The Minister for Revenue and Financial Services, Kelly O’Dwyer, has made a thinly-veiled attack on advertising spending by Industry Superannuation Funds...
2018: A List of Lists
Although 2017 saw the usual worry list – around President Trump, elections in Europe, China, North Korea and Australian property – it was good for investors. Balanced super funds had returns around 10%, which is pretty good given inflation was around 2%. This year has started favourably but volatility may pick up as geopolitical threats loom a little larger and US inflation rises. This note provides a summary of key insights on the global investment outlook in simple dot point form...
Alert: Residential Property Deductions
Market outlook for 2018
By the standards of recent years, 2017 was relatively quiet. Sure there was the usual “worry list” – about Trump, elections in Europe, China as always, North Korea and the perennial property crash in Australia. And there was a mania in bitcoin. But overall it has been pretty positive for investors...
Mistakes To Mastery (Free eBook)
Life doesn’t revolve around money. Lots of other things - like family, friends, and health - can be much more important to you than your bank balance. But some personal goals are hard to achieve if you don’t have much money. That’s why the FPA have put together this handy guide to getting to grips with the do’s and don’ts of your finances...
Superannuation: Housing Measures Passed
SMSF: $1.6m Transition Ending (Technical)
Financial Planning: Goals based investing 101
Why do we invest? Why do we put money in the bank? Is it simply because we should or we’re told we’re should? No – it’s because it helps us to achieve our goals.
Goals-based investing is increasingly popular as a financial planning strategy – it’s a pathway to financial freedom and choices such as the chance to travel, provide our kids with a good education, purchase things we love, build our homes and create foundations for our future.
So how does it work and how can you make goals-based investing work for you?
Property: Renovating for Profit
“Flipping” might be the new word on the block but Australians have long been part of the reno revolution. Some are looking for fast returns (the flip), while others are upgrading after being in a home for several years. Whichever your strategy, chances are the goal remains the same: to renovate for profit. Here are some tips to ramp up your returns...
Investing: Cautious optimism better for your health...
At the start of last year, with global and Australian shares down around 20% from their April/May 2015 highs, the big worry was that the global economy was going back into recession and that there will be another Global Financial Crisis (GFC). Now, with share markets having had a strong run higher, it seems to have been replaced by worries that a crash is around the corner and this will give us the global recession and new GFC that we missed last year!
Psych yourself into saving
Whether you’re struggling to make ends meet or living comfortably, saving money can be something you’ll be finding hard to do. In her new book “Mind Over Money: The Psychology of Money and How To Use it Better” BBC broadcaster and psychologist Claudia Hammond shares insights into how we can change our ways when it comes to budgeting, spending and saving more for a rainy day...
Market Update: Bubbles, busts, and bitcoin
Ethical Green Investing
Another Tech-Bubble?
Grow Your Wealth & Make A Difference
...you can do both. After decades in the investment wilderness, the jury is finally in - 'ethical investing' works, and is rapidly gaining in popularity...
Housing Boom Over
Australia’s housing boom is “officially over,” with data showing prices now flatlining, UBS Group AG said. National house prices were unchanged in October from September, CoreLogic data released Wednesday showed. Annual price growth slowed to 7 percent last month from above 10 percent as recently as July, the data showed...
Retirement: Seniors are doing it for themselves
Newcastle-based lawyer Lyn Lucas has been practicing family law for 25 years. She is also 76. Lucas studied law as a mature age student, and seven years ago created an online legal practice, Online Divorce Lawyer. This came about as she was looking to lessen the stress of practising law full time...
Australian House Price Crash?
A common narrative on the Australian housing market is that it’s in a giant speculative bubble propelled by tax breaks, low interest rates and “liar loans” that have led to massive mortgage stress and that it’s all about to go bust, bringing down the banks and the economy with it. Recent signs of price falls – notably in Sydney – have added interest to such a view...
Gifting To Your Children
A Better Retirement
Today, with Australians living longer and healthier lives, the concept of retirement is much different to what it was only one generation ago. For each retiree, retirement is different.
Typically, there are four areas that need to be considered to help you better understand your retirement goals and objectives. These are...