Australian Prudential Regulation AuthorityThe Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) recently announced that it will be introducing extra measures to improve the quality of mortgage lending in Australia and moderate investor lending. This comes in a response to increased housing affordability issue and a surge in investor lending, in conjunction with a fall in owner-occupied loans.What measures are being implemented by APRA, and what d.....
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Do you have all of your super?From the results released by the ATO, as of 30 June 2016, there were a total of over 5.7 million lost and ATO-held accounts with a total value of just over $14 billion.Lost uncontactable and lost inactive accounts are still held by super funds, whereas unclaimed super money and superannuation holding accounts (SHA) special account is held by us.A superannuation account is considered “lost” when the fund is unable to .....
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Returning to work after retirementRegardless of the careful planning you dedicate to your retirement, individuals who leave the workforce to retire and access their super may decide they want or need to return to work.Understanding how the choice to exit retirement can impact upon your superannuation is futile; disregarding the potential risks involved with returning to work after accessing super can see you land in murky water.It is regulatory f.....
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Appointing an executorWhether you are updating or creating a Will, designating an executor is not an easy decision.The role of executor requires a great deal of commitment. The executor of a Will holds the responsibility of administering your estate and ensuring your wishes are carried out in a time-efficient manner.When choosing an executor, a Will Maker must consider who is best to take on the role and associated responsibilities. The Will Make.....
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Preparing your finances for the New Year Managing your finances is a responsibility you should be on top of all year round. However, the New Year is the perfect time to review and evaluate, and pay close attention to your investments and spending to enable you to enter the New Year on top of your finances. Re balance your portfolio The New Year is an ideal time to sit down and review your investments. Without paying diligent attention to your por.....
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Overall We are still looking for moderate growth in the US, the European recovery is gathering pace and Japan is gradually improving. Emerging economies remain under pressure and the China slowdown has further to run.USIn the US, we may see a rate rise before long and a higher US 10 year Treasury yield over the next 12 months. A forecast of 2.5% US GDP growth is not unreasonable, although the upside for US equities may slow with lower corporate p.....
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Outlook for 2016 2016 promises to be a better year for equities than 2015, a year where markets were shaken by weaker growth in emerging markets. The outlook for economic growth in 2016, particularly in the developed world, is much healthier than at the start of 2015, which should be positive for equity markets, including the US. Global growth still remains somewhat fragile with trade and manufacturing activity sluggish. Looking Back During 2015 .....
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Selling a small business can be a challenging and complicated. So too can retiring. So plan Early.There are a range of things that may need to be addressed early on with the assistance of your accountant or solicitor.Key examples include:ensuring the financial accounts are in orderobtaining a valuation of the businessdetermining the potential tax implications if the business is soldconsidering whether the business should be restructured before th.....
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Australian inflation increased a little above market expectations in the December quarter despite the sharp falls in petrol prices. The annualised rate rose to 1.7%, but still sits below the RBA’s target band of 2–3% p.a.Headline CPI rose 0.4% quarter on quarter to 1.7% p.a. in the December quarter up from 1.5% for the previous three-month period. The corresponding underlying measure of inflation averaged 2% year on year.While the December quarte.....
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Times like the present can be concerning as no one likes to see the value of their investments decline.The malaise affecting equity markets and risk assets generally has shown no let up with Australian shares slipping into bear market territory (defined as a 20% or greater decline from the most recent high).From their highs last year to their latest lows, US shares have fallen 13%, Australian shares -20%, Japanese shares -25%, European shares -26.....
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