Client Profile: Pam Balaam

I am a relative newcomer to GFM, having joined in July 2022. I had been with another SMSF advisor for the previous 11 years. However, I was becoming increasingly dissatisfied with their advice and the performance of my SMSF. When friends said they were following Amelia Paullo to GFM, I decided to follow suit, and it has been the best financial decision I have made. From the very start, the whole GFM team has welcomed me as an important client, and nothing is ever too much trouble.

When I started working as a primary teacher in the early 1970s, superannuation was not a priority. I had several years away from work when my two daughters were young. I did casual and part-time work for many years after that, which meant my superannuation balance never amounted to much.

My husband Peter was an architect with his own practice and SMSF, which he looked after. Before he died in 2009, he occasionally sat me down and showed me what to do with the super fund. However, the saying ‘if you don’t use it, you lose it’ was very true for me, and after his death, I quickly realised that looking after an SMSF was not one of my strengths. I investigated industry funds and SMSF advisors before deciding that an SMSF was the best option for me to roll our super funds into. By this time, I was teaching full-time before retiring in 2011. I then sold the family home in Mount Waverley and moved into a unit in Ashwood, where I still live.

When Peter died, our two daughters were quite independent and in their late 20s and early 30s. Sadly, though, Peter missed seeing our younger daughter marry and did not enjoy watching our two beautiful grandchildren grow up, now aged ten and eleven and a half.

Since retirement, I have filled my days going to the gym, bushwalking, gardening, reading, socialising with friends and family and volunteering at a not-for-profit café that supports coffee growers in Timor Leste. There have also been many trips to Sydney in the last eighteen months since my daughter, her husband and my grandchildren moved there. I have had several overseas trips, the most recent of which was a walking tour on the Japanese island of Kyushu. I have also travelled extensively within Australia, most of which have been walking holidays.

Given my experience with my previous Financial Advisors, I wanted to make sure I got it right this time. From my first meeting with Amelia, everything was explained clearly, and reasons were given for the recommendations made. Moving from the previous adviser was much work for Amelia and the GFM team. However, the GFM team worked diligently to ensure the transition occurred seamlessly. I appreciate the quarterly statements and meetings with Amelia. I also appreciate the advice about my finances. The quarterly lunches and evenings at Riversdale Golf Club are a great way to learn about financial matters, and the social events are a great way to meet fellow clients with GFM.

I have been impressed by the personal attention I receive whether I ring or visit the office. Everyone is so welcoming, from the ladies at reception to Amelia, Witi, Rebecca, Annie, Karen, Mai, and the rest of the team. I am confident that the advice I receive is tailored to my needs and that all decisions are made by the whole team, who have a wealth of financial knowledge.

When speaking to friends and family about superannuation, I refer to GFM positively. I am now confident that my SMSF is in the best shape possible and that I have the financial security to continue enjoying my retired life.