Welcome to Michael's Musings.

Financial Planning is all about understanding money. There is a never ending stream of data being thrown at us all in this increasingly technologically-fed world but in many cases, all that extra data does is to add to the 'noise'.

Here at Michael's Musings, a Perth planner will help you sort out the real information in amongst all that noise. Feedback and comment cheerfully received, even if sometimes ignored. To log-in using your Facebook, LinkedIn or other network ID, please click this image.

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Markets

Discussion on the various areas of investment, such as shares, property, cash and collectables, as well as interpretation of those markets.

Risk on, Risk off but do you want to play the game?

By
November 13, 2012
risk on risk off it will lead to repetitive strain injuries if you let it

“Risk on, risk off” is a phrase used to denote the massive trading shifts taking place at institutional levels in the post-GFC (“global financial crisis”) world. The phrase encapsulates the skittish approach investors have taken to the day-to-day news and data feeds that are highlighted on the evening finance news segment. The question for...
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Australian Sharemarket Long Term Views

By
September 5, 2012
Long term investing involves the old trees and the forest idea

Investors and their financial planners have now endured over 5 years of turmoil since the onset of the Global Financial Crisis. The extended nature of this slump in markets of all types has sapped the energy, patience and temper of everyone connected to the world of money. As i have a number of times...
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The Libor scandal and investor confidence

By
August 3, 2012
Bank fraud erodes investor confidence at all levels, and levies a cost on everyone

What is the “Libor scandal” and what does it mean to you? The term “Libor” stands for “London Interbank Offered Rate” (no, it does not stand for Let’s Investigate Banksters’ Organised Rate-rigging…) and it is a benchmark commonly used to determine interest rates on business loans worldwide. The real impact on you and i,...
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What is the true value of a Euro?

By
February 6, 2012
What does a villa on the French Riviera cost these days?

With all the ruckus that gets thrown into news headlines, it can sometimes be difficult to remember just what the longer term looks like. If anyone is in any doubt why Australian’s are currently NOT spending money in shops, and are instead going on overseas holidays or going online to spend their currency then this...
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Economic World Title Fight for the minds of government

By
September 23, 2011
Two competing schools of economic thought

Like it or hate it, our little blue planet spinning in space is currently focussed on money. Sport, gardening and cooking shows may interrupt for a while but all across the globe the big competition is money. Economic World Title Fight It is not really a stretch to say that looking at the way countries...
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Rip-off or not a rip-off?

By
July 1, 2011
Are new car prices in Australia a ripoff?

This is not something i am remotely familiar with but it IS Friday, and the start of a new financial year so why not look at something a little bit different? There is a group called Private Fleet, who offer a vehicle buying service. Their website has recently published an article suggesting the prices Australians...
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Why the sharemarket makes no sense in the short term

By
June 1, 2011
confused

Some would argue that the sharemarket makes no sense in the long term either but that is an argument easily dismissed through 4 or 5 years of intensive discussion, research, correspondence, argument and analysis. So for the moment, let’s just say that it does make sense in the long term but there is room...
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Don’t listen to the panic merchants

By
May 26, 2011
Sometimes it's hard to tune out

The world is going to end but you can save yourself by subscribing to... These self-help newsletters, websites and email lists are getting a little bit carried away with themselves.
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Making Sense of Interest Rates, China and the Australian Sharemarket

By
April 19, 2011
Making Sense of Interest Rates, China and the Australian Sharemarket

The Reserve Bank today released the minutes of its Monetary Policy Meeting held on the 5th April. You may recall that the end result of that meeting was that rates were left alone, much to the relief of borrowers around Australia. The commentary was interesting, even if only for the suggestion that interest rates...
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Keep calm, and carry on

By
March 17, 2011
220px-Keep_Calm_and_Carry_On_Poster_svg

Tumultuous times. Is it the case that more catastrophes are happening or are we simply being made more aware of them? Food riots in Algeria, a stall-owner in Tunisia setting himself on fire and triggering a social revolution that is shifting power across the Middle East. Earthquakes wreak ruin and fear on China, New...
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Pidgin Economics