your Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) or Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP), along with the daily fees such as, basic daily fee, means-tested care fee, additional and extra service fees.
Maximising aged pension benefits whilst in care.
Minimising tax implications of realising assets for the transition.
Working with your accountant and lawyer to ensure your needs or the needs of your loved ones are well supported.
Estate Planning – referring you to a solicitor with the right information to prepare "Enduring Powers of Attorney" and "Enduring Guardianships" and Wills as required.

Contact Integrity Financial Advisory

Download David's Adviser Profile

David Forrest

Director
BEc (Acc), MBA, CPA, FFin

David has been in the Financial Services Industry for nearly 30 years. He was one of the founding Directors of the successful Financial Planning and Stockbroking Practice, Henderson Gregory Forrest, for a decade. Prior to that, he held senior roles in companies such as ING, KPMG Accountants and AMP. David was previously Chairman of OAMPS Superannuation Trustee Board and currently serves as an independent Board Director for several companies.

David’s extensive experience in all forms of superannuation, including Self Managed Super Funds (SMSF), Defined Benefit Funds, retirement funding through Account Based Pensions, stockbroking with a focus on Direct Share Investment, Taxation/Remuneration Planning, Centrelink, Aged Care and business management, equip him to advise expertly on all aspects of Financial Advice.

Those with a particular interest in superannuation/SMSFs, direct share investment, salary packaging or applying for the Centrelink Pension will find his knowledge and ability in formulating and implementing creative, logical and simple wealth creation strategies a valuable asset.

David maintains a strong personalised client service focus, providing tailored solutions for clients.

Qualifications:

Bachelor of Economics with Accounting Major (BEc (Acc))
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Certified Practising Accountant (CPA Australia)
Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment (FFin)

Memberships:

Member of the professional association of Certified Practising Accountants (CPA Australia)

Contact:

David Forrest is an Authorised Representative of Integrity Financial (SA) Pty Ltd ABN 16 133 921 187 — AFSL No 334846

Michelle Forrest

Business Finance Manager
B Bus (Acc), CPA

Michelle’s career has spanned across the Financial Services, Retirement Living and Aged Care industries working in the private sector, not for profit and more recently with the state government for over 20 years. Her experience extends to many facets of the financial services industry, having worked in superannuation administration, technical support and financial planning practice administration.

Commencing with AMP and subsequently working in commerce and accounting roles with companies such as Brambles, Adelaide Bank Retirement Services, ECH Inc and SA Health and Wellbeing, Michelle returns to financial services after working in practice financial management at Henderson Gregory Forrest. This wide range of experience from senior accounting and management roles has provided Michelle with a strong background in business administration.

With an astute financial acumen and keen interest in business improvement strategies, Michelle ensures the smooth running of the Integrity Financial Advisory practice providing valued management support to our personalised client service focus.

Qualifications: