SMSF

Investing: Cautious optimism better for your health...

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 Now, with share markets having had a strong run higher, it seems to have been replaced by worries that a crash is around the corner and this will give us the global recession and new GFC that we missed last year!

Market Update: Bubbles, busts, and bitcoin

Market Update: Bubbles, busts, and bitcoin

The surge in bitcoin has attracted much interest. Over the last five years, it has soared from $US12 to over $US8000; this year it’s up 760%. Its enthusiasts see it as the currency of the future and increasingly as a way to instant riches with rapid price gains only reinforcing this view... 

Another Tech-Bubble?

Another Tech-Bubble?

A quick look at the valuations of the so called FAANMG group of stocks – Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Net ix, Microsoft and Google – and it certainly feels like it we’re in a tech stocks bubble a-la the late 1990s.

But does that mean we’re going to see another tech-stock crash? 

A Better Retirement

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...

Retirement: Life after work

Retirement: Life after work

Superannuation stumbling blocks

What’s stopping you from saving for a retirement you can really look forward to? Take a look at these four common barriers to saving more super and make a plan for having all your goals and financial priorities in order...

Interest rates: US Fed begins to tighten

Interest rates: US Fed begins to tighten

The US Federal Reserve provided few surprises following its September meeting. While it left interest rates on hold, it confirmed that it will begin what it calls “balance sheet normalisation” next month and continued to signal its expectation that it will raise interest rates again in December and in the years ahead...

Income & Dividends: The search for yield

Income & Dividends: The search for yield

For some time now, the investment world has been characterised by a search for decent yield paying investments. This “search for yield” actually started last decade but was interrupted by the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and the Eurozone debt crisis before resuming again in earnest...

Investing: What is an index?

Investing: What is an index?

When people talk about the share market having gone up or down, what they are usually are referring to is an index. But what is an index and why is it important?

Insurance: Income Protection - Stay Ready

Insurance: Income Protection - Stay Ready

'Income Protection' - in the world of investing and financial planning, this is never a thrilling topic of conversation. I don't know how many times I've seen client's eyes begin to glaze over whenever I've broached the subject of income protection, or life insurance for that matter.

MORE GREAT INVESTMENT CHARTS

MORE GREAT INVESTMENT CHARTS

As Warren Buffett once said: “There seems to be a perverse human characteristic that makes easy things difficult.” This has particularly been the case with investing where complexity has multiplied with new products, new ways to access various investments, tax changes and new regulations, all with social media adding to the noise. But it’s really quite simple and this can be demonstrated in charts...

THE GFC TEN YEARS ON

THE GFC TEN YEARS ON

It seems momentous things happen in years ending in seven. Well, at least in the last 50 years starting with the “summer of love” in 1967 and the introduction of the Chevrolet Camaro. But after that, it was downhill with Elvis leaving the building in 1977, the 1987 share market crash...

QUARTERLY HOUSING REPORT

QUARTERLY HOUSING REPORT

June 2017 marked the fifth anniversary of the current housing market growth phase. Over the second quarter of 2017, combined capital city dwelling values had increased by 0.8% which was their slowest quarterly growth rate since December 2015. The June quarter has historically shown...

SUPERANNUATION STUMBLING BLOCKS

SUPERANNUATION STUMBLING BLOCKS

What’s stopping you from saving for a retirement you can really look forward to? Take a look at these four common barriers to saving more super and make a plan for having all your goals and financial priorities in order...