Wealth effect: Future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades
We have some good news. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has upgraded its global growth forecasts for 2021 to record levels. This news, combined with rising share markets and booming local house prices, should have a positive impact on the confidence of retirees.
Lower for longer: Outlook for interest rates
Despite a bigger than expected economic rebound, interest rates are likely to stay at record lows for the foreseeable future. So, what does that mean for retirees who are trying to live off their retirement savings? And what should they be doing right now to make the most of the economic conditions?
Fork in the Road
Most Australians think that superannuation was introduced by Paul Keating in the early 1990s, but it wasn’t.
Some Australian super funds have existed for more than a hundred years. And if you’re fortunate enough to be a member of an old scheme, it pays to understand your options.
Red herring: Three reasons why Big Super is wrong about retirement
Big Super has launched an expensive and frightening advertising campaign aimed at pre-retirees. Industry Super Australia is trying to tell us that if super contributions don’t increase in the next few years, we’ll all have to sell our homes just to survive in retirement. But’s it’s a red herring argument. They’re distracting from the facts with an irrelevant and false narrative. Here are three reasons why Big Super is wrong.
A rising tide lifts all boats
Most economists believe that 2021 will be a good year for Australian shares.
We have snapped back from the COVID recession, with economic growth of 3.3 per cent in the September quarter. There are several vaccines being rolled out globally in what is the biggest vaccination campaign in history. Across 51 countries, 2.44 million doses a day are currently being administered. Here in Australia, we are looking to start our domestic program next month.
Message to Big Super: Stick to your Knitting
Social impact investing has gone mainstream. More than half the super funds and investment managers around the world are now incorporating social and sustainability factors into their investment decisions. But is that really the purpose of super? And have super fund members given permission to use their lifetime savings in this way? Recent research suggests not.
The Value of Good Advice
A research report from CPA Australia, CoreData and the University of NSW has put a value on the benefits of financial advice to Australian society. The comprehensive study found that the value of advice is $24,716 per person per year.
Confidence in Retirement
Most of us worry about running out of money in retirement. Especially during uncertain economic times like these, when we start to wish we had started planning for retirement earlier.
Good vibrations: Three signs of quality advice
It’s hard to find a financial adviser you can trust. And even if you do, it’s almost impossible for most people to judge the quality of the advice they receive.
Federal Budget: What about me?
Retirees and people actively planning for their retirement may be forgiven for thinking that they have missed out. That there is little in this year’s Budget to benefit them personally. But scratch beneath the surface, and we see that retirees may actually benefit most.
How much do I need to retire?
Most pre-retirees fear running out of money in retirement more than anything else. That’s why, as retirement specialists, the most common question we’re asked is, “How much do I need to retire?”
Economic Outlook: A ‘K-shaped’ recovery
The economic shutdown of 2020 was like nothing we have ever seen before. Well, not in our lifetimes, at least.