Financial planner education standards have again made the news, so i thought i’d share a little insight into the world financial planners currently inhabit. Financial planner education is just one of many areas in which financial planning has evolved dramatically. Such improvements are not general knowledge in the broader community, so this post is really…
Tag Archive for Financial Planning Perth
Financial Health Check
by Michael O'Hara •
2016 Budget Superannuation
by Michael O'Hara •
Are the 2016 Budget Superannuation changes fair? Here’s Michael’s interpretation of some of the more contentious issues.“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country” – John F Kennedy’s powerful call for Americans to put aside self-interest, and strive to build a better nation. This is…
Financial Planning Ethics – part 1
by Michael O'Hara •
Financial planning ethics are of paramount importance to sound financial planning. Yet this self-explanatory and seemingly obvious statement cloaks the areas of ‘grey’ within which financial planning ethics may not be at all obvious or not at all relevant. Financial planning ethics is all about communication. What works and what doesn’t; how things work and…
RBA drops interest rates – why?
by Michael O'Hara •
The Reserve Bank of Australia today announced that it has dropped interest rates yet again. Borrowers on variable rates linked to the RBA cash rate will rejoice when their particular financial institution eventually agrees to pass on the interest rate cut. Pensioners and people living off interest income will find their next interest payment is…
Do-it-yourself financial bias
by Michael O'Hara •
Retiring Age in Australia
by Michael O'Hara •
In my role as a financial planner i am often asked questions about the retiring age in Australia. There is no simple answer – the age differs according to where your focus is – superannuation, tax or government age pension income support. Here’s a quick look at different versions of the retiring age in Australia.
Interest rate jitters
by Michael O'Hara •
Pension Deeming after 1 January 2015
by Michael O'Hara •
D-Day for pensioners is approaching With important new deeming rules coming into effect on 1 January 2015, now is the time to review your superannuation and pension arrangements to ensure you don’t miss out on valuable Social Security entitlements. Pension deeming after 1 January 2015 will change Account based pensions have generally been given favourable…
Talking money in a new relationship
by Michael O'Hara •
“Darling, it’s time we talked about money…” In my financial planning experiences, talking about money early in a relationship is incredibly important. Even more important is making sure you talk about money honestly and openly. When a couple start working on a budget, one of the last areas usually tackled is their differing attitudes to…