December
Summer’s here and the countdown to Christmas begins in earnest. After such an eventful year on the global political and economic front, investors will no doubt be looking forward to some time out to relax with family and friends.
The biggest upset in November, and possibly the entire year, was Donald Trump’s surprise US Presidential election victory, so we’ve included an analysis of what this means for Australians as the first article in our Summer newsletter.
As we approach the season of giving, we also look at the gifting rules that apply to retirees who give their children or grandchildren a financial helping hand.
Speaking of giving – it’s very easy to get caught up in the consumer frenzy this time of year and our third article looks at ways to balance all the demands and expenses of the season.
If you would like to discuss the contents of this newsletter don’t hesitate to call us, we will be happy to help.
November
November is here and as always it opens with the race that stops a nation. But the Melbourne Cup will be eclipsed by an even bigger race this month, and that’s the home stretch to the US Presidential election on November 8, which overshadowed global financial markets in October.
This month’s snapshot looks at entering aged care and the implications of proposed changes to both the Age Pension and aged care sectors. Entering aged care involves some difficult financial decisions at a time when families are often under emotional strain. From the start of 2017, these decisions are likely to be even more complex. One of the biggest changes is to the way the family home is assessed under the Age Pension means tests. Our article outlines the changes and what they mean for new residents when deciding whether to sell the family home or rent it out.
If you would like to discuss your aged care financing options don’t hesitate to call us.
October
October is upon us and that means one thing, it’s football grand final season with heated Melbourne versus Sydney contests in the AFL and the NRL. On the global economic front, it’s the closing stages of the battle for the US Presidency that is keeping markets on the edge of their seats.
This month’s snapshot looks at Australia’s superannuation system which is about to get a major makeover, again.
The super reform package announced by the Turnbull Government in the May Budget and taken to the July election has been watered down slightly. Despite this, the final reform package announced in September is far reaching. Investors with significant super holdings may need to revisit their strategy before the new rules come into effect from July 1 next year. In this snapshot, we detail the proposed changes and who will be affected.
As always, if you would like to discuss your retirement savings strategy don’t hesitate to call.
September
Spring is here, time to put your winter woollies away for another year and get into the great outdoors. If you are in need of inspiration, the recent Olympic Games and the Paralympics about to begin have something for everyone.
Ethical investing has been in the news recently for all the right reasons. A survey of the sector over the past decade shows that investing with a conscience can also make financial sense, so we’re sharing the research with you in our Spring newsletter.
Have you ever wondered how you family would maintain their standard of living if you or your partner were not around? We help you work out if you’ve got it covered.
Our final article includes some budgeting tips to ensure you keep your finances out of the red and in the black.
If you would like to discuss the contents of this newsletter don’t hesitate to call us, we will be happy to help.
August
As investors and consumers, we strive for a good credit rating and sovereign nations are no different. Now two of the world’s best-known ratings agencies have put the Turnbull government on notice to reduce the budget deficit or risk losing our top notch AAA rating.
In this snapshot we look at what a downgrade might mean for investors and the economy and find a silver lining.
As always, if you would like to discuss the contents of this article or how it might affect your investment portfolio, don’t hesitate to call
July
‘Resilient’ is perhaps the best way to sum up Australia’s economic performance over the past 12 months. That was the word used by Standard and Poor’s director of sovereign ratings, Craig Michaels, when confirming Australia’s AAA credit rating in mid-June.
If you would like to discuss the contents of this newsletter don’t hesitate to call our office, we are always here to help.
June
After a long spell of milder weather, winter is finally here, but the upcoming federal election will be providing plenty of heat for the next few weeks at least. With significant changes to superannuation, business tax and negative gearing in the offing, the outcome of this election could also have a material impact on the investment strategies of many Australians.
The surprisingly wide-ranging changes to superannuation announced in the May federal budget are covered in the lead article of our Winter newsletter.
With the end of the financial year fast approaching, we also provide a guide to last minute actions that could help reduce your tax bill and boost your long-term financial security.
As anyone who has experienced a major life change can testify, navigating change can be challenging. Our final article provides some useful tips for when everything you know is turned upside down.
If you would like to discuss the contents of this newsletter don’t hesitate to call our office, we are always here to help.
May
First it was the debt and deficit budget, last year we were encouraged to ‘have a go’; Budget 2016 is all about ‘jobs and growth’. With a federal election due to be called as early as this week, Treasurer Scott Morrison has delivered a budget that aims to strike a balance between positive measures to stimulate economic activity and prudent measures to wind back superannuation tax concessions and tax avoidance by multinational corporations.
On the whole he has succeeded, but the people will have a chance to deliver their verdict at the ballot box as early as July 2.
As always, if you would like to discuss your financial plan in the light of any of the changes announced in the budget, don’t hesitate to call.
April
April is here and hopefully the beginning of cooler weather after March’s Indian summer. April is traditionally a quiet month for local markets as investors mark time ahead of the May budget which has been brought forward a week this year to May 3.
In this month’s Snapshot, we look at what BHP boss Andrew Mackenzie dubbed a new era for dividends and what investors can do to protect their investment returns.
In a low interest rate world investors have been flocking to shares in recent years in the hunt for yield. But many investors were left short-changed after blue chip companies including BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Woolworths announcing dividend cuts for the December half year.
If you would like to discuss the contents of this article in the context of your overall investment strategy, give us a call.
March
After a sizzling end to summer we can now look forward to some cooler weather. Autumn is a perfect time of year to get back into the garden or to simply make the most of the great outdoors before winter arrives.
On the economic front, the outlook for Australia is still a case of two steps forwards, one step back. The latest profit reporting season was a case in point. Qantas posted a record half year profit of $921 million before tax in the six months to December, making 2015 the national carrier’s best year in its 95-year history. While cheap oil put the wind under Qantas’ wings, it helped drag BHP Billiton to a US$7billion operating loss in the December half. This
prompted a cut in interim dividend from US62c to US16c a share.
February
One of the toughest financial and emotional decisions when moving in to residential aged care often involves the sale of the family home. Sometimes turning the home into a rental property is a more appealing option.
January
Happy New Year! As January gets underway, many Australians are making resolutions and setting goals for the year ahead. Hopefully, some of those goals are financial. While goal-setting is an important part of any financial plan, many people overlook the need to plan for the unexpected. In this snapshot we highlight the importance of having a financial safety net, from building up an emergency fund to plugging any gaps in your personal insurance cover.
As always, if you would like to discuss the contents of this article or how it might affect your investment strategy do not hesitate to call us.