As we enter 2023, long term (including lifetime) annuity strategies are a lot more attractive than they were a year ago, assisted by rapid interest rate rises in 2022. Many retirees are now seeking advice on annuity strategies. We’re finding that whilst most Australians are familiar with the concept, they need advice on how an […]
Read MoreHow we select Ethical Investments
Dramatic weather events such as the horrific bushfires last summer in Australia’s east coast have combined with record global temperatures, coral reef bleaching and other environmental issues to drive investors towards ethical investment, particularly in relation to exiting fossil fuels. In addition, 2020 saw the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic and investment in healthcare to […]
Read MoreA Cautionary Tale: Super Funds..sometimes you get what you pay for!
Whilst we don’t often comment on individual cases, I feel compelled to write about a shocking experience that a family member of mine recently had with her large Industry Super Fund (to prevent bias, we won’t name the fund in this case). She was due to receive a ‘Death Benefit Pension‘ from her late husband. […]
Read MoreInvesting in preventing Cancer through Vaccinations
Did you know that you can now invest in a diversified range of Social as well as Environmental Bonds within your Investment or Superannuation portfolio? For example, Affirmative Investment Management (AIM) is a Fund Manager which only invests in global bonds which meet very high ESG standards – including Green, Social and Sustainability bonds. An […]
Read MorePaying First Class Prices for Economy Service?
We often come across clients that are paying large ongoing fees for advice on their superannuation and investment portfolios. These fees may be upwards of $10,000 per year in some cases, and are usually justified by an approach used by banks and larger firms which is becoming more and more outdated in the Financial Planning […]
Read MoreThe Barefoot Investor….recommendations with questionable ethics?
The Barefoot Investor has hit the nail on the head with his easy to read financial explanations for Australians. A ‘must read’ for those wanting to understand their finances, including strategies covering Superannuation, Investment Properties, household cashflow and budgeting, as well as a range of other areas. One recommendation that Scott Pape makes is to […]
Read MoreSuper: Personal Deductible Contribution Changes from 1 July 2017
From 1 July 2017, anyone who is eligible to make voluntary super contributions will also be eligible to make personal concessional (tax-deductible) contributions. This is a major change from the existing rules. Under current rules, the ability to make personal concessional contributions is limited to people who: have not ‘done anything’ to be considered an […]
Read MoreAustralians’ dangerous delay in retirement planning
By Glenn Freeman, Morningstar’s Senior Editor: 20/03/17 A new study assessing the retirement readiness of Australians shows a worrying lack of planning and an over-reliance on products, at the expense of expert advice. In a survey of just under 7,000 people, 44 per cent of respondents indicated they feel prepared for retirement, with this figure down […]
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