Author Archives: Steven
September 2021 economic and market update
Economic update Central banks and governments globally, are supportive of economic growth over the next 18 months as we all work towards a “COVID normal”. Employment data has been resilient, …
Market Commentary. September 2020
Growth assets declined in September. Investors adopted a more cautious stance due to a number of factors such as: The acceleration of COVID-19 cases globally, particularly the rise in the …
Market Commentary August 2020
August was a strong month for growth assets with share market returns ranging from 2.5% to 8%. This is perplexing when we consider that COVID-19 cases globally are now over …
Market Commentary July 2020
July was a relatively flat month for growth assets. Standout returns were achieved on hedged international equities as the Australian dollar continued to strengthen, a thematic over the last 3 …
Investment Bonds; Like super – but simpler
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on every area of our lives. For many of us, it can feel like our lives have been turned upside down and …
Market Commentary June 2020
Growth asset returns were mixed in June with divergence between small cap and large cap stocks, hedged and unhedged equities and Australian listed property versus Australian large cap stocks. However, …
Market Commentary April 2020
After equities entered a bear market in the March quarter with many equity indices down over 20%, in April we saw markets rebound strongly as central bank support coupled with …
Between panic and the ‘fear of missing out’: what to do
The coronavirus pandemic has caused a global health crisis and a deep slump in economic activity around the world. Job numbers are falling rapidly and unemployment is surging. Investment markets …
Government’s COVID-19 economic stimulus package for individuals and households
Special edition The Australian Government has legislated measures aimed at helping support households and businesses with the significant economic consequences of COVID-19. These measures are summarised below. For more information, …
Market Update 24.3.2020
Over the last week, the rapid spread of Coronavirus has impacted our lives in ways that were unimagined not so long ago. We just have to look at supermarket shelves …
Salary sacrifice integrity measures
There has been an important change to the amount of Superannuation Guarantee (SG) contribution an employer is obligated to make on behalf of an employee who salary sacrifices part of …
How to reduce financial stress
By: Australian Unity Financial stress. We all face varying degrees at some point in our lives. Whether we like it or not, a lot of our life goals revolve around …
Reasons sharemarkets are charging higher
Contributor: Don Stammer Expectations of a slowdown — even a recession — in the global economy have been widespread in recent months. As a result, bond yields have fallen over …
Choosing the wrong Executor can cause big problems for your Estate. Here’s how to avoid common mistakes:
Being an executor of an estate is an enormously important role with a huge impact on the lives of those named in a Will, and it is vital the right …
Are we looking at a sharemarket melt-up?
In four months of late 2018, US shares fell by 20 per cent, and dragged down other sharemarkets. That period of turmoil was often called a sharemarket meltdown, and dire …
What are the limits on superannuation contributions in the 2018/19 financial year?
Superannuation rules in effect for the 2018/19 financial year continue to limit the amount of money Australians can contribute to the tax advantaged superannuation system. So, how much can you …
How to profit from demographics
By Fidelity International Demographic trends promise something priceless. By observing the changing structure of a population’s age and income, patient investors who accurately forecast these slow-moving trends can benefit clients …
Despite recent volatility, global sharemarkets generally remain attractive for long term investors
By Tim Farrelly – CEO of Farrelly’s, and asset allocation consultant to Australian Unity Personal Financial Services The past year has seen equities world-wide produce low or negative returns accompanied …
How much power does an Enduring Power of Attorney have?
By Anna Hacker, Accredited Specialist – Wills & Estates, National Manager, Estate Planning, Australian Unity Trustees Legal Services When people consider estate planning they often only think about what happens …
Update on recent sharemarket volatility
On Friday last week the Australian sharemarket (S&P/ASX 200) closed down by 2.8% in response to a falling US sharemarket. What factors have driven the sell-off? The fall in Australian …
The top 10 estate planning mistakes
By Anna Hacker – Australian Unity Trustees Legal Services, Accredited Specialist – Wills & Estates, National Manager, Estate Planning. People often think they have a very clear idea of what …
Investment Update Webinar September 2018
How should recent and current geopolitical issues affect your investment decisions? Find out here: https://bit.ly/2oMZcSz
A decade after the GFC, global recovery gathers pace
By Dr Don Stammer – adviser to Altius Asset Management and columnist at The Australian. The views expressed are his own. Next month marks the 10th anniversary of the worst …
Aged 65+ and downsizing? A new rule could save you tax.
From 1 July 2018, people aged 65 and over will be able to sell their main residence and then make a ‘downsizer’ contribution into superannuation of up to $300,000 from …
Is modern ‘ethical investing’ just a luxury for the wealthy, or a robust strategy worthy of consideration by all investors?
By Aela Cozic – ESG Analyst, Fidelity International Previously known as responsible or ethical investing, ESG investing now seems all the rage, but what does this focus on Environmental, Social …
Why your social media accounts should not be ignored when you make your Will
By Anna Hacker (AUT Legal Services Pty Ltd), Accredited Specialist – Wills & Estates, National Manager, Estate Planning, Australian Unity Trustees Ltd. Social media accounts live on after their creators …
Australian sharemarket still on the rise
By Tim Schroeders, Investment Research Department – Australian Unity Personal Financial Services The Australian sharemarket finished the 2017/18 financial year with a solid gain of 13%. A favourable global macro-economic …
Why Australian interest rates could stay low for decades… and what that means for your investments
By Tim Farrelly – CEO of Farrelly’s, and asset allocation consultant to Australian Unity Personal Financial Services Many investors fear the impact of a return to interest rates of 5%, …
Warning for SMSF trustees: New superannuation pension cap of $1.6m now in place
The maximum amount of superannuation that can be used to fund a tax-free pension in retirement is now restricted to a cap of $1.6 million per member. For example, say …
Australians at higher risk this year of being penalised for exceeding superannuation contribution limits
Changes to the superannuation rules in effect for the 2017/18 financial year are designed to further limit the amount of money Australians can contribute to the tax advantaged superannuation system. …
Are we closing in on a sharemarket crash?
By Dr Don Stammer – adviser to Altius Asset Management and columnist at The Australian. The views expressed are his own. We’re being warned often that rising bond yields will …
2018 has seen sharemarket volatility return. Be alert – not alarmed – as the prospect for global sharemarkets remains positive.
By Tim Schroeders & Jeff Mitchell, Investment Research Department – Australian Unity Personal Financial Services Sharemarkets, so far in 2018, are providing a contrast to the robust returns enjoyed by …
Same sex marriage and the attendant implications for estate planning
By Anna Hacker, Accredited Specialist – Wills & Estates, National Manager, Estate Planning, Australian Unity Trustees Legal Services. The recent passing of the Same Sex Marriage Bill by Parliament is …
What is the risk/return profile of your portfolio?
When assessing the performance of your investment portfolio, one should look at both risk and return. In this Fact Sheet, we outline what our study of 38 years of financial …
What are the long term prospects for the Australian sharemarket?
Find out here – free webinar (6:35 mins): https://goo.gl/pF7KMt
How much can you contribute to superannuation this year?
Changes to the superannuation rules in effect for the 2017/18 financial year are designed to further limit the amount of money Australians can contribute to, and keep in, the tax …
How to navigate the common estate planning pitfalls
By Anna Hacker – (AUT Legal Services Pty Ltd), Accredited Specialist – Wills & Estates, National Manager, Estate Planning, Australian Unity Trustees Ltd. People often think they have a very …
What can you expect from investment markets in 2018?
By Jeff Mitchell, Head of Investment Research, Australian Unity Personal Financial Services 2017 was another solid year for investment returns with stock markets around the world generally moving higher. Synchronous …
Global sharemarkets have risen this year as major risks have eased
By Tim Farrelly – CEO of Farrelly’s, and asset allocation consultant to Australian Unity Personal Financial Services Compared with a year ago the world economy is in much better shape; …
How people who have lost capacity can make and update their Will
By Anna Hacker (AUT Legal Services Pty Ltd), Accredited Specialist – Wills & Estates, National Manager, Estate Planning, Australian Unity Trustees Ltd. While many people would assume that once a …
Investor bias: The eye only sees what the mind is prepared to comprehend
By Tom Stevenson, Investment Director, Fidelity Australia Perhaps the most unhelpful of the psychological flaws we are prone to as investors is ‘confirmation bias’. Our desire to seek out information …
A reminder to update beneficiary nominations for your super
When major life events occur in your life, such as divorce or starting/ending a de facto relationship, updating your nomination of beneficiary for your superannuation fund may not be high …
Australian banks still worthy of a place in most portfolios… despite what some commentators say
By Tim Farrelly – CEO of Farrelly’s, and asset allocation consultant to Australian Unity Personal Financial Services Barring disasters, the banks should produce returns of the order of 10% per …
Global sharemarkets buoyed by economic growth, while Australian residential property facing strong headwinds
By Jeff Mitchell, Head of Investment Research, Australian Unity Personal Financial Services The first three quarters of 2017 have been characterised by robust economic growth in major economies, continued geopolitical …
Small business owners: would your business stay afloat if you had extended time off work?
Imagine if you were in the unfortunate situation where you had to take many months or longer away from your business due to a serious illness or injury. Would revenue …
Investment Update Webinar September 2017
Where to now for global sharemarkets given we are 10 years on from the GFC and investors are still nervous? You can view the webinar (you need sound) by clicking …
Need a tax advantaged vehicle other than superannuation? An investment bond could be an option.
Superannuation is the most tax effective way to save for retirement. However, new superannuation rules limit the amount of money Australians can contribute to superannuation, and the amount you can …
The cost of a ‘modest’ retirement up 33% in past 10 years
The latest data from The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) suggests retiring Australians will need 33 per cent more income per year for a “modest” retirement compared to …
Warning: New rules mean you now aren’t allowed to contribute as much to superannuation
Changes to the superannuation rules in effect for the 2017/18 financial year are designed to further limit the amount of money Australians can contribute to, and keep in, the tax …