(03) 9020 2905

Welcome to Bruce Brammall Financial

FOFA’s good news

PORTFOLIO POINT: Certainly no earthquake, but a positive tremor for super consumers. Here’s how the Government’s new financial advice reforms will impact your super. Opt-in is confirmed. Working in a client’s “best interests” is too. And the ban on soft-dollar benefits is not just in, but is going to be made tougher. Assistant treasurer Bill […]

“We all have different comfort zones when it comes to investing. How do I work out mine?”

Look at me. Clearly, I’m neither Dr McDreamy, nor Dr McSteamy. But I do know your body is a tremendous indicator of stress. If we listen, it tells us things. Making money feels good, so few will feel queasy when markets are running hot. The following are warning signs for when markets are crapping out. […]

Fix your returns

PORTFOLIO POINT: Looking around for less volatile alternatives to equities in your SMSF? Your solution could be fixed interest. But how do you get yourself some? Have equities been providing you with less joy than a naked romp in a prickle field? Are you suffering from volatility fatigue? Are you one bad day from selling […]

It can be tough managing finances if you’re single. What are some good tips?

Jeez, I don’t know about that. That’s like me saying: “Getting hitched was awesome. I’ll never have to cook again”. (Duck the frying pan that’s flying my way … NOW!) Couples have twice the bad spending habits to keep under control, will eat out more and might do something silly like get married, where the […]

Too much of a good thing likely to end in a hangover

Parties seem to be what life is about. The rest of our lives seem to just be filling in time between them. In our modern lifestyle, the more parties you attend, the more popular you may assume you are. By that measure, Mrs DebtMan must be one of the most popular people on the planet. […]

Super reform dangers

PORTFOLIO POINT: The proposed ban on risk insurance commissions in super might be ditched. But it’s not that simple for SMSFs and it shouldn’t stop trustees in any case. Here’s what you need to know. Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten dropped a bombshell in financial planning circles in April when he updated the government’s plans for […]

All generations have financial stereotypes. Which is the most incorrect one about yours?

That we’re apathetic, aimless, ambitionless, slackers. Generation X – Tales for an Accelerated Culture was the 1991 book by Canadian Douglas Coupland, which kicked the whole thing off. It was followed by “Slacker”, a movie about a day in the life of a bunch of deadbeat 20-somethings. The term “Generation X” caught on. And we […]

SMSFs: Don’t buy the property spiel

PORTFOLIO POINT: My geared property rule for SMSFs trustees – if you’re not doing it outside super, don’t do it inside your SMSF. With stock markets swan diving back into the pool of schizophrenia in recent weeks, expect the sales pitch volume for other asset classes to be turned up. The “safety of cash”, the […]

Aussies are travelling more. What are your top financial tips for travellers?

Will anyone be in Australia to fill out the Census this week? You should be reading this by smart phone or an internet cafe … somewhere the sun’s shining and it’s permanently cocktail hour. With Australia’s dollar in the stratosphere, there’s never been a better time. Between 1996 and 2006, I spent a year backpacking. […]

Property doom

I’m no fan of naysayers. Negative people, in general, can sod off out of my presence, thank you very much. And given a choice between having a laugh and having a good old blithering, tissue-soaking sook, I choose giggles. The Goodies? Or the episode of A Country Practice where Molly dies? The Goodies everytime. But […]