SRS Advice | Strategic Retirement Solutions

MARKET AND ECONOMIC OVERVIEW – November 2017

Posted at 14 Nov 2017 in Economic Updates by Strategic Retirement Solutions

Australia CPI data for the September quarter showed prices rising 1.8% from a year ago. This was below expectations of a 2.0% increase. Recent increases in utility prices had a more modest impact on the inflation data than anticipated. Housing and transport costs also continue...

Why you should have an emergency fund

Posted at 02 Nov 2017 in General Interest by Strategic Retirement Solutions

When you're faced with unexpected expenses, having emergency cash set aside can make all the difference. Could a relatively minor event—such as an unexpected filling, visit to the vet, broken phone, faulty home appliance or busted car tyre—leave you financially stranded? If you answered yes, you’re not...

5 Superannuation Tips for High Income Earners

Posted at 02 Nov 2017 in Superannuation by Strategic Retirement Solutions

There’s a new set of superannuation rules for higher income Australians. These recent legislative changes affect salary sacrificing, taxation and estate planning. If you’re salary sacrificing, be aware the concessional (pre-tax) limit has been cut to $25,000 per year. You may need to reduce your...

Bubbles, busts and Bitcoin

Posted at 14 Oct 2017 in General Interest by Strategic Retirement Solutions

The surge in Bitcoin has attracted much interest. Over the last five years, it has soared from $US12 to over $US8000; this year it’s up 760%. Its enthusiasts see it as the currency of the future and increasingly as a way to instant riches with...

6 tips for retiring earlier

Posted at 14 Oct 2017 in General Interest by Strategic Retirement Solutions

Are you dreaming about an earlier retirement, but unsure how to go about it? According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 40 per cent of Aussie men and 35 per cent of Aussie women are planning to work past age 70 because they are worried about...

Global political risks one year on from Brexit – what have we learned?

Posted at 27 Jun 2017 in Economic Updates by Strategic Retirement Solutions

Leave Campaign wins the Referendum It's now 12 months since the British voted to leave the European Union, an event that some saw as setting off a domino effect of other European countries looking to do the same. This was also followed by a messy election...

Don’t let your emotions get in the way of smart investing

Posted at 15 May 2017 in General Interest by Strategic Retirement Solutions

It’s often said that the share market is driven by two emotions – fear and greed. While this might be an over simplification, it helps to explain investor behaviour and why so many people are unsuccessful at investing. Emotional investing refers to the way in which...

Your options in aged care explained

Posted at 15 May 2017 in General Interest by Strategic Retirement Solutions

With multiple avenues to explore, thinking about aged care earlier rather than later could provide you or your loved one with greater flexibility. It’s possible that in the future you, or someone close to you, may need some form of care or daily living assistance. With...

The clock is ticking on major changes to super that come into force on 1 July 2017.

Posted at 15 May 2017 in Superannuation by Strategic Retirement Solutions

The changes are wide-ranging and are likely to affect everyone’s retirement savings. But it can pay to plan ahead both to take advantage of the existing rules, and to make the most of the new super landscape. Here are some of the major changes and how...

The Australian housing market – what are the key issues?

Posted at 15 May 2017 in General Interest by Strategic Retirement Solutions

The cooling in the Sydney and Melbourne property markets evident in late 2015 in response to macro prudential tightening deployed by APRA has proved ephemeral. Price gains have reaccelerated and auction clearance rates & lending to property investors have rebounded. Over the last five years...