Asset classes: Naming the investment winners for the 2011 calendar year
Diversification was the key message for 2011, according to Warren Chant of rating company, Chant West. He says that the strong performance of unlisted assets has had a stabilising effect on fund returns in 2011.
Can I put my super into a bank account?
I am not in a self managed super fund. Can I put my superannuation balance into a bank account to get around 6% until I retire in 2.5 years?
Investment performance: Benchmarking super fund returns
Q: I am 62 years, retired and draw an allocated pension. What I need is to get sound independent advice about whether I am in the best fund for my needs and how my super fund compares.
Asset classes: Naming the investment winners for 2011
If you’re a regular reader of the daily newspapers, or an avid watcher of the financial news on television, you may hold the view that the international sharemarkets have been doing rather poorly lately, and that international property as an investment is generally something to avoid.
Age Pension: Deemed income may rise with interest rates
Q: As I understand the position for the Age Pension income test, income from financial assets is worked out by deeming (capital value times rate). The rate is currently 4.5% per annum (although 3% on first $45,000 or so for a single person, and first $75,000 for a couple).
SMSF investment: Where does all the DIY super money go?
Each quarter the ATO releases self-managed super fund statistics derived from annual return data. Some of the more interesting data outlines the investments that SMSF trustees choose, and how much SMSF money is invested in the different asset types.
Super funds deliver 10% for 2009/2010 year
It was touch and go for Australian superannuation funds, enduring a shocking sharemarket performance in May and June, but super funds have stumbled over the line to deliver double-digit returns for the 2009/2010 financial year, according to rating company Chant West.
Free cash: Renovating the First Home Savers Account
You’d expect a stampede when the Government offers tax-free handouts to help first home-buyers purchase a place to live. Not so when the freebie is the First Home Savers Account, one of the most complicated and restrictive schemes in the country.
SMSFs: Purchasing options is OK, and even sometimes CFDs
Q: Can a SMSF buy/sell call/put options? I understand that CFDs are not permitted because it breaches the charge over asset regulation. However, is that true that options are derivatives and in giving shares as a collateral (when writing options) [...]
