Nicholas Donnelly

Our 70yr old brother required residency in an aged care facility following a stroke, this was on top of head injuries he had sustained over 40yrs ago. As a result of the level of disability he had following the head injuries he had been unable to work and as a consequence had minimal finances. Due to our limited understanding of Centrelink and any potential benefits, that he might or not be entitled to in relation to aged care residency, the facility suggested we contact Nick as he had recently proven very helpful with another of their residents. Our brother’s situation proved quite complex and required numerous approaches to Centrelink and other agencies in order to finally confirm a favourable outcome particularly in relation to his daily accommodation contribution. As my brother’s POA and guardian I was particularly concerned that what limited finances he had would last as long possible for him. Both myself and my family have nothing but appreciation for the care and effort Nick has put into assisting my brother and as a consequence our family. Nick not only has an extensive knowledge of aged care finances but is very approachable; I would definitely recommend his services to others.

At a time when our father suddenly went from independent living at the age of 98 to requiring the relocation to a care facility, Nick was instrumental in assisting the family navigate the necessary government processes associated with aged care. In particular as a war veteran we had the added complexity of dealing with DVA and understanding what benefits our father was receiving would be impacted by his move into aged care. Once we identified a place for our father to go Nick assisted us with the process by dealing directly with all the government agencies and the care facility to ensure that financially we made the best financial decisions for our father. When my wife’s sister in law needed to go into care I had no hesitation in recommending Nick’s services to her brother which subsequently took on. Nick was recommended to me through my financial planner of whom I have dealt with for more than 20 years and I was not disappointed. I highly recommend to anyone requiring financial advice particularly when it involves aged care to seek out Nick.

In my line of work, aged care, we're often approached by Financial Advisers who ask to align with our company. We're discerning about who we align with, given the nature of the work we do and the vulnerability of our clients. We had followed Nick, liked what we saw and then asked him to be a guest speaker on our Aged Care Masterclass series. Nick's first presentation was so well received by our trusted audience, and we were so impressed with his ability to relay complex financial matters simply, that we asked Nick to come back again. We have no hesitation in referring our clients to Nick now, as we know he'll support them in the manner they expect from us, as our values align.

With significantly unusual and complex circumstances as POA’s for an elderly friend, it has been of immense relief to know that Nick has been willing to assist with so many financial challenges these past three years. No matter the size of the problem, he has always willingly put up his hand to assist and minimise the stress for us – and all done with a calm, friendly manner!