Europe bargains for the brave at heart
As the barrage of conflicting news continues to flow from the epicentre of the sovereign debt crisis, it may be hard for investors to get excited about directing their money to Europe.
ATO counts the beans, literally
A short black and a long look at your books. That is the order set to stir cafes nationwide as the tax man does the rounds.
NAB lifts its business rate
National Australia Bank will lift its benchmark business lending margin 0.18 percentage points – double its recent out-of-cycle mortgage rate rise – to offset higher funding costs.
Mining boom stokes wage increases
Wages increased in the December quarter at the fastest pace in a year as the biggest mining boom in more than a century stoked demand for skilled labour.
RBA governor backs banks on rate rises
Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens has weighed in to the debate over bank funding costs, defending the decision by the four biggest banks to raise mortgage rates this month.
Platforms try new degree of difficulty
Wealth management platform providers splurged $130 million on new developments last year to woo financial planners’ business and prepare for the government’s incoming Future of Financial Advice reforms.
January respite for super funds
Superannuation fund members received some respite from tumbling sharemarkets last month with the average balanced fund recording a 2.5 per cent gain in January.
Accountants won’t be restricted, says Shorten
Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten has moved to reassure accountants that any licensing regime would not restrict the profession’s ability to advise clients.
RBA fed up with banks’ glitches
Banks will face tougher rules for reporting any outages and glitches with their electronic retail payments systems as a first step in guidelines being developed by the Reserve Bank of Australia.
Non-banks raise rates
Many small mortgage lenders and non-banks are set to pass on an out-of-cycle 0.10 of a percentage point rate rise to borrowers, mirroring moves by major banks last week.
Government rejects Greens super demands
The federal government has rejected Bob Brown’s demands for changes to the superannuation contributions tax as the Greens leader pointed to fresh research which, he claimed, highlighted the inequities in the retirement savings system.
Super starts to lose its lustre
SMSF fund trustees were willing to inject less into their retirement accounts last year than in 2009-10, suggesting confidence in the super system is waning.
Should your kids be in your SMSF?
Parents with SMSFs may be tempted to permit their children to become members, but various factors should be considered before admitting them into your fund.
Super funds urge Greens to reconsider
Retirement funds have urged Greens senators to ditch a proposal to raise the superannuation tax for the wealthy and accept a plan designed to make the system fairer.
Words of warning
SMSFs have seen enormous growth. And with this growth, there has been an increase in the information provided by the ATO, which has helped with interpreting the relevant laws.
Beware the family when making loans
A recent ATO publication, which provides a snapshot of what the SMSF sector looked like in 2009, provides illuminating reading.
Takeover has clients in mood to switch
AMP’s gruelling 17-month battle to take over AXA Asia Pacific Holdings appears to have taken a toll on the confidence of some superannuation product-holders.
Industry welcomes hints of reform delays
The financial services industry could gain a one-year reprieve from Canberra’s plan to regulate the sector more tightly.
SMSFs pay less fees, but take more risks
The majority of DIY super funds spend less than 1 per cent of the value of their assets on administration but many hold all their investments in a single asset class.
Is DIY super right for you?
Setting up your own super fund has many benefits. But you need to make sure that it works well for you.
How much will it cost?
A self-managed superannuation fund may give you investment control, but “DIY” is something of a misnomer, unless you are an auditor, investment professional and/or regulatory expert.
Binding death nominations
Binding death benefit nominations, which aim to give greater certainty about who should inherit super, should be an essential feature of a well-structured DIY fund.
How to choose an adviser
There are so many horror stories, it can be hard to know where to start when you’re looking for a provider of financial services.
Top DIY super mistakes
SMSF trustees must comply with a plethora of regulations, or face still penalties and the zero-tolerance stance of the Australian Taxation Office.
Advantages of insurance cover
Since the removal of reasonable benefit limits, taking out life and disability insurance through a self-managed superannuation fund has become more attractive.
Planning to live overseas?
One important consideration for anyone with a do-it-yourself super fund who plans to live and work overseas for an extended period is a rule that requires all funds to be managed from Australia.
Contribution initiatives a shadow of the proposal
Nearly five years down the track, with the five-year anniversary in mid-2012, super contribution initiatives barely resemble those originally proposed.
The safest path through the wreckage
Alex Cook’s self-managed superannuation fund is no typical portfolio. He has deserted the sharemarket entirely, but not forever.
Retirees in perfect storm; returns buffeted
The superannuation industry is fast changing into the pension industry as Australia’s baby boomers hit retirement age and older fund members start to turn their savings into income.
Focus on tax and reap rewards
The obvious role of super pensions is to provide income in retirement, but they can be used tactically to increase wealth.
How your property performed
Falling house prices, declining auction clearance rates, rising days on market and low transaction volumes: 2011 has been a tough year for anyone selling residential property.
Mortgagees may like a fix
Fixed rates are very attractive right now, but there’s always the chance they will fall further.
Woolworths REIT would have to clear hurdles
Retail giant Woolworths, which holds a multibillion-dollar portfolio of property, faces a number of hurdles before it can float its real estate.
Property becomes all about income
Property’s appeal as a reliable source of income with potential for capital gain is prompting greater interest from do-it-yourself super funds.
Secrets of the wealthy
The rich have more options for investing than most of us. Yet their strategies are not always that different.
Why debt comes first and hybrids last
Debt is not all the same to a bank, with some products, such as covered bonds, carrying higher obligations and levels of risk than others.
Picking losers a popular response to volatility
Australian long-short funds have largely outperformed the sharemarket during a dismal year for equities returns in 2011.
ETFs offer a bigger bite at commodities
Buying a basket of products without having to stock pick and hedge may offer a less risky exposure than buying individual shares.
Costly family feuds and how to avoid them
Feuds over finance can happen whether or not there are sizeable assets. Communication is the key to smoothing the way.
Time to stash some foreign currency
A slide in the Australian dollar is predicted, so it may be time to buy some foreign cash if you’re planning an overseas holiday.
How to cash in on savings
Banks offer depositors a wide range of products, so the challenge is to be in the right account, at the right rate, and for the right reason.
Home away from home
House swapping has potential pitfalls but a little homework beforehand can ensure substantial benefits.
