Australians have always been savvy investors, scrutinising investment options and tailgating the trends. Yesteryear it was large pooled super funds, which then moved to self-managed super funds with products being created to facilitate market demand ... Read more

Direct property investments are unlisted managed funds investing in properties built for business, such as office, retail, industrial and other specialist sectors like hotels and hospitals. A growing number of investors are recognising that the income ... Read more

Financial advisers have a new way to improve after-tax investment performance for higher taxed clients. By using imputation bonds, they can combine the long-established taxation benefits of an insurance bond with an innovative, re-engineered investment ... Read more

Employee share ownership plans (ESOPs) provide participating employees with an ownership stake in their company and an opportunity to reap the rewards emanating from that ownership. ESOPs also provide the sponsoring employer with an invaluable source ... Read more

The Treasurer's 11th Budget was headlined by the announcement that the top two rates of tax are to be cut by 2 cents in the dollar and the tax brackets are to be uplifted. However, there were only minor changes to the Family Payments system. This ... Read more

Many financial advisers associate succession with selling their business and exiting the industry, rather than with building a business that will live beyond its current owners. This lack of planning may stem from the common misconception that succession ... Read more

It's often said that plumbers have the leakiest taps in the street and cobbler's children have no shoes. Likewise, from my experience, many financial planners have shortcomings in a major issue connected with their long-term financial well-being. ... Read more

Australia's generation X and Y are now getting married and having children later compared to their parents' generation. From 1975 to 1980 the average age for mothers having their first child was 24.55 years of age. From 2000 to 2005 the average ... Read more

As a segment of the superannuation industry, self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) display a wide range of characteristics. Some have investment portfolios with highly diversified arrangements traded on a regular basis. Others invest within a limited ... Read more

Essentially, the plan remains as previously announced, but the new details do indicate a change of position on some proposals as well as a welcome clarification of other proposals (albeit in some cases with an unwelcome result). The announcement is ... Read more

The word "challenge" has several connotations. For many investors, the challenge of running a self-managed super fund (SMSF) is one to be relished. The challenge is to beat the professionals at their own game. In this article, however, we ... Read more

What are "anti-detriment benefits"? On the death of a superannuation fund member, certain death benefit recipients may be eligible to receive a top-up amount on their share of the benefit amount of account balance and any insurance. This is ... Read more