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Welcome to Bruce Brammall Financial

Category: Super Secrets Newsletter

Drilling down into DIY super

PORTFOLIO POINT: How do you compare? The latest stats show some surprising trends in the SMSF sector. For years we moaned about the quality of up-to-date statistics on self-managed super funds. The data was years old by the time it came out. That is changing. We’ll never get up-to-the-minute figures like we do with share […]

Seven super tips for 2013

PORTFOLIO POINT: Take a moment to be thankful for returns in calendar 2012. Now, focus on what you need to do in 2013. In recent years, it’s been rare that SMSF trustees have had so much to be pleased with when it comes to performance. And returns in 2012 were something to put a smile […]

The DIY pre-retirement garage sale

PORTFOLIO POINT: Numbers on post-retirement asset switching show SMSF retirees actually do de-risk their portfolios as they age. The shift from being a part of the workforce to being retired is a momentous decision in the life of anyone. Some cope with the transition really well. Others don’t. Most, as I wrote about here (15 […]

The ATO’s super property crackdown

PORTFOLIO POINT: The Tax Office has warned of a SMSF property borrowing crackdown. You must get these investments right up front. A fair warning has been issued by the ATO – if you haven’t set up your geared property deals correctly, they could be coming after you. And getting it wrong could cost you half […]

Trustees seek yield safety

PORTFOLIO POINT: Eureka readers respond: “We’ve had enough of equities. We want security of return, not higher returns.” It wasn’t unanimous, but the consensus was certainly overwhelming. Eureka Report readers, specifically SMSF trustees, have had enough – for now, at least – of the “cult of equities”. Given the choice of a stable, middling return, […]

Cashed out

PORTFOLIO POINT: SMSF trustees missed the equity and property boats in the September quarter. Why did you hold back? It’s no secret that the last financial year was a disappointment for investors. The 10%-ish mini-crash in Australian equities in May and June ruined what would have otherwise been a reasonable year. Come 1 July, markets […]

Tapping into super wraps

PORTFOLIO POINT: Considering a SMSF? Would you like to “try before you buy”? Consider a “wrap” test drive. There was a big hoo-ha in superannuation industry circles last week about accountants’ role in the setting up of self-managed super funds. The facts show that accountants often have an instrumental role in setting up the SMSFs. […]

A super change to avoid death and taxes

PORTFOLIO POINT: A death-tax removed! A major tax win for super pensions was a pleasant surprise in the recent mini-budget. How often would a government tell the Tax Office to back off on legitimate revenue raising? In terms of animal species, it would certainly be classed as “rare”. It would probably be considered “endangered” if […]

Memory loss affects some Generations more than others. What key things do investors often forget?

You know, I know where this question wants us to go. But I’m just not sure that it’s right. The obvious answer? “They forget about the unbreakable relationship between risk and reward. And they forget about pain.” But is it forgetting, if you’ve never experienced it before? Every time a stock market really, really soils […]

Living today, paying tomorrow: A super dilemma

PORTFOLIO POINT: Have Australians “outsmarted” superannuation? Here’s a compelling argument for compulsory annuities. What happens when the best of intentions from our elected representatives is beaten by the people’s own mathematical ingenuity? What if someone forces you to save money against your will, but given the knowledge that those savings will eventually become yours, you […]