Markets love certainty, but what happens next?
April 2, 2024
Financial markets can be like finely tuned racehorses, poised to gallop ahead under ideal conditions but often highly reactive to unexpected events. It’s often said that the markets love certainty. Investors feel more confident when economic conditions are stable and predictable. But certainty in financial conditions is never a sure thing. Uncertainty is always just…
Being informed is the key to avoiding scams
April 2, 2024
While it seems we all like to think we are clever enough to outwit a scam, Australians collectively lost more than 480 million to scams last year. Every year scammers get more sophisticated in the methods they use to part us with our money – or our valuable personal information. It’s important to recognise that…
Dive into deep focus to unlock your true potential
April 2, 2024
Phone buzzing, emails constantly popping up, ongoing chats with colleagues, responding to meeting invites and all the while trying to work on that report. Sound familiar? While we’ve all become reasonably proficient at multitasking in this digital age, numerous commentators are pointing to the toll the constant distractions are having on our productivity and the…
An SMSF loan costs more than you think
April 2, 2024
Loaning money from an SMSF to fund members or relatives is against the super laws and can land trustees with big fines, so it’s important to know the rules and not use SMSF savings for anything other than retirement purposes. New ATO estimates show that, in 2020 and 2021, SMSF trustees entered into more than…
Market Movements and Economic Review | March 2024
March 1, 2024
Stay up to date with what’s happened in markets and the Australian economy over the past month. The economic indicators for February were mixed. Inflation has remained at a two-year low, giving confidence of a possible rate cut in coming months, and business capital investment rose in the December quarter. However, the Australian dollar remained…
Understanding the new $3m super tax
March 1, 2024
The much debated tax on superannuation balances over $3 million is inching closer and those who may be affected should ensure they have considered the implications. Although it is not yet law, the Division 296 tax should be taken into account when it comes to investment strategy and planning, particular in relation to any end-of-financial-year…
Insurance is a sound investment
March 1, 2024
Managing risk is an essential part of investment strategy to reduce the potential for losses. Risk is not just associated with investing though – life can throw a curve ball or two and insurance is one way to manage risk in a broader context. It’s a matter of weighing up your risks and thinking about…
Evidence-based ways to hold back the hands of time
March 1, 2024
You can’t stop the clock, so the saying goes, but humanity has spent a long time trying to slow down or even reverse the effects of aging. Even today it can be hard to distinguish those measures that work from those that may not work and avoid those that may be downright dangerous! Fortunately, science-based…
Tax Alert March 2024
March 1, 2024
New controls for ATO Online and tax charges non-deductible Following the use of stolen personal data to access ATO Online accounts, the federal government has tightened the access rules to online tax accounts as part of an increased focus on the vulnerability of small and medium businesses to cyber incidents. ATO interest non-deductible From 1…
Market Movements and Economic Review | February 2024
February 9, 2024
Stay up to date with what’s happened in markets and the Australian economy over the past month. Cooling inflation and a strong economy with relatively low unemployment has sent investors back to Australian shares towards the end of January. The lower-than-anticipated inflation figures fueled optimism at the end of the month, for the possibility of…
Investing mistakes to avoid
February 9, 2024
Investing successfully and improving your investment portfolio can be as much about minimising mistakes as trying to pick the ‘next big thing’. It’s all about taking a calm and considered approach and not blindly following trends or hot tips. Let’s delve into some of the most prevalent investment mistakes and look at the principles that…
Tax changes – what it will mean to me
February 9, 2024
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced proposed changes to address ongoing cost of living pressures with all 13.6 million Australian taxpayers receiving a tax cut from 1 July 2024, compared to the tax they paid in 2023-24.i Now is the time to assess what it means to your hip pocket and what implications it may…
SMSFs: What happens if you exceed your super caps
February 9, 2024
The rules around making some types of super contributions have been relaxed in recent years, so it’s worth exploring the different opportunities available to you before making a large contribution.i What are contribution caps? Given the tax-effective environment of Australia’s super system, there are annual limits on how much you can contribute each financial year….
Securing your passwords online
February 9, 2024
We spend a lot of time online and don’t often think about the risks involved. Yet if we are not careful, we can make ourselves vulnerable to criminal activity such as hacking, phishing, and identity theft. The annual Cyber Threat Report announced in 2023 a 23% year-on-year increase in cybercrimes in Australia, amounting to a…
the PODCAST – Investment Series | Talaria | Episode 1
January 31, 2024
Centaur Financial Services is delighted to introduce you to our newest podcast called the PODCAST – Investment Series, kicking off with a bang with none other than – Talaria Capital. You can catch the latest episode on Spotify or YouTube. This new series and episode has our Managing Director – Hugh Robertson unpack all you…
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