Redundancy Digesting the big news
Securitor Financial Group Limited ABN 48 009 189 495 AFSL 240687
You re not generally planning for redundancy so when you get the news you are often unprepared. Don t underestimate the effect that this has on your whole being. On one hand, there s a lot to do which might include finding another job, telling family and friends and emotionally moving on. On the other hand, this is a tumultuous event and you need to look after yourself. So be kind, try not to stress more than necessary, and just work through a checklist to make sure you are doing all the right things. For many, it is a great opportunity. People often find they are re-employed in the industry that retrenched them and in many cases, their job is equal or even better to what they were doing before.
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1 Try to keep positive 2 Check your payments 3 Make a new budget 4 Stop unnecessary outgoings 5 Review your loans 6 It s not all about the mortgage 7 Government benefits 8 Insurance 9 Super 10 Think about investing 11 Register for work 12 Review your financial plans 13 Enjoy a break
Try to keep positive
Redundancy can hit hard and affect you in many ways. Your health, your ability to move into a new role and those around you will all be better off if you can keep positive. Talk to others about the experience. You will likely find that more people than you think have been affected by redundancy it hits most industries. Many people look at redundancy as an opportunity to re-evaluate what they are doing and perhaps choose to do something quite different for work. See people that can help you. A counsellor or a career guide may be a good place to start.
Check your payments
You are leaving, you may have warning or you may have to leave the building immediately. At this time your payout should be your major focus. Make sure you have all your entitlements, check carefully that your payout is correct. For example, if you are aged over 45 you may be entitled to more redundancy pay as someone aged under 45. You should also check your contract. If you don t have a copy ask the Human Resources Manager. Check if you have any tax liability on this money and ensure you put it aside for tax time.
Make a new budget
How long can you make your redundancy payment stretch? Work out a weekly budget and divide your lump sum by this amount. Don t forget your bills quarterly, six-monthly and annually and make sure you can cover these. Can you earn supplementary income? Can you cut any expenses? If you can, you will feel more at ease in your new circumstances.
Stop unnecessary outgoings
If your income has stopped you will need to reevaluate all your expenses. Your fixed costs will be hard to cut but you should try to stop unnecessary outgoings. Not only will this help your financial bottom line, but it also means that you will be less stressed worrying about your money running out.
Review your loans
You may have a mortgage, personal loan or a margin loan. Whatever the case may be, you will need to assess your ability to meet the repayments, if you are going to find it hard, talk to your lender and try to work out a payment plan that is more suitable. You may also be able to suspend payments for a short time. Many financial institutions offer assistance at times like this. Don t find yourself in arrears with the bank unaware of your situation.
It s not all about the mortgage
Your redundancy will arrive in a lump sum and it may be tempting to put it into your mortgage but before you do anything, consider your needs. Your redundancy money is your income for the foreseeable future, and you will need cashflow to meet your weekly expenses. While putting it into your mortgage might seem like a good idea, losing cashflow may provide stress to your finances later on as you may not be eligible for Government benefits straight away. By all means put the money in an offset account against your mortgage to reduce the interest you are paying if you have the ability. Just make sure you are able to redraw this money if necessary.
Government benefits
It is always worthwhile to check what financial assistance you qualify for. You may be eligible for Centrelink benefits if you remain unemployed but this is dependent on the amount of redundancy benefit you receive. Check with your financial adviser or with Centrelink for the latest rules and how they may affect you.
Insurance
Have your needs changed? Do you still need the same level of cover? If your insurance was paid through your work, you will need to see if you can retain it personally. While you remain unemployed your income protection may not be valid you need to check what you have and what you are paying for and that you have the best cover for your situation. You have insurance so it s there when you need it most, if you ve made the decision to be insured don t let it expire at this time.
Super
Your redundancy payment will likely not include any payments to super. Do you want to contribute anything additional to your super? Depending on your age and your current super balance you may choose to put some of this money towards your retirement. However, you need to be careful with the amount you choose to contribute - don t exceed your contribution limits and make sure you re not putting away too much as you may need it to last for some time. As everyone s circumstances differ, it is important to speak to your financial adviser about the most suitable option for you and your circumstances.
Think about investing
From your redundancy, you will have a lump sum to last you until you establish another income stream. Look at where you can put it so that it s giving you the best return. Can you do anything better than a term deposit or bank account? You might find that having your money easily accessible is of primary importance so ensure you shop around for the best interest rate.
Register for work
Take some time to think about your next move do you want it to be the same kind of job that you have just left or would you like to try something different? Try not to leave registering for work too long. Even if you don t formally register anywhere, let your friends and colleagues know of your availability and interests. The more people you have on your side the easier it should be to find your next role. Take advantage of outplacement services if they are offered. They will help you with preparing your resume, your interviewing technique and making the most of networking. Consider retraining if you think you might be better suited to another role or a different industry. You may also decide to start your own business. Look at courses that will help with the basics of business including accounting, marketing and technology.
Review your financial plans
Maybe you should think about putting aggressive investments on hold while still trying to maintain your current plans until you have a good idea of your new future. You should probably steer clear of making rash decisions at this time but make sure that your plans remain in line with your financial goals. If you have a financial adviser it is important to inform them of the change in your situation and let them review your financial circumstances and strategy.
Enjoy a break
As redundancy is becoming more and more common in these economic times, it is often just a seamless transition between jobs. You were probably working hard before the redundancy and will likely work hard in your new role. So if you can, take some time to have a break between jobs and do something you ve wanted to do for a while, or spend some time with friends and family.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION This information was prepared by Securitor Financial Group Ltd, ABN 48 009 189 495 AFSL & Australian Credit Licence (ACL) 240687 (Securitor) and is current as at July 2012. This publication provides an overview or summary only and it shouldn t be considered a comprehensive statement on any matter or relied upon as such. The information in this publication does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs and so you should consider its appropriateness having regard to these factors before acting on it and obtain financial advice. Any taxation position described in this publication is a general statement and should only be used as a guide. It does not constitute tax advice and is based on current tax laws and our interpretation. Your individual situation may differ and you should seek independent professional tax advice. The rules associated with the super and tax regimes are complex and subject to change and the opportunities and effects will differ depending on your personal circumstances. SE13596-0712ao