Here we go again. Superannuation could be about to undergo more change with the federal opposition announcing it will end cash refunds of franking credits on share dividends if it wins the next election. The change would have a significant impact on people paying little or no tax, especially self-funded retirees in pension phase. Seniors […]
Australia’s household debt is among the highest in the world and rising, thanks largely to worsening housing affordability and plentiful consumer credit. So how do we measure up and should we be worried? Most global comparisons measure total household debt as a percentage of net income. At last count, Australia’s household debt to income […]
Summary The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Board met on 7 February 2017 and as widely expected, left the official cash rate on hold at 1.5%. There has been no change in the official cash rate since August 2016. The S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index rose by 2.3% during February, with strong gains in the first […]
Prior to 1 July 2017 Salary Sacrifice contributions was one that involved lengthy discussions with your Financial Advisor and Employer to ensure the money saving scheme was actually saving you money. Now, in this new super world, new legislation has made it even easier to boost your superannuation balance and save on tax. If you […]
We have had some pretty major changes to the superannuation legislation in this last round. As always, the devil is in the detail and there is a great deal to consider. The summary below gives you an idea of the broad changes that are coming through. 1. Pre-tax super contributions The pre-tax superannuation annual […]
Australians buying their first home or downsizing in retirement are about to receive a helping hand thanks to new superannuation rules which come into effect on July 1 2018. From that date, first home buyers will be able to contribute up to $30,000 into their super fund towards a home deposit while downsizers can put […]
Blockchain is only at the tip of the iceberg of its immense potential. Industry leaders like Bob Greifeld, CEO of Nasdaq, have already pegged the emerging technology as “the biggest opportunity set we can think of over the next decade”.i From the humble origins of Bitcoin, blockchain has since captured the imagination of everyone from Richard […]
It probably comes as no surprise to anyone that there is a significant gap between what we would need to maintain our standard of living should the unthinkable happen, and what we are actually covered for in the way of insurance. Australia is one of the most underinsured nations in the developed world, ranking 16th […]
Summary The Reserve Bank of Australia Board did not meet in January 2017. We currently expect the RBA to maintain interest rates at 1.5% for the duration of 2017. The Australian dollar was stronger off the back of commodity prices over the month. The AUD ended the month up 5.02% against the USD at $US0.7570. […]