INTRODUCING DAMON AND PAULA BANKS  Damon Banks ACT Area Manager PO Box 74 KIPPAX, ACT 2615 0414 247 716 damon.banks@wiseinvestment.com.au Damon Banks, ably assisted by his wife Paula, have accepted the position as  Area Manager's for Wise in Canberra. Damon is the brother-in-law of David Bradley, the highly experienced and very successful and innovative Area Manager for Wise in the Northern Territory. Damon’s father, Ian, is also a passionate advocate for Wise and investment property. I know that both David and Ian will be supporting and helping Damon every step of the way. Canberra clients of Wise will I know be in good, safe and very capable hands with Damon and Paula at the helm. Damon grew up in Katherine (NT) with a passion for aviation, so it was no surprise when he trained as a pilot and flight instructor.  In 1993, aged 23, he moved to Canberra to open his own flying school and aircraft charter business.  On New Years Eve 1999, he met Welsh-born Zoologist Paula whilst she was visiting Australia on a round-the-world trip. Damon’s parents have been involved with WISE from its inception and have bought a number of properties in that time.  “I saw what they were doing and I was really interested” says Damon, “but I didn’t think it was something that Paula and I could afford to do.  Both of our careers have been rewarding personally, but much less so financially.  We attended a few WISE seminars and discovered that an investment property wasn’t so far out of our reach” he said.  “In August 2004 we bit the bullet and bought our first property, a $235K three bedroom townhouse in Brisbane.  Before the purchase, we worried about all the usual things – interest rates, bad tenants, debt.”   “I was nervous” says Paula. “I’d never borrowed so much money!”   “After a year, we realised that we had barely given the property a thought” continued Damon.  “Life went on as it had before, but with a little extra paperwork each month.”  Meanwhile, the Perth market was heating up and the advice from WISE was to buy, but not to wait too long!  “In February 2006 we bought a house and land package for $336K” said Damon.  Its value has surged and the couple are looking forward to buying a home of their own very soon – something that seemed way out of their reach a few years ago.  “More investment properties will follow” says Damon.  “I’m amazed at how quickly and easily the WISE principles have worked for us.  Anyone can do what we’ve done and we look forward to helping others to create wealth through property investment.” While Damon’s career has involved a lot of flying, I can assure you that his feet are firmly planted on the ground. Lionel Morris - August 2007   Update  Paula and I went ahead and bought our first home in December 2007, and another investment property followed in May 2009.  We're just following the process, step-by-step.           Damon - June 2009