Library

Unsettling events in Hong Kong

By Richard Marsden
We all really want the recent events in Hong Kong over the last month to settle down and move back to ‘business as usual’. Having said that, people are naturally concerned and we are receiving more enquiries from expats in Hong Kong who are seeking to understand Australian repatriation issues and put in place a plan to return to Australia if matters deteriorate over the short, medium or longer term...

A note from our Investment Committee: volatility in equity markets

By Stephen Furness
Large falls in equity markets in recent days have seen commentators focus on the increasing risks of a global recession. We provide a brief update below.

Warren Buffett is not wrong – but not entirely right

By John Barton
Back in February, Warren Buffett released his 54th annual letter to the shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway. Since reading this year’s letter, I have been meaning to capture my thoughts on an aspect of Warren’s note that, while accurate, misses the point for most investors...

A ‘City of London’ perspective

By John Barton
Earlier this month, I took the almost 31-hour door-to-door journey from Brisbane to London to attend the Australian British Chamber of Commerce Financial Services Catalyst 2019 – four collaborative, information-rich days examining the key challenges facing financial services today.

Should I make an extra mortgage repayment or contribute more to super?

By Rachel Barlow
This is a question we’re commonly asked. The answer depends on a number of factors and both options have advantages and disadvantages.

Planning for the high costs of education

By John Barton
When it comes to raising kids, there’s not much that’s as important as ensuring they receive a good education. So, whether you’re thinking about your children or your grandchildren, ensuring you’ve thought ahead – particularly in relation to who you intend to pay for the inevitable costs – is paramount.

Super considerations for women

By Michelle Dall'Alba
Many women take parental leave at some stage in their career, which can have a significant detrimental impact on a woman’s superannuation balance over her working life. It is important that we as women take some proactive steps to get better outcomes for our retirement. There are a number of actions you can take, no matter what age you are...

An Important EOFY super reminder

By David Lloyd
With 30 June only a few days away, a reminder to finalise any outstanding EOFY transactions and be aware of three important considerations, including minimum pensions, contributions and the Federal Government's "Protecting Your Super Package Act".

The roaring 80s to today

By John Barton
You may remember the 80s – it was a decade of big hair, big phones, big pants and big hits. It was also a decade of one of the biggest stock market crashes in history. But even with October ’87 in mind, the 80s wasn’t actually a period of big risk taking for the average investor, or more accurately, an investor seeking an ‘average’ rate of return.

Your PAYG and STP obligations: an important note for business owners

By Stanley Feng
From 1 July 2019, key changes will be introduced with respect to PAYG withholding and reporting as well as single touch payroll. In this article, we have outlined what this means for you and what you need to do to ensure you remain compliant as we approach the new financial year.

What does a woman want?

By Rachel Barlow
Despite thirty years of research, Freud could not answer “What does a woman want?” Let’s not untangle that mystery! Let’s talk about what studies have shown the main financial goals for women to be, including repaying the mortgage, understanding and contributing to super, retirement planning, improving financial literacy as well as looking after family (children and parents).

Post-election outcomes and considerations

By Andrew Albury
With the uncertainty that comes with the lead up to a Federal Election now softening, now is an ideal time to consider the new avenues of opportunity that may emerge for investors. Adopting a policy of continual observation of the post-election market landscape could be beneficial.

Navigating 2019 Forum

Recently, we hosted our Navigating 2019 Forum where we heard from David Hudson and Dr Michael Drew. The event took place at The Grove in the CBD. Read on for more information, photos and a summary video from the event.

How to avoid infobesity

By John Barton
In the past, lack of reliable information was traditionally the main challenge when it came to making decisions. This was true in most areas of life - especially with personal finance and investing. But we’ve come a long way in the last 20 years. Now, our challenge is reversed - we have too much information.

Federal Budget 2019: Tax

The Federal Treasurer, Mr Josh Frydenberg, handed down the 2019/20 Federal Budget at 7:30 pm (AEDT) on 2 April 2019. The budget focuses on “restoring the nation's finances”, further strengthening the economy to create more jobs and to “guarantee the essential services”. The tax highlights include...