Vaccine rollout accelerates as bond yields spike
Lending finance at an all time high
Could a tree change work for you?
Ensuring your voice is heard
CAP THAT! Impact of indexation on the Transfer Balance Cap
Life after COVID-19
Markets rally on positive vaccine news
Super boost in 2021?
Making your home loan fit you
Time in the market or timing the market?
Drop in pension payments
Beware Covid-19 scams
It is time to prioritise your health and wellbeing
MARKET VOLATILITY
The trouble with short term trading - act with discipline
THE TAP & GO ECONOMY
Personal finance in the age of technology and "Tap-and-Go"
BE AWARE OF BIASES
Is doing what others are doing safer than trusting your own judgement?
MARKETS REBOUND
Markets rebound off the back of COVID-19 curves flattening
CORONAVIRUS SHUTS DOWN GLOBAL ECONOMY
What this means for you
SOCIAL DISTANCING
How to look after your mental and physical health while self isolating
GOVERNMENT STIMULUS
How the government is assisting during this crisis.
BUY NOW PAY LATER
Credit, Cash or Afterpay? How to spend wisely this festive season
ASIC's LATEST ON SMSF
ASIC’s recent comments on SMSF needs to be better measured
PERSONAL COMPLIANCE
Can your email, online and social media presence pass the test.
INVESTMENT MARKETS
Equity Markets in Slow Rise
CLIENT EXPERIENCE
What Australians really think about financial advice
FINDING BALANCE
6 simple steps to a more balanced life
INVESTMENT MARKETS
Trade Weighs on Markets
TRIPLE WIN
Lifespan winner of 3 awards in this years IFA Excellence Awards
LEGISLATED CHANGES
Changes and legislation you should discuss with your adviser
STATUS QUO
With the coalition winning the election , it's business as usual.
EOFY TIPS AND TRICKS
The EOFY year fast approaches, here’s a few tips to help you focus
INVESTMENT MARKETS
Bond Yields plummet as Trade disappoints
EARLY ACCESS TO SUPER
More Australians explore early access to their superannuation
REPRIEVE FOR BROKERS
The Government steps back from removing broker commissions
ASIC - DIRECT INSURANCE
ASIC takes a closer look at Direct Insurance products
INVESTMENT MARKETS
First the fall and then the bounce; volatility is the new norm
MARKET VOLATILITY CROWD FUNDING
What can investors learn from the past...
US MID-TERM ELECTIONS
Where to now for the House on the Hill...
CROWD FUNDING
Supporting a project can be rewarding; but mind the details
INVESTMENT MARKETS
Rocky Road ahead or is this just part of a normal cycle ?
MARKET VOLATILITY IS NOTHING NEW - So what have we learnt from past experience ?
Sudden financial market movements can be unnerving for even the most hardened investor, and it’s difficult not to panic when trends in the market take a downturn.
Traps to avoid when setting up an SMSF
Investment Markets
How Aussies spend their tax return
Real Estate Values continue to Fall
Traps to avoid when setting up an SMSF
The number of Australian’s setting up Self Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) continues to rise. But do financia l advisers need to save clients from themselves?
What’s inside…
Federal Budget Report 2018-19
Investment Market
Federal Budget Report 2018-19: What it means for you
On Tuesday 8 May 2018, the Treasurer, Scott Morrison, released the Government's 2018-19 Budget.
This year's Budget has an emphasis on retirement planning and contains several important considerations which may affect both retirees and pre-retirees, explored further below.
What’s inside…
Virtual Currencies/Interest Only Loan Renewals/Investment Markets
Virtual Currencies
Many virtual currencies, such as Bitcoin have emerged over the last 10 years but just how safe are they? We explain how virtual currencies work and the risks you take buying, trading or investing in them. What are they? Virtual currencies are digital currency or electronic money. They do not physically exist as coins or notes. Many digital currencies (also called crypto currencies) started in online gaming communities or on social media. Although they can be used as a form of payment if another person is willing to accept them, they are not legal tender. The value of virtual currency can fluctuate significantly, they may not be accepted in many places and they are not guaranteed by any bank or government. How do they work? The Users can 'earn' or create virtual currency. For example, in the Bitcoin network, users (known as Bitcoin Miners) can participate by using computer-intensive software to validate transactions that have been made through the network and earn new bitcoins as a reward.
What’s inside…
Investment Markets/Protecting What Matters Most
Investment Markets
Recent Events Global equities continue to trade near record highs while volatility in most markets is very low. As an example, the US S&P 500 has not had more than a 3% pullback since the start of 2017. This is despite two major hurricanes and uncertainty around the passage of the Trump tax cuts. The US Federal Reserve finally announced that it is starting the process of shrinking its $US4.5 trillion balance sheet. The European Central Bank announced a reduced pace of QE from April next year. Bond purchases will be cut to 60 billion euros a month from 80 billion euros currently. Another major development was the German election which did not produce a clear winner but markets have surprisingly so far taken it in their stride.
What's Inside
Investment Markets / Understanding Diversification / The importance of planning for aged care
Investment Markets
Recent Events Hurricanes in the US and the belligerence of North Korea initially lead to some volatility in markets but that did not last long. Most Global equities markets are well up in 2017 while the major US equities indices are still hovering around record highs. Global equities are in fact performing much better than Australian equities in local currency terms.
The rise of the Australian dollar from 72 US cents to around 80 cents has somewhat masked the underperformance of domestic equities in 2017. The (Bloomberg) US dollar index, which measures the US dollar against a basket of currencies is down about 10% in 2017, this is almost a 3 year low.
What’s inside…
Federal Budget / Investment Markets
Introduction
On the evening of May 9, the eyes of the financial planning industry turned to Canberra as Treasurer Scott Morrison delivered his second Federal Budget. While it did not include the jaw-dropping changes of his first Budget, there was still plenty to interest financial planners and their clients.
Superannuation
First Home Super Saver Scheme Effective date – July 1, 2017