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22 January 2025
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The development of user-focused tools enabling SMSF members to direct their investments, receive information, make decisions and intuitively reach their own goals is moving ahead quickly.
Insurance bonds may be a good fit for high income earners looking for a long-term investment option. Although a life insurance product, there are early signs of an SMSF-like structure to increase the appeal and availability.
There are many places in the SMSF value chain where a company can operate. The best businesses choose a place where they can excel and try to become the best.
It's not just super contribution limits that have changed since 1 July. The ability to provide insurance policies through SMSFs has been redefined and the ATO can now utilitse new administrative penalty powers.
The recent budget has highlighted the importance of superannuation in supporting the age pension system. Why then, would the Government want to remove many of the incentives for building a healthy super balance?
Constant changes to an already complex super system mean trustees should be continually learning. Rather than focusing on compliance and rules, trustees need new tools to help make good investment decisions.
This examines the performance of key asset classes and sub-sectors in 2024 and over longer timeframes, and the lessons that can be drawn for constructing an investment portfolio for the next decade.
The outlook for equities in 2025 has been dominated by one question: will the US market's supremacy continue? Whichever side of the debate you sit on, you should challenge yourself by considering the alternative.
Negative gearing allows investors to deduct rental property expenses, including interest, from taxable income, but its tax concession status is debatable. The real issue lies in the favorable tax treatment of capital gains.
Trump's election has turbocharged US equities, but can that outperformance continue? Expensive valuations, rising bond yields, and a potential narrowing of EPS growth versus the rest of the world, are risks.
Untangling assets after a broken relationship can be daunting. But approaching the situation fully informed, in good health and with open communication can make the process more manageable and less costly.
Unlike their peers in the US and UK, policy makers in Australia haven't faced a bond market rebellion in recent times. This could change if current levels of issuance at the state and territory level continue.
Retirement village contracts often require significant upfront payments, with residents losing control over their money. While they may offer a '100% share in capital gain', it's important to look at the numbers before committing.