Author: centaurfinancial

Stay up to date with what’s happened in the Australian economy and markets over the past month. June was a big month in an eventful year for the local and global economy, with inflation and interest rates continuing to dominate. With inflation sitting at 5.1% in Australia, cost of living […]

Welcome to our July newsletter and the start of a new financial year. With winter in full swing, it’s a great time to rug up by the fire, take stock of the year that was and make plans for the future. June was a big month in an eventful year […]

As technology creeps further into our everyday lives, cybercriminals are taking advantage of the latest that technology has to offer and carrying out increasingly sophisticated scams worth eye-watering sums. In the 2020-21 financial year alone, individuals and businesses in Australia reported total losses of more than $33 billion. The main […]

As interest rates start to increase after a lengthy period of historical lows, it’s a good time to think about how your money is working for you and whether your investing style and strategy is still in line with your goals. Higher interest rates don’t just send a ripple through […]

As baby boomers shift into retirement, Australia is on the brink of the nation’s biggest ever intergenerational wealth transfer. Yet estate or inheritance planning is rarely discussed by families. Talking openly about how you want your assets to be passed on can help avoid family disputes that take a toll […]

New rules coming into force on July 1 will create opportunities for older Australians to boost their retirement savings and younger Australians to build a home deposit, all within the tax-efficient superannuation system. Using the existing First Home Super Saver Scheme, people can now release up to $50,000 from their […]

June has arrived and so has winter, as the financial year draws to a close. Now that the federal election is out of the way, it’s time to focus on planning for the future with more certainty. Cost of living pressures, inflation and interest rates were major concerns in the […]

Stay up to date with what’s happened in Australian markets over the past month. Cost of living pressures, inflation and interest rates were major concerns in the lead-up to the May federal election. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lifted the cash rate for the first time in over 11 […]

With the end of the financial year (EOFY) just around the corner, it’s important to ensure your SMSF meets its compliance obligations. The rules around SMSFs are strict and if you don’t do things the right way, your fund could end up paying extra tax. Here’s some key tasks trustees […]

Retirement means starting a new chapter of your life, one that gives you the freedom to create your own story, as you decide exactly how you want to spend your time. While retirement may not be part of your immediate plans, there are advantages to giving some thought as to […]

As the end of the financial year approaches, now is a good time to check your super and see what you could do to boost your retirement nest egg. What’s more, you could potentially reduce your tax bill at the same time. There are a handful of positive changes to […]

Rising interest rates are almost always portrayed as bad news, by the media and by politicians of all persuasions. But a rise in rates cuts both ways. Higher interest rates are a worry for people with home loans and borrowers generally. But they are good news for older Australians who […]

This time of year, people’s thoughts start turning to their tax return, but it can also be a good time to set things up so you don’t pay more tax than required next financial year. Simply talking to your employer about setting up an arrangement to “sacrifice” some of your […]

The unique format of The Inside Network’s Equities and Growth Assets Symposium is bringing exciting conversations to advisers and the wider industry. Our very own Hugh Robertson CFP® had the pleasure of joining The Inside Network’s – Equities and Growth Assets Symposium in Brisbane on Wednesday 11th May 2020. Hugh […]

As we continue to see significant market volatility, we thought we would provide you with an update on what the Committee has been implementing in the Investment models as we move through this investment cycle. PORTFOLIOS REWEIGHTED As always, at the end of the quarter (31 March) the portfolios were […]

Stay up to date with what’s happened in Australian markets over the past month. The economic event that overshadowed all others in April was the increase in inflation. The release of the March quarter Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed inflation up 2.1% in the quarter and 5.1% on an annual […]

Welcome to our May newsletter, and while the weather is cooling the economic and political landscape is heating up. All eyes are on interest rates as the federal election campaign shifts into top gear ahead of the May 21 polling day. The economic event that overshadowed all others in April […]

Our emotions colour every aspect of our lives including our financial lives. Recognising how emotions can influence your financial decision-making puts your rational side back in the driver’s seat and can help you to achieve positive outcomes in business and your personal finances. So where do our feelings about our […]

The phrase ‘no man is an island’ is from a poem written by John Donne and expresses the idea that humans need to be part of a community to thrive. That’s certainly true, by nature we are social creatures and connection is a core human need. So why do some […]

Succession planning can be difficult at the best of times without dealing with the added pressures farmers have recently faced with droughts, fires and floods. And that’s why it is even more important to plan early and get it right when you are on the land. You are not just […]

Trying to time investment markets is difficult if not impossible at the best of times, let alone now. The war in Ukraine, rising inflation and interest rates and an upcoming federal election have all added to market uncertainty and volatility. At times like these investors may be tempted to retreat […]

We are delighted to share with you, a copy of the latest AAN Asset Management Quarterly Investment update. This issue includes: • Investor letter & update • AAN Core Model • AAN Growth Model • AAN Australian Model • AAN Index Core Model • AAN Index Growth Model • AAN Sustainable […]

As many of you will note, the AAN Investment Committee have long maintained the policy of rebalancing models on a quarterly basis, and this was actioned last Friday. This process involves trimming positions that have performed well, topping up those that haven’t, and as part of this rebalance a number […]

Stay up to date with what’s happened in Australian markets over the past month. The war in Ukraine added a major new source of uncertainty to the local and global economic outlook in March. Inflationary pressure continued as global economies recover from the pandemic and as crude oil prices surged […]

Welcome to an early Federal Budget edition of our April newsletter. As the Morrison Government clears the decks ahead of a May election, Australians will be weighing up the impact on their household budgets. The war in Ukraine added a major new source of uncertainty to the local and global […]

Tax offsets and temporary cuts were at the heart of this year’s Federal Budget as the government attempts to woo voters in the run-up to the election. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg emphasised the crucial role of his tax measures in helping Australians cope with the growing cost of living pressures and […]

With all eyes on the Federal Budget and balancing the nation’s books, it’s a good time to review your personal balance sheet. If it’s not as healthy as you would like, perhaps it’s time to do a little budget repair of your own. Just as governments need to set policy […]

There is a saying ‘a fool and his money are often parted’ but with scammers becoming ever more devious and sophisticated in their methods, it pays for everyone to be aware of the latest tricks being employed. According to Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) data, last year was the […]

Australia’s superannuation system is based on individual accounts, with men and women treated equally. But that’s where equality ends. It’s a simple fact that women generally retire with much less super than men. The latest figures show women aged 60-64 have an average super balance of $289,179, almost 25 per […]

Budget 2022: a balancing act Billed as a Budget for families with a focus on relieving short-term cost of living pressures, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s fourth Budget also has one eye firmly on the federal election in May. At the same time, the government is relying on rising commodity prices and […]