Postgraduate education: Is it worth it? So you’ve finished your degree – now what? With more Australians taking time to study for longer,find out if the benefits to your career and earning potential could be enough to make it worth investing in a postgraduate qualification. Starting your working life with a sizeable HECs debt might not be the best thing about studying for a qualification in Australia, but it’s definitely not deterring young people from …
Telcos no place to find sustainable dividends in future Australia’s telecoms stocks have recently suffered a stretch that I could only describe as horrible, amid a very challenging industry pricing backdrop. The S&P/ASX200 Telecommunications Services Index has tumbled 33 per cent in the past 12 months alone. Many concerns have driven telecoms stocks lower, but the hazy outlook for dividend payments is what is making me steer clear of this sector for retirees seeking a …
Weekly Market Update 22 June 2018 Investment markets and key developments over the past week The past week saw geopolitics continue to cause gyrations in markets with political tensions around immigration in Germany and Trump upping the ante on trade with China. This saw most major share markets fall, particularly in Europe and China and at the same time emerging markets remained under pressure not helped by the rising $US fuelling fears about a dollar …
Superannuation and separation: Who keeps the money? Depending on the situation, you might get some of your ex-partner’s super, or they may get some of yours. A divorce from your husband or wife, or a separation from your de facto, could mean a division of your assets and debts, whether they’re held separately or together, and superannuation is no exception. Another thing to note is even if one of you hasn’t contributed to super for many …
Trade war risks are escalating – but a negotiated solution remains most likely Key Points US actions in recent weeks have increased the risk of a full-blown trade war – primarily between the US and China – with a more significant economic impact. So far the bulk of the tariffs are just proposed so there is still room for a negotiated solution (which remains our base case with a 55% probability). But there is now …
Watch out for tax scams The end of the financial year will likely bring the usual wave of scams. Here’s what to watch for. The Federal Budget is behind us, and amid the celebrations over tax cuts (around $500 annually for low to middle income earners), now is the time to be mindful of scammers pretending to be from government bodies – especially the Tax Office. In some cases, scam victims have lost close to …
Should I buy or rent? (Video) Louise Lakomy CFP® Louise has a wide range of experience and depth of knowledge in all facets of financial planning providing advice over 15 years specialising in retirement strategies. As part of the Financial Planning Association’s Ask a Planner video series, Louise Lakomy CFP® answers the commonly asked question, “Should I buy my own home, or continue to rent and put my money towards other investments?” If you …
Are you entitled to a tax deduction on personal super contributions? This financial year is the first time that employees can claim a tax deduction for their personal super contributions. Personal super contributions made during the 2017-18 financial year can now be claimed as a tax deduction by most Australian workers. This follows changes made by the government which came into effect on 1 July 2017. Previously, only the self-employed, unemployed, retirees, or those who …
Putting the global “debt bomb” in perspective – seven reasons to be alert but not alarmed Key Points Global debt levels have reached new records. Countries with very high gross debt to GDP include Japan, Belgium, Canada, Portugal and Greece. The main areas of rising debt since the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) have been public debt in developed countries (with more to come in the US) and private debt in emerging countries (and of course …
What it means to retire and live the dream When you’re no longer working and chasing dollars, you may have a different perspective on what you value most about your life. Take a look at how our current generation of retirees measure their success and what “living the dream” means to them. “Living the dream” in retirement? How likely are retirees to be “living the dream” Just 22% of boomers are living the dream compared with 27% of …
