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Category: Articles

A new SMSF viability threshold

Bruce Brammall, 13 June, 2018, Eureka Report SUMMARY: Is $1 million the new “viability threshold” for a SMSF? I’m going to start with what I hope is an unarguable fact: Many SMSFs should never have been set up in the first place. I don’t know for certain what the actual percentage would be. I would […]

The small business super conundrum

Bruce Brammall, 23 May, 2018, Eureka Report     SUMMARY: Could the government force business owners to pay themselves super? Not likely. But it’s more than a thought bubble. Running your own business can be a tough gig, particularly in the early years when building reliable cashflow. Administration, management, red tape and constant cost pressures […]

A licence to live the good life

Bruce Brammall, 6 June, 2018, Eureka Report       SUMMARY: Spending needs in retirement might not be as high as first thought. But that doesn’t mean YOU shouldn’t aim high. I hope my parents manage to blow their last $100 on their death beds a few minutes before the last of them falls off […]

‘Tis the season to peer at finances

Bruce Brammall, The West Australian, 4 June, 2018 It’s a bit fresh outside. Which makes it the perfect time for our favourite indoor sports. Not that indoor sport. Get your minds out of the gutter. I’m talking about “grand final” time for your personal finances. And as most of your finances are handled via your […]

A mixed bag for SMSFs

Bruce Brammall, 30 May, 2018, Eureka Report   SUMMARY: Productivity Commission turns up heat on super, but finds little to complain about with SMSF sector. Further structural overhauling of superannuation looks certain after the Productivity Commission’s highly critical report on the industry’s efficiency. Some radical suggestions include only allowing one default fund per member for […]

The perils of ‘opt-in’ insurance

Bruce Brammall, 16 May, 2018, Eureka Report   SUMMARY: “Life insurance” is not a dirty term. It’s an important part of our super landscape. Canberra needs to think, very carefully. I was very close to hiring a “fresh-off-the-boat” Englishman as a financial advisor, about seven years ago. His experience with Australian superannuation was minimal. But […]

Insure that you have ‘opted in’

Bruce Brammall, The West Australian, 14 May, 2018 It sends a shocking message when the government says “you don’t need insurance”. That’s not precisely what Treasurer Scott Morrison has said. But his Budget-night release for plans on insurance in superannuation is certainly going to give off that impression. Super funds will be stopped from automatically […]

The invisible super victims

Bruce Brammall, 9 May, 2018, Eureka Report               SUMMARY: Superannuation and the Federal Budget 2018. What do you need to be aware of? Every Federal Budget means you have to make fundamental changes to your superannuation strategies. Right? No-changes-to-superannuation Budgets don’t exist, do they? Governments don’t let a Budget […]

Two sides to the Super Guarantee coin

Bruce Brammall, 2 May, 2018, Eureka Report SUMMARY: Is the move to 12% Superannuation Guarantee in danger? And six member SMSF legislation on the way. One of superannuation’s “universal truths” seems to be imploding. Looks like it might tear completely off the bone, like a season-ending ACL injury. The notion that the nation needs to […]

Integrity means doing no harm

Bruce Brammall, The West Australian, 30 April, 2018   Integrity. What does it mean to you? A large number of people in the financial industry don’t seem to know what integrity means. Or perhaps they do, but simply don’t possess any. Australians are understandably wondering how deep this rot runs. Is the Royal Commission just […]