Shanghai – The City of Lights• The population of Australia lives in the city of Shanghai – unbelievable!• A bustling city with Western style skyscrapers and modern buildings(all litupatnighttorevealtheCityofLights)onone sideoftheBundandoldworldChinaontheother.• Anefficientsubwaysystemfortravelling.

Singapore• AcleancityfullofbeautyespeciallywhenatoptheMarinaBay SandsHotel.Fromafarthetopofthehotelisintheshapeofa boat–awesome!

Italy• Bonjourno-whatcanyousaybut,“Whatabeautifulcountry withbeautifulpeople”.• ThecityofRomeisacosmopolitanplaceforthosewhowantto seeandforthosewhowanttobeseen.• Venice–thepuzzleofthewaterwaysbetweenthebuildingswill haveyougettinglostonmorethanoneoccasion.• Florence–thegalleriesandsightsaremajestic.Avisit tothe CinqueTerreisamust!• Sorrento–alaidbackplaceandagatewaytotheAmalfiCoast –oneofourfavouritedestinationsforitsbeautyandbreathtaking viewsofthecoastlinefromaboat.

John Alam & Partners53StationStreet,EngadineNSW2233(POBox77,EngadineNSW2233)

P:0295204433F:0295204400E:enquiries@johnalampartners.com.auW:www.johnalampartners.com.au

Hours:

Monday-Thursday8.45amto5.15pm

Friday8.45amto12.30pm2.00pmto5.15pm

General Advice – The advice provided is general only as, inpreparingit,wedidnottakeintoaccountyourpersonalsituationorparticularneeds.Beforemakingabusinessdecisiononthebasisof thisadvice,youshouldconsiderhowappropriatetheadvice is to your particular needs, objectives and personalcircumstances.

Highlights ofJohn and Mary’s Grand Tour

Sept2014

ThispublicationisdistributedtoclientsofJohnAlam&PartnersandMJE Business Services. John Alam & Partners providesFinancialPlanningservicestoclientsofMJEBusinessServices.

JOHN ALAM & PARTNERSProfessional Accounting

Making the switch to electronic distribution!

Shanghai China2014

Count C

onfe

rence

FromJuly2015,JohnAlamandPartnerswillnolongerbe sendingout our quarterly newsletters andCountReportsviathepostalservice.

InourJune2013newsletter,weprovidedclientswiththeopportunitytoreceivetheirnewslettersandCountReports via email. This proved a great success andthedecisionhasbeenmadetobroadenthistoallofourclients.

Of course, we understand that theremay be someclients who do not have an email address and wehopethatyouwouldhavetheopportunitytoaccessthenewsletterandCountReportviaourwebsite.

In order to commence the transition, we ask thatyou please complete the slip enclosed with yournewsletter.

Wethankyouinadvanceforyourassistancewiththisinitiative.

InMaythisyear,John,Mary,TaniaandTahniattendedtheannualCountconferenceinShanghai,China.

ThisconferenceisvitaltotheprofessionaldevelopmentofstaffatJohnAlam&Partners.Thefourdaysoflearningandupdateshadus ready to takeon thenewfinancialyearandbroughtusuptodatewith legislativechangeswhichcameintoeffectonthe1stJuly2014.

Thevariousworkshopswhichweattendedwerebasedaround Tax and Accounting, Superannuation, WealthProtection (Insurance), Aged Care, Lending and AssetFinanceandInvestment.Togetherwiththeseworkshops,wealsohadanopportunitytogetanEconomicUpdateon the economies of both Australia andChina. Theseupdates came from Richard Armitage, President –Armitage International and formerUSDeputy Secretaryof State andMary Boyd, Senior Economist China, TheEconomistGroup.

The staff who attendedwere also privileged enough tovisittheShanghaiUrbanPlanningExhibitionCentre.Thisfield tripgaveusa tasteof thehistoryofShanghaianddemonstratedhowmuchthoughtandeffortChinainvestsinmovingalargepopulationintoanewcityandmakingitliveable.

Oneofthethingswhichstoodoutweretheamazinglightson theShanghaibuildings. In theeveningsyou justhadtowalkontothestreetor lookout thewindowandyouwould see breathtaking views of buildings which weresparkling.ItwaslikeseeingChristmaslights,everynight.

Theunanimoushighlight for thestaffwhoattendedwashaving the opportunity to listen to Li Cunxin, ArtisticDirector,QueenslandBallet(Mao’slastDancer),talktothegroup.Lisharedhisjourneyfrombeingachildbornintopoverty inShanghai,where he andhis familywouldgodayswithoutfood,tobecomingafamousballetdancer.He had many people in the audience reaching for thetissues.Itwastrulyaninspirationalstory.

Paris, France• BonjourParis–theviewfromthetopisamazingespeciallyfromthe NotreDamecathedralandtheSacreCoeurcathedral.• TheEiffelTowerlitupatnightisthejewelinthecrownforthiscity.• AvisittotheLouvrecan’tbecompletedinoneday.Although,Idon’t know what the fuss is all about with the Mona Lisa (the smallest painting).GivemethestatueofDavid(Florence)anyday,trulyasight tobehold.• Oneofourfavouritethingstodowasbuyingfreshlybakedbaguettes forourbreakfasteverymorning.

New York• It’s truewhat they say aboutNewYork, NewYork!!! The city never sleeps–wow!• Thetheatrecapitaloftheworldasfaraswewereconcerned.• Youwillneedtwoweeksinthiscityjustfortheshopping.• The highlights were a visit to the Statue of Liberty and paying our respectsatthe9/11WorldTradeCentrememorial.

Ifyouhaveanyphotosofarecent trip thatyouarewillingtoshare,wewouldlovetoaddoneortwotoourslideshowscreeninginReception.Youcansendyourphotosviaemailtoenquiries@johnalampartners.com.auorperhapsevendropthemoffnexttimeyou’reintheoffice.

John’s OpinionBoom or bust!Does it really matter?Are youhappywithhowyour superannuation isperformingatthemoment?Itseemsmanypeopleareandmanyofourclients’investmentsarealsoperformingparticularlywellatthemoment.Wehave had aperiodof consistency and stable returns fromthestockmarketsnotjustinAustraliabutalsofromaroundtheworld.Investorconfidencehasreturnedandbusinessconfidenceismakingasteadycomeback.

Corporations are returning solid profits (Qantas excluded) andtheyseemtobegenerallymeetinginvestorexpectations.

SowhyamItellingyousomethingyouprobablyalreadyknow?Well, I thinknow isnot the time tobecomplacentabout yourfinancial goals and objectives or the potential returns to beobtained from your investments or the level of risk you aretakingwithyourinvestments.Wehaveseenthisstrongmarketperformancebeforeandwhileitiswelcome,haveyouconsideredhowyouwillbeimpactedifstockmarketsweretomakeasuddencorrection?

Formany of our clients,we have this discussion on a regularbasis.Wetalkaboutwhetherthelevelofriskourclientstakewiththeirinvestmentsissuitableforthemandthegoalstheywishtoachieve.

Thewrongthingtodoischasehigherreturnsbecausethecurrentmarket conditions send amessage of “everything is travellingwellandwillcontinuetodoso”.Therightthingtodoismeetwithyourtrustedadviserandaskthemwhetheryouareontracktomeetyourgoalsandhowyouwillbeimpactedifthereisamarketcorrection.Thenyoucandecidewithyouradviserwhatactiontotake,ifany.

ReminderAtJohnAlam&Part

ners,weare

currentlyprocessingtaxreturns.

Wehaveauseful‘Thingsto

ConsiderChecklist’availableon

ourwebsitetoassistyouwith

preparingyourtaxdocuments.

Home Loansexclusive offer ...

to clients of John Alam & Partners and MJE BusinessServices

Valid until 30 September 2015, John Alam & Partners isexcitedtoofferaLENDINGREVIEWatnocosttoyou.Thisreviewwouldnormallycostupto$440butforalimitedtimeweinviteourclientsandclientsofMJEBusinessServicestohavethisreviewatnocosttoyou.

Earlierthisyearwepublishedanarticleinournewsletterofthebenefitsofundertakingsuchareview.Forthoseofyouthatmissed it please visit ourwebsite (johnalampartners.com.au)andreadourMarch2014newsletter.

Every client that has an existing home or investmentloan will benefit from this review in a different way. Youwill have different goals and objectives and therefore thereviewconsidershowyouaretrackingandwhether thereisanalternatestrategytoconsidertoimproveyouroverallfinancialposition.

Overthenext12monthswewillwritetoyouandinviteyoutoparticipateinthisnoobligationreview.Clientswhowishto jump thequeueandparticipatesoonerpleasecontactourofficeon95204433andmentionthisarticle.

Important Lodgement DatesDocument Due Date

Lodgement/Payment of monthly September IAS/BAS 21st October 2014

Super Guarantee Charge (SGC) payable for September quarter 28th October 2014

Lodgement/Payment of quarterly September IAS/BAS 28th October 2014

Lodgement/Payment of monthly October IAS/BAS 21st November 2014

IntheMarch2014newsletter,staffatJohnAlam&Partnersprovidedsomeinsightintowhattheywerelookingforwardtoin2014.Here’sanupdateonhowweareprogressing…

JohnEnjoyedbusyShanghaiandgladtoleavewithoutbeingrunoverwalkingthestreet,cleanSingaporeandagreatNationalPark(mustsee),lovedItalythiswasmyfavourite(winesensational),don’tthinkanyonesleepsinParisandfulloflifeandbustlingNewYorknotforthefainthearted,entertainmentcityoftheworld.InjuryhasstalledmyeffortstorunamarathonBUTwatchthisspace,Idon’tgiveupthateasily!

MaryHavenowbeenandreturnedfromouroverseastrip–seearticleinbodyofnewsletter.Camebacktofindthehomewasstillstanding.Nowtoplanournextoverseastrip…..

CharlieAchieved!!!Attheyoungageof35,IdidplayRugbyLeaguewithAllSaintsLiverpool.ItwasanexperienceIwillneverforget.Asacoachyoutryanddevelopyourplayersbothonandoff thefield.Asaplayer, Igottoachievewhatmanycoachesdreamabout.Playalongsideandagainstplayersyouhavecoachedanddeveloped.Ididthatthisyear,anddespiteitonlybeingafewgames,IamveryproudtosayImixeditupwithplayerswhoareintheirprimeandwon.Ialsolost20kgsintheprocesssoIamfeelingbetterthanever.Idon’tknowifIamreadytohangupmybootsjustyet.Newtargetistoreach80kgsandmaybehaveanothergameortwoin2015!!Thankyoueveryoneforthesupport.

TaniaTheNRLregularseasoniscomplete,lookingforwardtoseeingtheCowboysplaysemi-finalfootballandhopefullygodeepintothefinals.IwasabletoflytoTownsvilletoseetheCowboysplaytheBroncosinMay(thedayIgotbackfrommyChinatrip).Therewasgreatweather,awonderfulatmosphereandmostimportantly,awin!Definitelyworththejetlag.TheChinatripwasaneyeopenerandIamgratefulfortheopportunitytohavehadthatexperience.

JeromeIamontracktoreachmygymgoals.Afterfinishingmy‘bulk’togetupto96kg,Ihavenow‘trimmedthefat’tositatalean89kg.Acouplemorekilostogo!Iamalsolookingintobookingthesamecruisemyfamilyisgoingonattheendoftheyearforsomemuchneededrelaxationtime.

EmmaIamstilllookingforwardtomybackyardbeinglandscapedandnowwearethinkingofapoolforthefamily,whichwearekeepingasasurpriseformygirls(maybeuntilthepoolgetscranedin).Itshouldbefinishedforsummer.Fingerscrossed!

Candice Well,gettingfitandhealthy isstillawork inprogress.A littleof theonestepforward, twostepsback...Stillwithsummerapproachingandtheonsetoflongerdaylighthours,therewillbenomoreexcuses!

MonicaWhilstIamstilllookingforwardtomyholidayattheendoftheyear,itwillbebittersweetforme,asthishasbeenanamazingyearatuniversitywhereIhavemademanynewfriends,anditwillbehardtosaygoodbyetothosewhoarefinishingtheirexchangesandgoingbacktotheirhomecountries.IlookforwardtothesummerbreakinNovember,wherehopefullyIwillbeabletogetmybeachbodybackandstartanewsport(perhapsaformofmartialartsIhaven’ttriedyet)andIlookforwardtostartingmylawdegreenextyear.

Karen joined our Financial Planning team in March as part timeFinancialPlanningSupportOfficer.ShehasabackgroundinCorporateSuperannuationandmanagingasmallbusinessandhasalsocompletedaDiplomaofFinancialPlanningthroughtheAssociationofSuperannuationFundsofAustralia(ASFA).

Inherleisuretime,Karenenjoysspendingtimewithherfamily.Shealsoenjoysgoingforarunandparticipatinginherweeklyfitnessclass.

Catharinajoinedtheteamasanintermediateaccountantinmid-Aprilthisyear.SheisCPAqualifiedandpreviouslyworkedinthecity.HerroleatJohnAlam&Partners includespreparing tax returns, business activitystatementsandfinancialstatements.Interactionwithsenioraccountantsispartofherroutine.

Ontheweekends,Catharinausuallyspendshertimewithfamily,relativesand friends. She is always looking forward to her next chance to gobushwalkingorforashortroadtrip.

Kare

n N

ielse

n C

ath

Cheung

How are we tracking?

Staff Profile