The power of diversification for your SMSF The overriding investment objective should be for your SMSF to deliver a sustainable income stream in retirement. Every self-managed super fund (SMSF) must have a clearly articulated investment strategy. If your investment strategy is too bro

The Australian housing market – surging unit supply, the economy and what it all means for investors Housing matters a lot in Australia. Having a house on a quarter acre block is part of the “Aussie dream”. Housing is a popular investment destination. And the housing cycle

Redundant? Get ready for what’s next   Redundancy is never easy — but you can take steps to be emotionally and financially prepared. In the current economic climate, many Australians have faced unexpected redundancy, as companies look for ways to make cutbacks in costs. If you’re

Are you prepared for changes to the Age Pension assets test? How the assets test will work in 2017 could increase your Age Pension entitlements, or take some or all of them away. With revisions to the Age Pension assets test just around the corner, it’s important to understand how the

MARKET UPDATE MARKET AND ECONOMIC OVERVIEW Australia The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Board met on 1 November 2016, as widely expected, the cash rate was held unchanged at 1.5%. The statement remained largely similar to the October statement, with inflation still described as “quit

Christmas 2016 Monday 19 December – Offices open Tuesday 20 December – Offices open Wednesday 21 December – Offices open Thursday 22 December – Offices open Friday 23 December – Offices closed Monday 26 December – Boxing Day public holiday Tuesday 2

Make my retirement funds last the distance Retirement should be a time when we reap the rewards of our working life, and being able to enjoy your preferred lifestyle calls for some planning. Australians are living longer and if you hang up your work boots at, say, age 65 and live to a

Estate Planning:  Making sure your money goes where you want it to Estate planning is not just about making a will. It’s about deciding how you want to be looked after (both medically and financially) if you can’t make your own decisions later in life. It’s also about documenting how

The impact of the death of a parent on children Findings from a recent study[1] explored the impact the death of a parent has on children and the surviving parent, comparing the results between insured and uninsured households. What impact does the death of a parent have on children?

Investing for retirement pays off More than half of Australians with investment properties or shares are proactively preparing for retirement, according to MLC’s Australia today report[1]. In comparison, only 15% of people without investment properties or shares feel prepared for reti