Why you need insurance in your 40’s!
Are you in your 40’s? Then this insurance insight video I created is for you!
No Grizzly Bears in This Market
An article by Shane Oliver; Share markets remained under pressure last week but I remain of the view it’s unlikely we’re sliding into a grizzly bear market as conditions aren’t in place for recession in the US, globally or Australia US shares fell 3.8%, Eurozone shares lost 1.6%, Japanese shares fell 0.2%, Chinese shares fell 3.5% and Australian shares declined 0.3%. Reflecting the “risk off” tone bond yields fell, credit spreads widened and commodity prices fell, with the oil price down another 11% over the last week, leaving it down 34% from its high in early October. The $US rose slightly and this weighed on the $A. Shares retesting October lows – double bottom or resumption of the slump? Share markets fell back to around their October lows over the last week. A retest of the lows is quite normal after the sort of fall we saw in October. Whether markets form a double bottom and head back up or [...]
The October Share Market Scare
Share Markets Fell sharply in October, led lower by the technology-heavy NASDAQ index in the US. Many major market indices are now in negative territory for the calendar year. A notable feature of market behaviour through October was that Bond markets also came under downward pressure. Diversifying into bonds turned out to be a less effective tool in mitigating volatility than in it has been over the last 5 years. Defensive diversified funds with a large commitment to bond markets experienced a disproportionately large increase in realised volatility. This article seeks to provide an explanation for the downturn and address the outlook for share markets. The main points are: The fall in equity markets appears to have been triggered by a sharp rise in US bond yields; It’s a feature of share markets these days that when they fall, they fall sharply; While the rise in bond yields was driven by growing confidence that US economic activity is likely [...]
The need for advice is the one thing that won’t ever go away…
There is perhaps no greater critic of Australia's financial advice industry than Connect Financial Service Brokers chief executive Paul Tynan. At the same time, there is no greater advocate. Jamie Williamson writes. Having worked in the industry for more than 40 years, Paul Tynan has lived its evolution and is now a staunch, frequently outspoken supporter of what he hopes will be its revolution. A proud country boy, Tynan got into financial services by way of an accounting degree because "it was just what you did in those days." Never one to sugarcoat, Tynan says he realised he "had too much personality and liked talking to people too much" to remain an accountant and joined AMP's corporate superannuation division in 1975. After 10 years in various administrative roles, Tynan became one of AMP's first superannuation consultants, eyeing an opportunity to be a part of something big. "Everyone goes on about how super was started in 1992, but it wasn't. [...]
KIDS & MONEY – How To Educate Your Children
Kids & Money - How do you educate your children about money without handouts? The problem with just giving money to your children is that there is the real possibility of ruining them financially as adults. We have linked a research paper about the Invisible-Money Generation which is about how money for children no longer exists in just the form of paper and coin. For example, V-Bucks are used in Fortnite as currency to purchase items. The purpose of the research is not to alienate our children from the evolution of money but to help us as parents understand our own attitude towards money (whether relaxed, engagers, avoiders or troopers) so that we can educate our children about money. The article attached is a research paper discussing and explaining how the younger generations (Gen Z & Gen Alpha) see their money and the best ways to communicate with them regarding good money management. The article also covers current terms used and [...]
Superannuation Reform – Downsizing
Superannuation Reform; Downsizing - What does it mean for you? Downsizer superannuation contribution has arrived from 1 July 2018 which means that if you are 65 years or older you can choose to make a downsizer contribution into your superannuation of up to $300,000 each from the proceeds of selling the primary residence (your home) without having to satisfy the work test. Your downsizer contribution is not a non-concessional contribution and will not count towards your contributions caps. The downsizer contribution can still be made even if you have a total super balance greater than $1.6 million. You can only make downsizing contributions for the sale of one home. You can't access it again for the sale of a second home. Downsizer contributions are not tax deductible This is an opportunity for clients who do not qualify for the Age Pension because it does not count towards the individual total super balance cap $1.6 million but it will still count towards the [...]
Ethical Investments
Ethical Investments - What does it mean? Socially responsible investing (SRI), or social investment, also known as sustainable, socially conscious, "green" or ethical investing, is any investment strategy which seeks to consider both financial return and social/environmental good to bring about a positive change. The term describes an investment process that incorporates environmental and social factors when selecting investments, in addition to the objective of achieving a competitive financial return. Investing ethically means that you know what your money is doing and what it is funding. In general, socially responsible investors encourage corporate practices that promote environmental stewardship, consumer protection, human rights, and diversity. Some avoid businesses involved in alcohol, tobacco, fast food, gambling, pornography, weapons, contraception/abortifacients/abortion, fossil fuel production or the military. The easiest approach is to view Ethical Investing as a spectrum from "deep green" to "light green" products that let people invest according to their level of conviction. The deep-green end includes ethical funds that avoid sectors considered harmful — for example, tobacco, controversial weapons (landmines), pornography and companies that earn a significant amount of revenue from fossil-fuel industries. Ethical funds usually have relatively higher fees [...]
First Home Buyer Financing Tips
It’s a daunting world for the first home buyer; skyrocketing median house prices, interest rates and an influx of lending platforms can scare off would-be home owners. Many wonder how they will save a deposit large enough to outbid seasoned investors, and parents feel helpless watching their children’s dreams of owning a home slip away. It can feel like one step forward, two steps back when it comes to saving your first deposit. Fortunately, there are many strategies we utilise to remove stress and get your child into the market right away. The guarantor structure is a great way to boost your child’s purchasing power without laying down your own cash. This strategy is perfect for home owners who have a bit of extra equity in their home, but who are hesitant to hand over their savings or borrow against the family home. You are able to access your home’s equity to secure a portion of the new property, [...]
Fall in house prices is ‘quite a bit larger’ than expected says ANZ
ANZ Bank has warned the pace of decline in Australia's house prices is "quite a bit larger" than expected, and likely to last longer than it previously forecast. With national auction clearance rates at a five-year low, ANZ senior economist Daniel Gradwell predicted in a research note published on Wednesday that further weakness was in store for the housing market, before it would start stabilising later this year. Mr Gradwell pointed to recent figures showing that the rate of price decline had accelerated in Sydney. The weakness was also affecting Melbourne amid a slump in national auction clearance rates and a tightening in credit availability. ANZ is now revising these forecasts. Mr Gradwell said the bank had previously expected the market would have "stabilised" by now, based on higher auction clearance rates at the start of this year. It had expected prices would finish 2018 slightly higher in annual terms. ANZ is now revising these forecasts The national auction [...]
JPMorgan’s head of financial planning shares his 5 best tips to start investing
JPMorgan’s head of financial planning, Michael Liersch, shared tips for new investors. Liersch says most investors can be successful if they have a plan, manage their perspective, and stay the course. He also recommends that investors ask someone else – a friend, family member, or financial adviser – to look at their investment strategy and challenge it. Whether you are looking to start saving for retirement or you want to put some extra cash in the stock market, investing can seem daunting to the inexperienced. But investing doesn’t have to be complicated, says Michael Liersch, head of goals-based advice and strategy at JPMorgan. In fact, Liersch told Business Insider that most investors can be successful if they have a plan, manage their perspective, and stay the course. 1. Make a plan Liersch thinks the first thing someone should do before investing is create a budget and see where your money is currently going. “As a simple first step, roughly estimate how much of your [...]