Investments

By Shane Oliver, Head of Investment Strategy & Chief Economist from Oliver’s Insights, AMP Capital, Edition 18 2015 Key points In response to pressure from APRA, lenders are starting to tighten lending conditions to property investors. This is designed to slow property investor lending, particularly into the strong Sydney property market, while at the same time allowing the RBA flexibility... Read more

By Shane Oliver, Head of Investment Strategy & Chief Economist from Oliver’s Insights, AMP Capital, Edition 21 2014 Key points on Share Market Risks Concerns about US shares being overvalued are overdone. The conditions are still not in place for a major top in share markets: valuations are reasonable, the global economy is on the mend, monetary conditions are easy... Read more

Pre-Retirement Plan: 5 Years to Go and Counting

Written by Brendon Vade, Financial Planner - Edney Ryan Wealth Management

The final step to retirement is one of the most anticipated life events. For many people though, there is some apprehension, particularly when it comes to money. To ease your concerns about post-retirement finances we urge you to talk to your financial planner at least 5 years before you expect to retire. With their help you can assess your current... Read more

By Shane Oliver, Head of Investment Strategy & Chief Economist from Oliver’s Insights, AMP Capital, Edition 9 2014 Key points While the global economy is gradually mending, returns will still be constrained and volatile relative to the long term bull market that got underway in the 1980s. As a result asset allocation will remain critically important for investors – particularly... Read more

By Shane Oliver, Head of Investment Strategy & Chief Economist from Oliver’s Insights, AMP Capital, Edition 5 2014 Key points For periods of time it may pay to back the crowd in investing, eg, when a bull or bear market is developing. But at extremes the crowd is invariably wrong. Eventually everyone who wants to buy will have done so... Read more

At its meeting today the Reserve Bank Board announced interest rates would remain unchanged at the record low level of 2.5%. The last rate cut took place in August 2013. In their statement, the Board said “monetary policy is appropriately configured to foster sustainable growth in demand and inflation outcomes consistent with the target. On present indications, the most prudent... Read more

Dividends in a SMSF: Reaping the Rewards of Franking Credits

Written by David Heyworth, Director - Edney Ryan Wealth Management

How do tax credits work? Tax credits are received by the shareholder with franked dividends. This is a credit for tax that has already been paid by the company at the rate of 30%, before the company’s profit was distributed as dividend. The shareholders income from dividends will only be taxed at the difference between their marginal tax rate and... Read more

New Requirement for SMSF Trustees to Consider Insurance

Written by David Heyworth, Director - Edney Ryan Wealth Management

As part of the Stronger Super measures, the Government recently introduced new obligations for SMSF Trustees. In addition to requiring a regular review of the fund’s investment strategy, trustees need also consider insurance cover for the fund’s members. Insurances may include life, TPD (total and permanent disablement), trauma and income protection. There is no obligation to take out a particular... Read more

Investors Beware: Margin Loans Back In Fashion

Written by Stephen Ryan, Director - Edney Ryan Chartered Accountants

In recent weeks the media has been informing us that margin lending has jumped for the first time in three years, with investors trying to benefit from the latest sharemarket rally. Banks are reporting twice as much interest in new margin loans compared to last year. In the margin lending business, financiers take on baskets of stocks as collateral against... Read more

House Prices Continue To Improve

Written by Tricia Williams, Manager - Edney Ryan Mortgage & Finance

House prices continued to improve in the last months of 2012, according to the latest figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Preliminary estimates show the price index for established houses in the eight capital cities rose 1.6% in the December quarter 2012. This was the strongest quarterly growth in almost three years. In the final quarter of 2012,... Read more