Name:

Organisation: Roan Financial Group Pty Ltd

Service: Financial Planning

Specialities: Roan Financial Group is an independently owned and operated financial planning business and holds its own Australian Financial Services Licence. It has no institutional or products ties. Roan Financial Group also has an Australian Credit Licence with a subsidary accounting firm as well. Roan Financial Group is one of the leading financial planning practices in Central West NSW.

Area Serviced: Orange, NSW

Biography: Joanne Stephens as an authorised representative with Roan Financial Group specialising in the major facets of financial planning and in particular the protection and well being of women in the workforce as they develop their career, their families and their wealth.

Joanne has completed her Diploma of Financial Services and is completing a Graduate Certificate of Commerce (Financial Planning) at UWS leading to a Masters Degree. Once completed this will allow her to embark on the pathway to holding the Certified Financial Planner® designation.

Phone: (02) 6361 8100

Email: joannes@roanfinancial.com

Website: http://www.roanfinancialgroup.com.au/

Physical Address: Level 1 Suite 2, 179a Anson Street, Orange, 2800

Organisation: Leah Jay

Service: Property Management

Specialities: Leah Jay manages property on behalf of property investment owners. This includes advertising the property For Lease, Tenant selection, disbursement of funds, arrears control, repairs and maintenance and much more. This provides our owners with the peace of mind they are achieving the most out of their investment.

Area Serviced: Newcastle and the Hunter, NSW

Biography: Leah Jay has been a leader in Property Management since 1994. During this time they have not only maximised their owners investments but provided career paths to the many female employees over the past 17 years. Since commencing operations Leah Jay has received the REI NSW Award for Excellence in Property Management on four occasions, making them the most awarded Property Managers in NSW. The success stems from real passion, dedication and knowledge to the industry and continually striving to find innovative ways to deliver the highest level of service.

Phone: 4965 3153

Email: LeahJ@leahjay.com.au

Website: http://leahjay.com.au/

Physical Address: Suite 1, 74-84 Tudor St, Hamilton, 2303

Personal Note: Leah Jay has recently launched a new website which provides useful information about leasing, owning and buying an investment property. It also features another industry first with a search by map facility for tenants, as well as latest news items. All of which keep you update to with Leah Jay, legislative changes/requirements and the industry in general.

Humans are generally social creatures who need connection, seek interaction and want to be part of something they can add value or receive value from. While some parts of society are becoming more individualistic with smaller household sizes and two-seater cars, others are actively seeking community.

Live Your Life Well says research into the benefits of social connection include:

• Increased happiness. In one compelling study, a key difference between very happy people and less-happy people was good relationships.
• Better health. Loneliness was associated with a higher risk of high blood pressure in a recent study of older people.
• A longer life. People with strong social and community ties were two to three times less likely to die during a 9-year study.

Those are pretty good reasons for reaching out aren’t they?

Some of us want to connect deeper with our existing networks, some want to make new connections and  some of us want both!

Connecting deeper with people you know

Like the tip of the newsletter this month, instigate a few things to make those important relationships stronger. Here are a few ideas – feel free to add more in the comments box below.

Conversation starters
Host a dinner party or a picnic and have some conversation starters at the ready. Find yourself discussing topics, ideas, and opinions you may not be as familiar with and learn more about your friends. Here are some conversation starters to kick off with or there are cute ones available at Kikki-K.

Start a new tradition
Get a group of friends together and do a Come Dine With Me/My Kitchen Rules competition. Do a monthly Cheese and Wine night. Make a list of suburbs you want to check out more in depth and visit a new one every month. Start a bookclub or a GIG. The options are endless!

Buddy up
Exercise together. Try new recipes in the kitchen. Do your grocery shopping as a team. Do what you might normally do solo with another person.

Try new activities together
Wanted to try archery, bowling, knitting or white water rafting? Get a group and have a laugh.

Make time to connect with those you really want to
Schedule phone calls or skype dates with friends or family interstate or overseas on a regular basis. It is so easy for time to fly by, make sure you are in touch with those that you appreciate.

Making new connections

Sometimes we want to expand our social network to connect with others that have an interest or we’ve moved to a new place where we’d like to meet new friends. Here are some ideas to connect you with fresh minds.

Join a club
You could join a club associated with an interest you have. A running club, a book club, a speaking club.

Enrol in a class
Looking at learning a new skill or picking up a new hobby? Find a language or crafting class and meet like minds. You will hopefully be able to find something suitable close to you.

Get a dog
Since getting my pooch I’ve met a heap of people out and about in the parks of Sydney. My partner has even started playing golf with another puppy-papa and I’ve started meeting some great people, I might otherwise not have come across, to share biz ideas, discuss the world and share insights with.

Attend events
There are some great websites that have listings of activities to do or events to attend. They are free to join and the events themselves are often they are free (some may have a nominal free to partake in the activity). Two interesting ones I’ve come across are:

http://www.facetime.com.au

http://www.meetup.com

Connect online
A friend of mine has made some really wonderful connections on Twitter, building a relationship online then taking it offline. Same as connecting on peoples blogs – leaving comments on posts or sending emails to the writer over something they’ve written that invoked a response in you – let them know!

Here is a great article to help make those connections – 10 Tips for Connecting With Others.

Any other suggestions? What have you decided to do to connect deeper with others?

Arienne Gorlach is 10thousandgirl’s Content Manager. She loves connecting with minds that are inspired about life and searching to make their everyday something fun and fab (and that accept there are some yukky days too!). She actively seeks connections with people from all walks of life. She also blogs at www.savvysassyshe.blogspot.com

Name:

Organisation: Forsythes Accounting

Service: Accounting

Specialities: Forsythes provides accounting and taxation advice to small and medium sized business.

Areas Serviced: Newcastle, NSW

Biography: Kellie is a chartered accountant with nearly 20 years of experience who believes strongly in providing quality personal service to her clients. She holds a Bachelor of Business and Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning. Kellie has a young family and enjoys running at the gym, relaxing with a good book and a glass of wine.

Phone (Work): (02) 4926 2699

Phone (Mobile): 0409 098 808

Email: kwright@forsythes.com.au

Website: http://www.forsythes.com.au/

Physical Address: Level 4/5 175 Scott Street, Newcastle 2300

Name:

Organisation: Alice Springs Community Bank

Service: Banking and Wealth Management

Specialities: Bendigo Bank offers a full range of banking products from deposits and loans to investments, financial planning and insurance. Community Bank® branches provide communities with more than just quality banking services – they deliver employment opportunities for local people, keep local capital in the community, are a local investment option for shareholders and provide a source of revenue for important community projects determined by the local community.

Area Serviced: Alice Springs, NT

Biography: Rachel has 22 years banking experience and has recently moved to Alice Springs. She is passionate about the community banking model, committed to the cause & making a difference. Rachel has found a real sense of community  in Alice Springs. Rachel started banking at the age of 18. She has worked in many areas including ledger clerk, teller, supervisor, securities, SME/business banking, personal lender, officer in charge, branch manager, premium banker all over Melbourne & suburbs.

Phone (Work): 89527517

Phone (Mobile): 0427205487

Email: alicespringscfs@gmail.com

Website: www.bendigobank.com.au

Physical Address: Shop 25/26 Coles Complex, Bath St, Alice Springs, 0870

Personal Note: The Alice Springs Community Bank® is involved with sponsorship of several community organisations in Alice Springs including sporting groups, service clubs and the arts.  Look for Alice Springs Community Bank on Facebook to see some of the local events we have been involved in recently.