From 20 March 2013, the deeming rates applicable to financial assets when claiming the Age Pension, will drop in response to the sustained fall in market interest rates. What this means for those holding financial investments, is that less ‘income’ will be counted for Age Pension eligibility, … [Read more...]
Note: We regularly update this article with the latest data on self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) released by the Australian Taxation Office. This article contains the latest data available up to March 2013 (for data as at December 2012). Each quarter the ATO releases self-managed super … [Read more...]
Australian and global listed property sectors delivered the biggest returns for the 2012 calendar year (1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012), according to Warren Chant of rating company, Chant West. He says that the strong performance of super funds during 2012 however was driven primarily by the … [Read more...]
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) to the Options Clearing House, it will treated … [Read more...]
This article contains 2011/2012 performance data for 13 asset classes (or sub-categories). At the end of the article we have included performance data for the 2010/2011 year as a handy historical reference. If you’re a regular reader of the daily newspapers, or an avid watcher of the financial … [Read more...]
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. “The benefits of diversification were clearly evident in 2011. Although both … [Read more...]
Q: 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? The current share market is an unreliable yo-yo, so I invested in cash, fixed interest and bonds only; now the stupid share market goes up and the fixed … [Read more...]
Q: What you do is very important, thank you. 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. I am considering a change to Australian Super, but I need to know whether … [Read more...]
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. The interim return for the … [Read more...]
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. While state and federal governments were … [Read more...]
