Key Economic Indicators, 2017

This month's focus is on Australia's Labour Force and Demography.

Technical expert flags estate planning strategies for 2017-18

With the $1.6 million transfer balance cap now in place, technical experts have identified some of the considerations that will need to be made in relation to death benefits and reversionary pensions.

Why Australian retirees aren’t happy and what we can do about it

When it comes to retirement planning, we could be forgiven for giving ourselves a collective pat on the back here in Australia.

Multiple super accounts in a ‘gig’ society

Just yesterday (23-7-17) a planner's client said 'By the way I located lost super and would like some financial advice please. There are still a couple more lost supers, not located, How should I proceed?  (NB: do not let things simply run because in a few years you'll forget and discovery will be very hard).

Government ‘undermines’ tax system in new moves on property expenses

Newly-released draft legislation, which firms up the 2017 budget move to limit investors’ ability to claim travel expenses and depreciation deductions, will “upset the fundamental basis behind our tax system” according to an accounting body.

Give your children a saving and investing edge – for life

Perhaps the best way to give your young children a lifetime saving and investing advantage is to ensure they are as financially literate as possible, as early as possible in their lives.

Adequacy of savings still a concern among Australians

The latest research into superannuation showed a significant proportion of Australians were still concerned about having enough money saved to fund their retirement.

‘Bank-like heists’ make way for new wave of cyber crime

Identity theft is an increasingly popular method of cyber crime as opposed to “bank-like heists” of the past, and SMSF trustees are a prime target, according to a university professor.

Recorded Crime – Offenders, 2015-16

What exactly is the picture in Australia when it comes to crime?

Low economic growth likely for years

Despite the current resurgence in equity markets, global economic growth was likely to stay low for a number of years as cyclical and structural factors combined to ensure interest rates and inflation remained subdued for the foreseeable future, according to Standard Life Investments.