RI's Knowledge centre
Keeping up to date is important, so here's the news.
Beneficiary nominations are a vital aspect of superannuation that often go overlooked.
In today’s volatile financial landscape, navigating market fluctuations and securing wealth for future generations requires more than just strategic investments.
“Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits” is a seminal work on investing by Philip A. Fisher, first published in 1958. This influential book outlines Fisher’s investment philosophy, which focuses on identifying and investing in high-quality growth companies for the long term.
“The Psychology of Money” by Morgan Housel is a captivating exploration of how our minds shape our financial decisions. This insightful book delves into the com- plex relationship between human behaviour and money management, offering a fresh perspective on personal finance that goes beyond traditional advice.
Estate planning is a crucial aspect of financial management that extends far beyond simply writing a will. It encompasses a range of strategies and legal arrangements designed to manage and distribute your assets after your death, as well as to plan for potential incapacity during your lifetime.
The world has undergone a transition in its financial climate, moving from low-rate, stable inflation conditions to a period of higher rates, a spiralling cost of living and rising uncertainty across financial markets.
The Encyclopaedia Britannica website explains that life expectancy is “an estimate of the average number of additional years that a person of a given age can expect to live.” The key word here is average, and there are different ways of calculating it.
The superannuation guarantee (SG) payment for PAYG employees increased by half a percentage point to 11.5% on July 1, 2024. This means employers are now required to con- tribute a higher percentage of an employee’s salary to their superannuation fund, boosting retirement savings for workers across Australia.
Changes in the value of the Australian dollar are important as they impact Australia’s international export competitiveness and the cost of imports, including that of going on an overseas holiday.
As medical advancements and improved living conditions continue to extend human lifespans, the traditional concept of retirement is undergoing a significant transformation.
Today’s story looks at two key factors that determine the answers to the big questions when planning retirement finances: ‘How much do I need?’, and ‘How much can I afford to spend?’ - in order to have confidence that you can maintain your living standards, not run out of money, and not have to rely on welfare.
The demographics of how long we will live reveal some surprising statistics, especially in Australia. We frequently hear about people living into their nineties, and even one hundred years or more, but we read less about the other side of the demographics: how short many lives will be.
In the six months of my ongoing battle with brain cancer, one part of financial markets has fascinated me whenever I find time to read.
The Australian housing market is a complex and multifaceted landscape that can be challenging to navigate for beginners.
In Australia, baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, are shaping the housing landscape with their unique preferences.
If you’re looking to maximise your superannuation, it’s a good idea to be up to speed on any legal updates that could affect the super and tax landscape.
After another 80% or so plunge from its high in 2021 to its low in 2022, Bitcoin has rebounded again to a new record high.
Cheques and bank service, or the lack of, were major topics when I addressed a seniors’ group recently. The word had got out that the government was phasing out cheques, and many of the members of the audience were feeling abandoned.
It’s an age-old question, is it possible for a person to time the share market? All the data seems to be pointing very firmly to no. It’s simply too hard to do.
Late last year, Phoenix participated in an Investor Day, hosted by listed REIT, Mirvac Group, that focused on ‘Living Sectors’.
Having enjoyed a better than feared consumer-led recovery from COVID lockdowns, Australia’s economy in recent years has quickly been beset by a new problem
The Australian welfare system, including the Age Pension, was designed on the assumption that older people own their home and can age there.
I recently happened upon a practical and often humorous book about how to age successfully.
Over age 60, superannuation benefits paid as either a lump sum or pension are tax free and not assessable for income tax.
The world’s best investor, Warren Buffett, has suffered from the same disease that plagues every other successful fund manager in the world - fading out-performance over time.
Older Australians might be feeling their creaky knees, stiff backs and failing eyesight, but one thing they should not feel is neglected by government departments and agen-cies studying their potential financial futures.
There are valid reasons why economics is called the dismal science, and even the origin of the expression is distasteful.
During October, Global Share performance was poor. Global shares lost 1.0% on an unhedged basis, and lost 2.8% on a hedged basis.
During September, Global Share performance was poor. Global shares lost 4.0% on an unhedged basis, ..
During August, Global Share performance was mixed. Global shares gained 1.6% on an unhedged basis, but lost 2.2% on a hedged basis, due to a depreciating AUD relative to the USD.
During July, Global Share performance was favourable. Global shares gained 2.1% on an unhedged basis, and gained an even better 3.1% on a hedged basis, due to an appreciating AUD relative to the USD.
During June, Global Share performance was favourable. Global shares gained 3.1% on an unhedged basis, and gained an even better 5.6% on a hedged basis, due to an appreciating AUD relative to the USD.
During May, Global Share performance was mediocre. Global shares gained 1.2% on an unhedged basis, but lost 0.2% on a hedged basis, due to a depreciating AUD relative to the USD.
The Government has announced its intention to change the tax concessions for certain super accounts if you have a total super balance of more than $3 million.
If you’re an employee receiving the standard super guarantee (SG) rate, you can look forward to a super boost from 1 July 2023 when the SG rate increases from 10.5% to 11%.
During April, Global Share performance was solid. Global shares gained 1.6% on a currency hedged basis, but gained an even more impressive 4.5% on an unhedged basis, due to a depreciating AUD relative to the USD.
The 2023 Federal Budget focuses on providing cost of living relief through lower power bills, higher welfare payments and more support for small business and housing.
During March, Global Share performance was solid. Global shares gained 2.5% on a currency hedged basis, but gained an even more impressive 3.9% on an unhedged basis, due to a depreciating AUD driven down by a widening interest rate differential between Australia and the U.S. In the U.S., Information Technology was the best performing sector for March, followed closely by Communication Services. Financials was clearly the worst performing sector, which was no surprise given the issues in the banking sector during the month.
After booming returns in January, the month of February saw most markets sell off. Global Share performance was weak.
Markets started the year on an extremely positive note. Both stocks and bonds producing significantly above average monthly returns.
We want a better reality for you, instead of what the Dalai Lama describes: to accumulate wealth, yes, but not at the expense of your health or life experience. We want you to have your (healthy!) cake and eat it too. Here’s the thing, in case you missed it: Our purpose as a business is to serve and inspire you to better life outcomes.
The practice of setting goals and pursuit of objectives is a worthy undertaking. However, not all who participate in this practice find it helpful.
Human behaviour is fascinating. Although we would like to be strictly rational when making decisions about investments, many of us may know, or suspect, that cognitive bias can have a significant influence.
ROBERT is from the school of old. He was brought up in an era when there were three choices in life for young men: be a doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer. He studied law knowing it would be a stable job with good security.
Being time poor is a reality for an overwhelming number of lawyers. It is still practically achievable despite this, to have strong personal relationships with those that matter most to you.
Periodically, some lawyers will be fortunate enough to receive a bonus, or if a business owner, profit distribution, as additional amounts of money for themselves.
Think of your current financial reality. Then imagine mortgage interest rates are doubled.
Markets sold off in December to cap a year to forget for investors, with both stocks and bonds declining in the final month of 2022.
Global shares performed well over November (2.0% unhedged and 5.4% hedged). The rally in Materials and Industrials was among the strongest over the month, although all sub-sectors gained.
Global shares performed well over October (7.8% unhedged and 7.2% hedged). Energy stocks were broadly stronger following especially robust earnings.
Wealth starts with having the right mindset, which is not always taught. It is the intention of this article to provide you with five tips, for you to take with you always, to aid you in being more efficient in creating wealth for yourself and your family.
The concept of 'Mr Marlet' is a useful analogy, as used by Ben Graham and Warren Buffett, two famous investors.
Imagine if you travelled back 30 years and told your past self how the world would change over the three decades that were to follow.
Since July 2018 thousands of people have taken advantage of the Government’s downsizer contribution scheme by selling their home and making contributions to their super.
If you are a small business owner you would know the importance of having a good team behind you.
Federal Budget Summary, The 2020 Budget is all about jobs, jobs and spending to make more jobs.
If you are worried about the rising cost of living expenses and are not seeing any wage increases, then it’s time to get organised with your finances, set a realistic budget, work out what you can do without and where you can invest to save.