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Category: Articles

SMSFs, property and income

PORTFOLIO POINT: Thinking of cashing up your property portfolio to get your money into super? Here’s what you need to know (Part II). If super is a powerful way of creating wealth (and saving on tax) for your future, then property in SMSFs can be simply awesome, if you get the investment right. Super laws […]

“Saving money can be difficult whatever your age. What are some savings tips that really work?”

It’s a bit Vyvyan from The Young Ones. “This calls for a very special mix of psychology … and extreme violence.” And a bit of the old lightbulb joke. “How many psychologists does it take to change a lightbulb? None – the lightbulb has to want to change.” The trick for Gen Xers is not […]

Super’s safe house

PORTFOLIO POINT: Should you sell your properties to get money into your SMSF? There’s plenty to weigh up. Here are the main points (Part I) A recent survey suggested that 2011 is going to be the year of property in SMSFs. The suggestion was that – with the GFC slowly fading into history – that […]

“Splitting a restaurant dinner bill can be stressful. How do you work out who pays?”

Thankfully, the national standard for divvying up share-plate restaurant meals is NOT according to volume consumed. One of my parents’ nicknames for me in my youth was “Garbage Disposal Unit”. Whenever we went out for dinner with friends at one of Canberra’s Chinese restaurants in the 70s and 80s – there wasn’t much choice there […]

“Aussie shares have been pretty flat over the past five years. Should I sell mine and switch it all to cash?”

URRGHACKACK! Know what sound that is? That’s the sound Bart Simpson makes when Homer is choking him. It’s the same sound I made as I read this question. Everything in cash? For Gen Xers? You cannot be serious! Listen carefully. You can’t save your way to a fortune. You’d have to put away about 20 […]

Super to the power of two

PORTFOLIO POINT: Super double up. If you’re a couple, then combining your TTR and salary sacrifice strategies can lead to even more powerful results. The great thing about Transition to Retirement (TTR) strategies is that there are no so few losers. Generally, you’ll pay less tax on the income stream that you receive from your […]

“What is your most expensive habit, and do you have any plans to kick it?”

Mmmm. Most expensive habit? What’s the definition of “most expensive”? The one that has cost you the most money? Or the guilty pleasure that derives no economic benefit. Kids? We’ve only collected two, DebtBoy and DebtGirl. Creche fees, nappies, DVDs, clothes, toys, child-raising paraphernalia … The boy is nearly four and hasn’t even played his […]

“I like to control all of my investments, so should I start a self-managed superannuation fund?”

Whoa-boy! Steady up Xers! You’re trying to move faster than Charlie Sheen when he’s “on the drug Charlie Sheen”. Answer these important questions first. Do you have a minimum of $200,000 in super? Are you great (not just good) with paperwork? Can you stick to a plan, or calmly but quickly adjust your plan, when […]

De-simplifying super

PORTFOLIO POINT: Some flesh has been added to the skeleton of the 50-50-500 rule for super contributions. And it looks like generating higher fees for SMSF advisers. Accountants and financial advisers could be excused if they started inadvertently rubbing their hands together. Greater complexity in anything financial means more work for professionals. Not only in […]

“Should you enjoy your life today, even if it means less money to spend tomorrow?”

No! No enjoyment for you! That may sound a little bit Seinfeld “Soup Nazi”, but that’s the way it’s got to be. Don’t you know that the person with the most money wins? Economic reality saw God sell out long ago. You want the best seats ringside in heaven? They’re for sale! Good deeds alone […]