Financial Planning, Investment & Insurance Solutions

  • 2019 June Quarter Review

    2019 June Quarter Review

    Economic Overview It was a quarter of all-time highs in Q2 2019 as both the US S&P 500 index and Australia’s ASX All Ordinaries achieved new highs, albeit with very different time frames between their past highs and their new  highs. Most developed markets posted good returns during the quarter, despite some May declines. For the most part it seemed to be accommodating language from central banks helping underpin share market gains. Uncertainty surrounding the US’ trade stance caused a May market wobble. However, investors were soon re-encouraged by continued dovishness from the Federal Reserve and indications of progress in…

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  • Five Lessons from Goldsky

    Five Lessons from Goldsky

    Over the weekend, the Australian Financial Review profiled one of the victims (story behind paywall) of the alleged Goldsky ponzi scheme, along with ASIC’s apparent lack of action in shutting Goldsky down before too many unsuspecting investors were drawn in. We briefly wrote about Goldsky last year, highlighting well known sportspeople had seemingly been duped into placing their money with the fund, along with some having their names used in fund testimonials. At their very heart,  ponzi schemes are able to exist because of a lack of scruples from the people running the ponzi. That lack of scruples is then…

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  • Convictions Are Great Until They Aren’t

    Convictions Are Great Until They Aren’t

    Neil Woodford has a neck thick like a rugby player and a head shaped like it was chiselled out of granite, it could be mounted somewhere on Easter Island. Imposing is an appropriate word to describe his appearance. Woodford is a man screaming conviction. Charlie Aitken is almost the opposite, but no less memorable. His features are sharp, he’s thin. Hair slicked back, often wearing a smug smirk; he appears supremely confident, giving the impression you should be listening to him. Aitken is a man screaming conviction. While Woodford looks like he could be cracking heads outside a nightclub and…

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  • Protection from The Poachers

    Protection from The Poachers

    Wildlife poaching remains a regrettable occurrence in a world that continues to modernise. Driven by lax laws, a demand for ornamental souvenirs and nonsense beliefs that exotic animal parts can cure diseases such as cancer, poaching has remained impossible to stamp out. At the root of poaching is access and money. We don’t have elephants, rhinos or tigers in Australia, so there goes access. More specifically, while still poachable, our wildlife is quite prolific without many parts that can be turned into expensive trinkets. The margin isn’t there. While there is poaching of native wildlife in Australia, we also enjoy…

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  • The Coalition wins a third term – your superannuation policy update in preparation for the end of the financial year

    The Coalition wins a third term – your superannuation policy update in preparation for the end of the financial year

    The Coalition Government has been re-elected in the 2019 Federal Election, with a small majority of seats in the House of Representatives, after taking a policy of stability for superannuation to the election. After the introduction of the significant legislative changes which came into effect on 1 July 2017, you may be relieved to hear that for at least the next three years we hope to have sustained stability for super. You may also be relieved to hear the proposal to ban refunds for excess franking credits and other superannuation changes will not be implemented. This means that you can…

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