Success Story
Ben O’Neill
Ben O’Neill shares how sorting his finances helped him get back to enjoying the little things in life
As most would agree, we don’t live to work – we work to live. We all know that money can’t buy you happiness, however, it can provide us with the freedom, flexibility and security we need to live life on our own terms.
For Ben, friends and family is what that matters most life. As a busy guy leading an active lifestyle, Ben’s priorities are spending time with his loved ones and enjoying his favourite hobbies.
A keen footy player, fisherman, hiker and runner, Ben places a high importance on keeping fit and healthy. About a decade ago, he recognised that his finances could be in better shape too.
Like many people, finance was not Ben’s strong point, so he decided to seek the advice of Matt Hale, one of Rising Tide Financial Services’ expert Financial Planners. Ben and Matt had been friends for years, and what Ben learned in just a quick consultation was so eye-opening that he ended up working with Matt and the Rising Tide team long-term.
“When I was in my early twenties, there was a lot I didn’t know about the finance industry. There’s a lot of information out there, but without the right support it can be hard to know where to start or who to trust,” says Ben.
Throughout the process of putting in place a financial plan, Matt taught Ben many things he didn’t know, like how superannuation works, the importance of budgeting and setting financial goals and how to navigate the industry of finance itself.
“I’ve learned so much from working with the team at Rising Tide. They helped me to understand and organise my finances, helped me to put a strategy in place to work towards buying my first home, and thankfully got me to have a serious look at life insurance, death and disability cover and income protection – which are all so important, and really kept me on track,” says Ben.
With this newfound knowledge and support, Ben was able to follow a strong savings plan and within a short amount of time managed to achieve one of his long-term life goals of purchasing his first home.
“Matt introduced me to one of Rising Tide’s Lending Specialists, Tom DeFegely, who was instrumental in helping me to buy my first home. I’m stoked with the outcome and Tom played a massive part in helping me to achieve it in the time that I did.”
Now that Ben has been able to tick his goal of breaking into the property market off his list, he has set his sights on some new adventures. With such a secure investment under his belt, Ben is able to relax and enjoy life that little bit more – without having to worry about the future.
“One of the most important things I’ve learned is that if you don’t understand something, put your hand up and seek some advice from someone you can trust, like Matt Hale and the team at Rising Tide,” says Ben.
“You have to set yourself up early to benefit in the long run, and it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on holidays or nights out with your mates – those sorts of things can all be part of your plan.”
To find out more information on how to sort out your finances and set yourself up for the future, call Rising Tide Financial Services on 03 370 330 287 to set up an appointment with one of our friendly financial planners.