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Home / Author: Graham Hand

Graham Hand

Superannuation and retirement policies

In the 2019/2020 Federal Budget, the Government made few changes to superannuation rules to assist retirement planning.

Who receives the Energy Assistance Payment?

A one-off payment to assist with rising energy bills will be paid to almost four million Australians before the end of the 2018-2019 financial year (assuming legislation passes), but who qualifies?

Super boost: more flexibility for retirement

From 1 July 2020, Australians aged 65 and 66 will be able to make voluntary superannuation contributions, both concessional and non-concessional, without meeting the Work Test.

Barnaby Wiener on preserving wealth and asset allocation

A global asset allocator is positioned defensively to preserve the wealth of his clients. He has some strong comments on stocks, the investment industry and avoiding the pressures of short termism.

Franking: what's in the industry fund tax pool?

A reader observed that the Australian Financial Review reported that 'member direct' offers will not receive franking credit refunds. Some industry funds have confirmed their options operate in one pool.

Royal Commission's Table of (Dis)Contents

It was not supposed to be the Financial Advice Royal Commission, but there is significant focus on advice, including a little-discussed reduction in the ability to pay advice fees from a super fund.

Latest Updates

Fixed interest

Higher yields are creating opportunities in global bonds

Bond markets are adjusting to a new reality, but not in the ways investors expect. With markets repricing and capital competing for attention, investors may need to rethink where resilience and opportunity lie. 

Economy

Are we in a recession?

What if the warning signs are already everywhere? From supermarket aisles to company failures, investors are being bombarded with recession signals. But most face a different risk that can be just as dangerous for portfolios. 

SMSF strategies

Meg on SMSFs - Division 296 actuarial certificates

The tax bill might be yours, but the event that caused it may not be. A key Division 296 calculation can sometimes attribute earnings in ways that many SMSF trustees won't instinctively expect or fully appreciate.

Property

The first impact of negative gearing reform is not the tax bill

Negative gearing changes formally begin in 2027, but the first consequences may already be here. A subtle shift is quietly influencing who can borrow, how much they can access and which property strategies still stack up.

Economy

The oil market is running out of easy answers

The biggest threat to markets may not be what investors are watching. The numbers have stopped adding up and supply is harder to measure, with forecasts becoming simple guesses. A more fragile reality is being masked.

Investment strategies

The state of investor knowledge in Australia

Australians are investing more than ever, yet a surprising divide is emerging between those building wealth effectively and those making costly mistakes. Surprisingly, the gap has little to do with income, age or starting capital.

Taxation

Complexity and capital gains

A case study shows that the ‘30% minimum CGT’ is a poorly conceived tax that adds significant complexity to an already over-complex system. A less complicated model would create a much fairer progressive tax scale.

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