Research from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows a significant shift in homeownership patterns among Australians approaching retirement. Between 1990 and 2015, the percentage of 55-64-year-olds who owned their homes outright dropped from 70% to 47%. At the same time, the proportion of those with mortgage debt increased from 12% to 31%, with the remainder […]
Author Archives: Joel Carty
06
Aug
Aug
Investment & Economic Snapshot July 2024 Highlights Selected market returns (%), July 2024 Key market and economic developments in July 2024 Financial markets The technology sector cools as small caps rally The MSCI World Index (AUD) gained 4.1% in July, in a volatile month for global equity markets. Australian and US equities reached new all-time […]
05
Aug
Aug
Changes to legislation may allow super fund members to contribute more than the standard concessional contribution cap of $30,000 per annum. This is known as the carry-forward concessional contribution rule (also known as the catch-up concessional rule). It may allow super fund members to utilise any unused amounts of their concessional contribution cap from previous […]
15
Jul
Jul
For most Australians who want to retire early, the youngest age you will be able to access all your superannuation benefits is at age 60. However, if you wanted to retire sooner than age 60, what would you need to do? Some people may have heard of the FIRE movement, which stands for Financial Independence […]
15
Jul
Jul
So, you have decided to retire, and now you need to pick your retirement date. What is the best month to retire? Should I retire at the end of the financial year, at the end of the calendar year, or on my birthday? Will it change the amount of tax I pay? Based on the […]
15
Jul
Jul
For many people, the financial situation of just keeping your head above water while paying off the mortgage and raising children is something that will keep the thought of retirement a distant thought. You are sure that you will have plenty of time to plan for this in the future. But once you reach the […]
09
Jul
Jul
Key market and macroeconomic developments FY 2023/2024 Jul 2023 The US Federal Reserve (Fed) increased rates by a further 25 basis points, citing concerns about inflation and tight labour markets for its decision. US and Australian Government bond yields rose throughout the month. Global financial markets improved, with most major financial assets generating solid returns […]
02
Jul
Jul
As the tax year concludes and many individuals prepare their personal income tax return, we start to realise how much income tax we pay to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). When you factor in GST and Excise Taxes, the total tax burden can be surprising. Once you realise how much tax you paid last financial […]
18
Jun
Jun
Like most Australians, you have paid income tax throughout your working life. Now that you are retired, will you still have to pay tax? Well, it depends. While there are many ways people save and invest for retirement, different investments and structures have different tax rates, benefits and incentives that need to be considered. In […]
18
Jun
Jun
You have spent your working career building your Superannuation and investments to provide you with a stable income in retirement. Now that you are retiring, you need to ensure that you invest these funds appropriately to ensure that they provide you with the income you need to fund your lifestyle in retirement. As there are […]