Structure your insurance to save money...
Did you know you can save money by buying your life insurance and total disability (TPD) cover in super? Read more here Rick Maggi
11/06/12: Super Tip #24: Anti-Detriment Payments
An additional payment on death...
Anti-Detriment payments were introduced almost 25 yeas ago to ensure that the families and beneficiaries of super members were not inadvertently disadvantaged by the introduction of the 15% contributions tax. Does your fund allow for anti detriment payments? Read more here Rick Maggi.
11/06/12: Leaving your employer?
Tax benefits set to change from July 1 2012...
If you're thinking of retiring or resigning (or are faced with redundancy), you should know the special tax concessions for certain employment termination payments (ETP's) will end on June 30 2012. Read more here Rick Maggi
11/06/12: Super: Big changes for over 50s
The caps come down on July 1st...
The 'concessional contributions' caps for superannuation contributions are being significantly reduced on 1 July 2012, so if you're over 50 this could impact you in a number of ways. These two articles focus of the caps themselves plus 'transition to retirement' strategies. If in doubt, please contact us before the end of June - its extremely important to get this right. Rick Maggi
05/06/12: The cycle of market emotions
A road-map for investors...
The 'Cycle of Market Emotions' is one of the most important road-maps for investors as share prices move through periods of boom and bust, of rise and fall, and of calm and volatility. Rick Maggi Read Here
01/06/12: Bond funds vs term deposits
Which is better in the current environment?
Jeff Brunton, Head of Credit Markets (AMP) discusses the benefits of bond funds in an environment of declining interest rates. Rick Maggi. View video here
31/05/12: Bridging the advice gap
The value of getting quality advice
This excerpt from Macquarie's 'Strictly Business' newsletter discusses the importance of obtaining good advice from professionals including accountants and financial planners, especially during more challenging periods. Rick Maggi Read 'Bridging the advice gap'
18/04/12: Tax Effective Investments - Be careful!
Be inquisitive...
As June 30 is just around the corner we are moving into the sharp end of the tax season. Tax is major headwind to any investment and everyone has the right to minimise the amount of tax they pay through legal tax planning arrangements. Indeed the after tax return is the critical measure for any investment. But sometimes the desire to reduce tax can blind people to the risks - both investment and legal - that certain tax schemes, sophisticated and otherwise, carry with them. In recent years, the collapse of a number of high-profile agribusiness and financing schemes have painfully served to alert people to the dangers of committing to tax schemes that promise upfront tax benefits and potential investment returns that ultimately never materialised. Last year, the ATO produced a helpful, plain language guide - Understanding tax-effective investments (helping you make the right decisions) on what to look out for among some of the more common types of tax schemes that the ATO has encountered that have caught out both individual investors and businesses. Cynicism often masquerades as wisdom, especially in a post GFC world, so it is important that investors don't become paralysed with fear, taking the easiest route, which is to do nothing. But doing your homework is also an important part of the risk/reward equation, so by all means be optimistic and hopeful, but don't forget to be inquisitive. In other words, don't be afraid to see what you see. Rick Maggi Read Understanding Tax Effective Investments
13/04/12: When cash is king, what does tomorrow hold?
The importance of diversification...
The Australian love affair with cash has been understandable one since the beginning of the GFC. Where else could you get a guaranteed, government backed asset paying 5% plus while all around was failing miserably? Vanguard's Robin Bowerman highlights investors to the age old 'health warning' that applies to all investments - namely that past performance is no guarantee that the future will deliver the same outcome. Rick Maggi Read here
13/04/12: Some encouraging modern history...
March quarter foreshadows strong returns ahead...
In this brief article, filled with positive messages, Elm Capital's John Robertson takes a look at the strong start to 2012 and what we might expect for the remainder of 2012, based on modern history. Let's hope he's right. Enjoy! Rick Maggi Read here
02/04/12: April 2012 Snapshot
Today's cost of living: it's a mixed bag
Few dinner table conversations pass without some mention of the high cost of petrol at the local bowser, hikes in gas and electricity prices, or the cost of fruit and vegetables - it's almost a national pastime. Rick Maggi
22/03/12: Mining boom to shift into overdrive
$60 billion export surge
The pay-off from the surge in resource investment is at hand, with rapid growth in export volumes now evident and set to continue for the next 5 years, far outweighing any weakness in prices. Read more here. Rick Maggi
30/03/12: Shopping for advice
ASIC's 'Shadow Shopper' survey is in...
In this article, Vanguard's Robin Bowerman discusses the recent shadow shopper survey results and what it all means. Rick Maggi Shopping for advice
24/02/12: Low return world ten years on...
...and what does it mean for investing?
This article, yet another from Dr Shane Oliver, will be interest to all investors, superannuation, pension and wealth accumulators alike. Rick Maggi Read Oliver's Insights
31/12/11: Hello 2012
Change that will make your head spin
Happy New Year! The following is an interesting video on the progression of information technology - a timely reminder of how things continue to change so rapidly, as we move into 2012. Rick Maggi. Watch here
24/12/11: What matters more than your talents
Amazon Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos
In this Princeton University graduation address, Jeff Bezos makes the case that our character is reflected not in the gifts we're endowed with at birth, but by the choices we make over the course of a lifetime. Rick Maggi Watch video here
20/12/11: The year ahead...
A year of disasters
(Video) AMP Capital's Dr Shane Oliver series of videos takes a look at 2011 and looks forward into 2012. Worth viewing. Rick Maggi. Watch video
16/12/11: Behold the beauty of bonds
An outstanding year for Bonds...
Vanguard's Robin Bowerman focuses on the outstanding performance of bonds during 2011, but also highlights the age old importance of diversification. Rick Maggi Read here
13/12/11: Should we be concerned about 2012?
Oliver's Insights
AMP Capital's Dr Shane Oliver looks back on 2011 and, perhaps more importantly, takes a balanced and rational look forward into 2012. Next year could be better than many expect. Rick Maggi. Read Shane Oliver's report
12/12/11: Europe Update:
Progress?
Significant challenges lay ahead for Europe, last Friday's fiscal 'compact' was a step in the right direction. Rick Maggi Read more