Here are some answers to our most frequently asked questions.
How Can We Help You Today?
GENERAL FAQs
An initial meetup is a good idea for several reasons:
- to find out if we are a good fit for each other;
- to allow us to find out about you, your dreams and goals and what is keeping you awake at night;
- to allow us to run a financial ‘checkup’ on your personal or business affairs; and
- to explain how we work with you and what that investment in your financial future will be.
We don’t charge a fee for this initial meetup but would seek a donation of $200 for the value of our time together to support Warrnambool and District Food Share – a local ‘not-for-profit’ organisation that we are passionate about supporting and who our team members volunteer 2 hours per week on a roster basis every Wednesday morning.
Whilst it is always difficult to end a relationship in person, we can do this for you as we are required by the ethics of our professional associations to contact the previous advisor to inform them of the change. It also makes for a smoother transition if you have all fees owed to your current advisor paid and up to date.
Our fees will be fixed with you up front before we commence any work (including all telephone calls and email responses) and will remain fixed for that particular service UNLESS “something out of left field” arises which changes the nature of the work we agreed to do.
Should this situation occur, we will notify you immediately and issue a ‘Change Order’ for that variation.
We appreciate the fact that the majority of our customers pay their fees promptly by direct debit. Apart from allowing us to pay our bills, it also ensures that we can provide you with the most efficient service possible.
Our Quality Work is 100% Guaranteed!
We promise you awesome service, the best tax savings legally possible, business advice and tips that work and of course … great coffee or tea! We know our work and systems are of the highest standard because we are continually attending courses, conferences and seminars and re-investing in the latest technology.
In the unlikely event that you are less than delighted with the service or quality of the work performed, we will re-visit it with you to ensure that you are totally delighted – 100% Guaranteed!
One thing we will never have are the cheapest prices or be involved in discounting them.
To do this we would have to cut the level of service we offer – this is the very last thing we want for you!
Instead we spend a considerable amount of time and money continuously on training, education, technology and on improving our business so that we can give you more value!
We will work with you to find out what it is that you require to cover all of your compliance requirements firstly, then we will start to drill down with you to see the important aspects that you require to maintain and improve your lifestyle such as:
- designing an asset protection strategy from the outset to safeguard against potential claims on your hard-earned and accumulating assets;
- reviewing and implementing appropriate insurance cover to protect your income, family, business and hard earned assets;
- putting in place a robust estate plan to ensure that your estate goes to the beneficiaries you want and control of your estate is given to the person who will carry out your wishes;
- conducting a tax planning meeting at least annually to make sure that all appropriate tax deductions are explored and implemented where cash flow permits;
- constructing a retirement strategy using superannuation, including SMSFs, as the investment vehicle to launch into wealth creation;
- reviewing your existing home/investment loans with a view to maximising the use of what you own in the property (equity) to create income that can then pay down the personal and non-deductible portion of the mortgage (debt) using debt-recycling strategies.
- conduct an analysis of your current business practices with a view to systemise those aspects that can be delegated to someone else to free up your time to work on growing your business with customer acquisition and retention strategies.
So depending upon what we agree to do, your Fixed Fee package will include some, most or all of these services.
Once you have made the decision to meet up with us we will send you our checklist of the things that we will require to run a ‘financial checkup” for you.
If you are far away we can set up a ‘virtual meeting’ so we can find out more about each other.
If you have internet access you can access CeebeksTM Business Solutions for GOOD at a time that suits us both.
Not sure how to do this? We can help you navigate the technology to ensure a successful connection!
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING FAQs
AML/CTF stands for Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing. To comply with the Australian AML/CTF Act, we are legally required to verify the identity of all clients and understand the nature of their business structures to help protect the economy from financial crime.
We are preparing for the 2026 AML/CTF compliance standards now, even though they officially start on the 1st July 2026. We require these documents to be uploaded to our Secure Client Portal at least 48 hours before your appointment so we can provide “Designated Services” such as entity formations or fund management.
Under our AML/CTF identity verification process, you must provide a valid Australian Driver’s Licence or Passport. This applies to all personal tax, advice, or sole trader services.
If your current residential address is not listed on your primary photo ID, AML/CTF rules require a secondary document, such as a utility bill or bank statement less than 3 months old, to verify where you live.
A Politically Exposed Person (PEP) is someone who holds a prominent public position, like a Member of Parliament or a judge. We are required to identify if you or a close family member holds such a role as part of our regulatory risk assessment.
A Beneficial Owner is any individual who ultimately owns or controls 25% or more of a company or partnership. AML/CTF laws require us to verify their full name, date of birth, and address as if they were an individual client.
Yes. For all trust-based structures (Family, Unit, or SMSF), we require a complete copy of the original Trust Deed, including all amendments or variations. We also verify the ID of all individual Trustees or corporate Trustee Directors.
Identifying the person with the power to appoint or remove Trustees is a mandatory requirement under the 2026 AML/CTF rules. We must collect their full name and ID to understand who has ultimate control over the trust.
To assess the risk profile of a service, particularly for large transactions, we must understand the origin of the capital. This might include explaining that funds came from the sale of a property, business earnings, or an inheritance.
Yes. You are required to disclose if your engagement involves physical cash or virtual assets (cryptocurrency) that exceed $10,000. This is a key reporting requirement for Australian AML/CTF compliance.