PORTFOLIO POINT: Bill Shorten and APRA stats. Should Australia’s superannuation industry be fearful or welcoming of Bill Shorten? The former Victorian union leader was sworn in yesterday as the new Superannuation Minister to serve under Julia Gillard’s minority government. While Shorten is a tough nut, a seasoned media performer, engaging and ambitious, he’s been most […]
Died-way-too-young singer Karen Carpenter said it wasn’t only rainy days that bummed her out. She lumped Mondays in to the same category. But Karen believed being with someone special fixed “rainy days and Mondays”. Mmmm. Perhaps emotionally. But a cuddle won’t pay the rent, put petrol in the car, or keep beer and vino in […]
PORTFOLIO POINT: With Labor confirmed in government, here’s an interesting piece of research about the potential impact their retirement and super policies. Sometimes, a survey that has little to do with you, or your situation, is worth reading. Just because it gives you a “big picture” insight into what’s going on outside our own little […]
My kids are 3½ and 2. I’m literally elbow deep in poop! The parents at mothers’ group, sometimes that’s all we talk about. We bad? My troublesome questions are “Who did you vote for?” and “How much do you earn?” I love talking, arguing and moaning about politics. But who I actually mark the numbers […]
PORTFOLIO POINT: Dividends are on the rise again, which is handy, because the market has done squat for 12 months. What’s the value in a franking credit for a SMSF? For several decades, the word “frank” only ever conjured up Michael Crawford playing the hapless and accident-prone Frank Spencer in the 70s British comedy Some […]
World-leading taxation from a resourceful government! Franked dividends are the government saying “We’re stealing some of your money now. But we’ll give you a credit note for it.” Genius! But it’s darn site better than the previous arrangement. “We’ll still take it, but we won’t credit you for it and we’ll tax you on it […]
PORTFOLIO POINT: Want to cash out of a few profitable investments, but fear the capital gains tax? Here’s how you can reduce the burden with super. There tends to come a time in many people’s lives when they begin to wish they’d made more of their investments inside super. The introspection is often related to […]
Aww, do we really have to start this argument? That’s like asking: “Which was better, Dynasty or Dallas?” Heather Locklear or Victoria Principal? The “property versus shares” battle is a war with no end. And I’ve donned khakis for both sides. I originally fell in love with property. Obsessed, actually. So much so, I wrote […]
PORTFOLIO POINT: Regulatory risk fatigue is a major factor in why you’re putting less into super. But some of you want me to “Stop encouraging the whingers, Bruce!” If ever I needed proof that SMSF trustees and Eureka Report readers are not a homogenous bunch with the same interests and needs, then it was provided […]
Declaring bankruptcy is to your personal finances what turning your back on your team is to being a football fan. They are both a declaration that you’ve given up. You might lose some respect from those closest to you. And both make it harder to participate generally in society. The major difference is that you […]
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