Thoughts on money, from a Financial Planner in Perth
Michael O'Hara 
Who is behind the name that is behind the advisor that gives you advice? Financial Planning Bias – All is not as it seems We have covered the bias that is inherent in the Australian financial industry a few times now. The key reason for this bias is the government regulatory requirement that all Financial … Read more
IF you were a wealthy individual, worried about the economic environment that you were in, would you lend millions of dollars to your government at a nil interest rate? Well, it seems that many people in the world think that is a fantastic idea. The German government has pulled one of the best financial swifties … Read more
Financial Planning “This time it is different”… One of the most famous sayings in financial circles, and the one that we can all laugh at, when we read about economics professors or sharemarket professionals making suggestions such as markets having reached a permanent high plateau – just prior to the onset of the market crash that … Read more
At least, that is the impression you can get when tuning in to some sections of the media. As covered in previous posts, the post-GFC world is a tumultuous one, with many long cherished “laws” of investment being turned on their head, and many investors feeling helpless in the face of small, zero or negative … Read more
One of the debates raging in the post GFC financial world concerns the relative advantages and disadvantages of investment structures. For example, many people have decided that “managed funds” are expensive, opaque and have bad returns. At the same time, there has been a substantial lift in the funds being invested into “Listed Investment Companies … Read more
The good news is that the budget is going into surplus. Small yay! for prudent financial management and responsible government. Big “what the?” for the usual smokes and mirrors that seem to appear any time a Treasurer releases a budget update. So far this morning, i’ve received many, many, many pages of insight, research, analysis … Read more
This is a common question i am asked by parents who are keen to see that their children get the same (hopefully better!) opportunities in life that they had. It’s not one of my worries, and i’ll share with you the reasons why i consider home affordability to be one of the least concerns for my children’s future. … Read more
Here’s a little thought… The RBA announces inflation outcomes. If quarterly inflation falls, and the annual rate falls, is inflation higher? As Simon in our office has today pointed out, it depends on who you read, and what they are trying to say. BBC News suggests inflation is easing, so i guess it’s lower. The … Read more
With all the gloomy news about falling retail sales, declining house prices, and small business access to credit, the average person can be forgiven for thinking that “things are bad”. In times such as this, it is natural for a parent to worry about the world that their children will inherit, and the financial problems … Read more
Is it really essential to bag all financial planners just to improve the market for your own service offering?