This weekend is my 25-year High School reunion. I’m looking forward to catching up with old mates, listening to stories about how each and every one of us has found our way in life, and contrasting this with what was written by our teachers on our report cards. I remember a conversation from our 20-year […]
Blog
SMSF Borrowing – Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements FAQ
Self-Managed Super Funds are able to borrow to buy an asset under what is known as a Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement (LRBA). There are many benefits to buying an investment property with SMSF borrowing but there are certain conditions that must be met prior to borrowing, and specific rules on how the arrangement must be […]
The Advantages of Super Contribution Splitting
One of the less known strategies we frequently use is superannuation splitting. It’a relatively simple concept and I think the potential benefits are often overlooked or not completely understood. We take a quick look at what super splitting is, how it works and who it can benefit. What is Splitting? Super splitting provides the opportunity to […]
Diagram: How SMSF Property Loans Work
Although Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) are normally not permitted to borrow, one of the exceptions to this rule is an SMSF Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement (LBRA). A simple outline of how this works: Your SMSF wants to buy property. It doesn’t have enough to pay for the full purchase. It seeks out a loan from […]
Why Petrol Prices are High & Tips on Saving Fuel
Petrol prices have reached record levels with some regional areas paying more than $2 a litre for fuel. Filing up the car with petrol is usually one of the biggest weekly purchases for most families. So what’s caused this spike in price and is there anything we can do to reduce our petrol cost? Price […]
Are we at the end of a bull market?
I read last week that the Standard & Poor’s 500 index (S&P 500, which is a measure of 500 of the largest companies in the USA) closed at a record high for the 100th time since the election of President Trump. Finishing the day at just under 3,000, the closely watched index suggests the US […]
Spring Clean Your Mind: The Function of Sleep
There’s a variety of thoughts happening in our brain at any one point in time. We’re thinking about our to-do list, worrying about a heap of different things, replaying the past and planning for the future. Sometimes, your head space can feel rather full. And it’s during these times that we often neglect what we […]
Threats, Tariffs and Trade-Wars
President Trump’s tariffs on foreign imports continue to attract strong reactions from China, the European Union and other US trading partners. This is perfectly understandable given the tariffs threaten to weaken the economic livelihood of those places. As can be expected, share markets have taken these factors into account. Starting on 30 August 2018, the […]
What is Life Insurance and what does it cover?
I don’t meet many people that like paying for insurance, but being insured provides a level of comfort in knowing that should something nasty occur, you have transferred the financial risk of an unforeseen event to a third party. So what is life insurance and what exactly does it cover? Take a moment to ask […]
What are Bonds?
Investment bonds have been around for a long time, but many people are not completely familiar with how they work. Here’s a quick summary on what Bonds are, and their risks and benefits. What is a Bond? A ‘bond’ is essentially a loan. It’s where governments and large businesses borrow money, with interest and principal […]