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Category: Newsletters

Beware the property spruikers

SUMMARY: Siren call of property is a Greek tragedy that is claiming far too many SMSF victims. Here’s how to save yourself. The single greatest threat to newbie self-managed super fund trustees continues to be geared property investment. It is a Greek tragedy. The luring song of the property spruiking sirens have been calling out […]

Reno rumble in DebtMan jungle

  One of the under-appreciated joys of a long marriage is that you literally have a lifetime together to argue and fight. An eternal sparring partner. And arguing with your partner is a sport you can enjoy all year round. Even in the silly season. “Oh, what fun, it is to …” And those ones […]

Don’t forget about family trusts

SUMMARY: Super, personal name or trust structure? You must consider all of the options when looking to create family wealth. There comes a time in most people’s lives where the constant struggle to stay afloat is superceded by thoughts of creating real wealth. There is spare money left over, monthly, after life’s expenses are covered. […]

Lifting the lid on property in super

      SUMMARY: SMSFs awoke to geared property earlier and in bigger numbers than previously realised. The hunger for geared property inside self-managed super funds is far bigger than previously understood. The Tax Office on Monday made a second consecutive massive annual upward revision of official figures regarding how widespread property gearing in super […]

Avoid a super contributions trap

SUMMARY: Getting around the traps to super contributions pre- and post-65. Getting money into super can be confusing, particularly for those at, or getting toward, the end of your working life. Turning 65 is when getting access to your super is easy. But putting money into super becomes more difficult. But not impossible, under the […]

SMSFs are not paid to panic

SUMMARY: The message on asset class diversification has never been clearer. If you’re a self-managed super fund trustee and your guts haven’t been churning in recent weeks, then I know something about you. You’re fully invested in cash. And while that has served you well in the last fortnight, it’s been a number of years […]

How to get around the SMSF property curbs

SUMMARY: SMSF property investors caught up in attack on investor lending by APRA. Self-managed super funds looking to buy geared property are being squeezed for options, as lenders exit the market and jack up interest rates. Lenders have generally moved to limit lending to SMSFs in the wake of pressure from the Australian Prudential Regulation […]

Were your returns super or normal?

Summary: The average investor posted before-tax returns of 7.86 per cent in FY15. No asset classes were negative, but unhedged currency assets won play of the day. Returns over the three years to June 2015 were stronger, with even conservative investors nudging 10 per cent. Sometimes a dreadful quarter can completely wipe a smile from your […]

Is all debt bad? What’s the difference between good and bad debt?

            All bad? Hell no! Stupid question! Are you bat-crazy, like Kanye West? Or just out-of-your-mind, like Charlie Sheen? Seriously? How can all debt be bad? If you’re not convinced, ask yourself the following simple question: “Who could buy their first home without debt?” A tiny fraction of 1 per […]

Don’t bust a cap

SUMMARY: Made a last-minute check of your superannuation contributions? Don’t delay. It’s not too late. Quite simply, none of us have enough time to do everything we want to do before 30 June. There’s only two weeks left. But there are tens of thousands of you who should make the following a priority. Arguably, anyone who […]