The five reasons why the $A is likely to rise further – if recession is avoided Key points – After a soft patch since 2021, there is good reason to expect the $A to rise into next year: it’s undervalued; interest rate differentials look likely to shift in favour of Australia; sentiment towards the $A is negative; commodities still look to have entered a new super cycle; and Australia is a long way from the …
What is capital gains tax and when might I have to pay it? Capital gains tax may be payable when you sell a certain asset (such as shares, land or property) and make a profit. Capital gains tax is charged on the profit you make from the sale of certain assets. These could be assets that you’ve purchased or inherited. To give you a few examples, capital gains tax might apply to things such as …
The good news in the plunge in markets – higher medium-term return potential (assuming inflation is tamed) Key points The fall in bond and share values and rise in their investment yields on the back of higher inflation has seen our medium term (5 to 10 year) return projections for a diversified mix of assets rise to around 6.8% p.a. If inflation falls back to around 2.5% pa this suggests reasonable average returns ahead. The …
Is that a driverless car in the next lane? As technology forges ahead, we’re all but chasing after it. Life as we knew it in the 80s and 90s is now ancient history. Today, digital devices in Australia have made the way we communicate, socialise, work and behave just about unrecognisable. The fact is Aussies are so screen-obsessed that we’re walking and texting, talking and browsing, eating and researching, reading and driving—all at the same …
Is your insurance overdue? If your policy lapses, you may face more challenges than being unable to claim when you need to. If you let your insurance lapse, you may be in for a surprise down the track. Because letting your cover lapse can mean more than no longer having your cover in place. You need to think about whether you’ll be approved or rejected for the same cover if you decide to reapply in …
Downsizing – is it right for you? If you are heading towards retirement, or perhaps already in it, downsizing may have crossed your mind. And you might have some questions – does it make sense financially? Is a smaller home better suited to my situation? At first glance, it would seem that downsizing is a popular choice amongst older Australians. However recent research (Downsizers and Other Movers – The Housing Options Choices and Dilemmas …
