Almost without exception, Hansens’ clients have a range of needs which extend beyond the old school accounting and taxation services provided by traditional accounting practices.
Make no mistake. We provide those services too because that meets a minimum standard in terms of complying with statutory deadlines and general “proof of life” requirements. However, we aim to provide our clients with a much greater level of service.
Make no mistake. We provide those services too because that meets a minimum standard in terms of complying with statutory deadlines and general “proof of life” requirements. However, we aim to provide our clients with a much greater level of service.
It is our stated intention to be the first port of call for our clients on all financial matters.
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Hansens SMSF - Self Managed Super Funds
As long-term advocates for self-managed super funds, we have deep seated expertise in the formation, strategic use, operation, investment strategies, maintenance and yes, even winding up of SMSF’s. It’s for this reason that Brett Hansen is a Licensed Authorised Representative of Merit Wealth, through which we provide clients with advice on such matters as establishing a fund, annual contributions, pension and lump sum payments and termination. We believe it’s essential for us to maintain this role in house given the widespread use of SMSF’s throughout our client base. |
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Hansens Generations
Here at Hansens, we play the long game, alongside our clients in fruitful, long term relationships. We are proud to say that we are a multigenerational advisory firm and many of our clients follow suit. The advice we give is not just for today or the next lodgement deadline. While we don’t have a crystal ball to predict the future, we prepare and support our clients as one generation passes on family wealth to the next. It’s for this reason that we now provide a range of services which go well beyond traditional accounting but which we consider vital to achieve optimal long-term outcomes for our clients. Adding weight to this area is the expected transition of wealth from the Baby Boomer generation to their children in coming years, expected to be in the vicinity of $5 Trillion to $8 Trillion. At the heart of our service in this area is the belief that wealth should remain in the bloodline of the family group. We want our clients to contemplate the children of the grandchildren that they have not yet met and may never live long enough to meet. Protecting the interests of such family members in our view is not just optimal but paramount. We are lining up our expertise to protect your family against the ravages of taxation and we are particularly concerned about protecting our clients’ wealth against any future intergenerational transfer tax (otherwise known as a death tax). This list of concerns extends to business creditors, opportunists, errant adult children and the no win, no fee lawyers that such parties typically appoint to hunt your wealth. |
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Bookkeeping and related solutions
In our experience, at the heart of every successful business is a well-designed chart of accounts and a regularly administered general ledger. These days, this extends to maintaining such a system on the Xero software, which enables us as your accountant to work closely with you. For businesses with arm’s length employees we also consider the Xero payroll solution to be an indispensable part of good business practice. For those clients who engage Hansens, we provide assistance to get the Xero solution installed and working effectively, if required. Thereafter we are able to provide an ongoing bookkeeping service for those clients who need it, which ensures that their Xero records are up-to-date, thereby enabling our accountants to advise and guide clients on an ongoing basis. |
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Finance related assistance
At any point in time, most Hansens’ clients will be in an accumulation phase, be this for building a business and/or making arm’s length investments. Hand-in-hand with such accumulation is effective debt management – obtaining loans, restructuring loan facilities, refinancing, maximising deductibility of interest and overseeing repayment can all form part of the role we play. Invariably, we find it useful to go beyond a client’s incumbent bank, to find better/or cheaper solutions. In this regard, it is often very helpful to engage the services of an independent finance broker to canvas the market. Happily, the brokers on our panel are highly experienced in preparing loan applications for the entities that typically form part of the structures utilised by Hansens’ clients. We work very closely with the appointed brokers to ensure they have a sound grasp of the finance required and strategies which we are implementing on behalf of our clients. |
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Financial planning & risk assurance advice
We love to see our business client succeed and we encourage them to “take money off the table” at regular intervals i.e. prudently withdraw money from the core business and invested in arm’s length investments to create a portfolio of wealth outside the primary business. It is also important that the key players are protected in the event of any unfortunate or unforeseen circumstances (yep, the inevitable). For clients in such desirable circumstances, we are happy to make recommendations with respect to appropriately qualified and experienced Advisers - should this be required. |
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Specialist legal services
We guide our business clients through a range of prudent practices such as shareholder agreements; employment agreements; leases with related entities and business sale. All such transactions are best undertaken with the assistance of an experienced commercial lawyer, particularly someone familiar with taxation considerations. We are happy to make appropriate recommendations from the panel of lawyers we maintain for this purpose. |
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Independent property consultants
Although we do not provide investment advice, it is remarkable how direct property forms a significant part in the overall asset mix of many Hansens clients. For clients with this disposition, we are happy to make recommendations to trusted property consultants should this be desired. |
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General Insurance
Be this for the businesses they run and/all the properties they own, many Hansens’ clients have significant assets to insure and as such, their general insurance premiums are likely to be quite material. We like to see clients appoint an independent broker to look after their general insurance interests and are happy to make a recommendation if required. |
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Insolvency and voluntary windup
Not all businesses succeed and not all of them are sold for a substantial capital windfall. On occasion it is prudent, sometimes absolutely necessary, to appoint a licensed insolvency expert. In such situations we like to appoint conscientious professionals who will conduct their responsibilities with competence and compassion, along with an ethical approach to setting and charging fees. Again, we are happy to make appropriate recommendations in such circumstances. |