It’s that time of year when we get slugged with increases in the premiums for private health cover. Interestingly, in the latest Choice survey of 1,000 Australians, health insurance has now overtaken electricity as the main household cost concern! Here are a couple of tips to save you money on private health cover. Review your… [Read More]
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What would a change of Federal Government mean for your super?
Superannuation is always a contentious area and subject to constant interference by governments tinkering with the rules. A change of government will again see a shift in the goal posts for superannuation and the ability of people work towards a self-funded retirement. Many of the Labor super proposals are about contributions and will further restrict… [Read More]
Market Insights – February 2019
In this video, I discuss how a change of tact by the US Federal Reserve on interest rates has seen markets rally from December lows, as well as the implications of the Banking Royal Commission now that the final report has been released. If you would like further insights or would just like to… [Read More]
What’s happening to residential property?
The Australian property market has continued to soften coming into 2019 with declines led by Sydney and Melbourne where prices reached unsustainable levels in the boom times. As for other major cities in Australia, they are probably a bit better placed – either they didn’t have a boom, and therefore probably won’t have a bust… [Read More]
Impact of the Banking Royal Commission on SMSFs
SMSFs were explicitly excluded from the Banking Royal Commission terms of reference, but there are still implications for the sector. I have outlined a summary and some comments on some of the key recommendations below. Recommendation 2.1 – Annual renewal and payment Ongoing fee arrangements must be renewed annually by the client in writing outlining… [Read More]
Labor proposes to increase Capital Gains Tax – Party like its 1985?
The date 20 September 1985 will be forever enshrined in our tax legislation – this is the date that Hawke-Keating government, introduced Capital Gains Tax (CGT). The significance comes from the fact that assets owned prior to this date were carved out and made exempt from CGT. This is otherwise known as grandfathering and is… [Read More]