The end of financial year is almost here. With a little planning, you can increase your chances of a healthy tax return and start the new financial year in top financial shape. Here are three tips to get you started. 1. Focus on deductions Whether you’re an employee or a business owner, chances are you’re…
The key initiatives in this year’s Federal Budget include: • A Temporary Budget Repair Levy of 2% will be payable on taxable incomes over $180,000 pa for the next three financial years. • The levy will increase the Fringe Benefits Tax rate to 49% for three years, starting on 1 April 2015. • Changes to…
The National Commission of Audit report (released 1 May 2014) contains 86 recommendations aimed at saving the budget up to $70 billion annually. The key recommendations affecting financial planning strategies are outlined below. Note: these are proposals only and may not be in the Budget or passed into law. Superannuation Superannuation preservation age •• Preservation…
Investing can be scary and confusing at times. But the basic principles of successful investing are timeless and quotes from some experts help illuminate these. This note looks at those at which Dr Shane Oliver finds most insightful. Read More about great investment quotes
Budget Highlights Introducing a Temporary Budget Repair Levy on incomes over $180,000 for the three years from 2014‑15. Requiring young people to be earning, learning or participating in Work for the Dole Tightening the eligibility for Family Tax Benefit Part B (FTB-B). Low income single parents will be assisted with a new allowance of $750…
Oliver’s Insights: Common myths and mistakes of investing Key points are as follows… Investors frequently employ common sense rules of thumb that often turn out to be wrong. Because investment markets are forward looking it often makes sense to turn common sense logic on its head. Download the Report
Key points are as follows… The situation in Ukraine could get worse before it gets better and so it remains a threat for investors to keep an eye on in the short term. Ultimately, it poses a greater threat to the Russian economy than to European and global growth. While uncertainty regarding Ukrainian tensions could…
Key points are as follows… For periods of time it may pay to back the crowd in investing, eg, when a bull or bear market is developing. But at extremes the crowd is invariably wrong. Eventually everyone who wants to buy will have done so and the only way is down (or vice versa during…
Key points: The rising tide in favour of the $A has well and truly reversed with further downside likely in the years ahead, particularly against the $US and Euro. The commodity price boom has faded in response to a moderation in Chinese growth as commodity supply increases, the US is slowing its quantitative easing program…
Key points: Concerns about emerging countries on the back of various political problems and trade imbalances that leave them vulnerable as the Fed slows down its monetary stimulus appear to have triggered a correction in share markets. The relative weakness in emerging market shares and currencies is part of a broader turn in the long-term…