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Welcome to Bruce Brammall Financial

It’s time for some spring cleaning – what are the main areas to focus on when tidying your finances?

A “spring clean” sounds so wonderful and fresh, doesn’t it? Like the perfume of crushed rose petals, scented candles or freshly mowed grass. Well, I get hayfever. So you can take your spring cleaning and associated fragrances and … Sorry, bit “Spring Grinchy”, I know. Taking a broom to your finances is completely different. A […]

Your super pension strategy post the election

PORTFOLIO POINT: If you are 60-plus and still working, then a transition-to-retirement pension is a must. Plus what the election result means. If you are over 60 and still working, listen up. This column might be the most profitable column you read this year. There’s a common misunderstanding around superannuation pensions. And that is that […]

When it’s investing you need a tight leash

I’ve never had an out-of-body experience. I don’t believe in ghosts. I don’t read horoscopes. And crystal balls are, says me, baloney. I’m practical. I believe in the real. I accept that weird things happen, though there’s always a logical explanation. My contradiction is that my favourite show ever was probably “The X-Files”. Aliens, paranormal, […]

It’s MoneySmart week, so what are three ways that your generation could be smarter with money?

Start with an exorcism. Why? Just because. And if you can get the whole head-spinning and green-vomit things happening, send me some footage. That would be soooo cool! Seriously, getting money smart is as much about exorcising bad habits, as it is about learning good habits. “Out, naughty money demons! Out!” Maybe MoneySmart week is […]

Seven deadly super sins

HEADLINE PORTFOLIO POINT: SMSFs open up a new legal world to trustees – and there’s a lot of rookie mistakes to avoid. Here’s seven of the biggest do’s and don’ts. The purpose of superannuation is to provide retirement benefits to members. And you would think that there is no group more interested in providing these […]

It pays to take a long-term view when investing. What do you think will be the biggest trend in the decade ahead?

You want “long term” from Generation X? Seriously? What, like using a slow-cooker to make tonight’s dinner? Why? Have mobile phone. Can dial delivery. Dinner done. Two minutes. Back to my iPad Pacman. At Planet X, we don’t do long term. We think in minutes, maybe hours. Famous for it. Or were, until Gen Y […]

A single pot strategy

PORTFOLIO POINT: If you’re over 50, do you treat your super and non-super assets as two pots or one for asset allocation? Here’s an argument for the singular. Simply, the rules are different. Superannuation has one set of rules and taxation consequences. And your “normal” investments have another set of tax rules. For example, superannuation […]

Super frauds target SMSFs

PORTFOLIO POINT: Could you become a target of a super scam or SMSF fraud? Your SMSF is not safe. Here’s what to look out for. Bees and honeypots. Frauds and moneypots. It’s a similarly sticky attraction. The list of those who have lost wads to fraudsters and scam artists continually grows. Email and the internet […]

There’s no excuse for bad manners. What bad money manners annoy you the most?

Dateline: 2001. Mrs DebtMan and I had just bought our first home. We were financially struggling to fill it with furniture. As you do. We invited some friends around for take-away Thai, including one unpopular girlfriend. There were three first-home buyers, including Miss Unpopularity, so furniture shopping was the topic of conversation. “Oh, no, I […]