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27 important issues you should address before June 30 to ensure that your SMSF or other super fund are in order, and that you are making the most of the strategies available.
Here we go again. We have only a short time left to the end of the financial year to put our SMSF or other super funds in order and ensure we are making the most of the strategies available to us. Here is a checklist of the most important issues that you should address with your advisers before the year-end.
Read MoreThere weren’t many things I disagreed with in Morgan Housel’s The Psychology of
Money. Here are some top lessons from the book.
It is rare that you read a book and find yourself nodding in agreement with most of the
things an author writes. Yet there I was nodding away while reading The Psychology of
Money by Morgan Housel.
$3 million in a super is a lot – until it isn’t.
The landslide election of the Labor Government in the House of Representatives and the composition of the Senate means that there’s not much standing in the way of the implementation of the extended Division 296 Tax Liability. This includes the taxation of unrealised capital gains in superannuation. Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has confirmed that the Party does intend to introduce the stalled bill again.
Read MoreRiding the Waves: Bull vs Bear Markets Explained
Every investor loves a bull market, but bear markets are an unavoidable part of the journey. According to Mercer's Bull & Bear Charts – March 2025 report, understanding how these cycles play out can help investors build resilience, stay calm during downturns, and stay focused on long-term gains.
Let’s break down what this 2025 report reveals about market behavior in Australia and the U.S., and what that means for investors today.
Read MoreHow have the world’s financial markets really performed over the last decade or even three? If you’ve ever wondered whether equities truly beat bonds over time, or how global events have shaped market returns, Mercer’s latest report, Asset Class Performance – March 2025, has some compelling answers.
Read MoreThe March 2025 Mercer Chart Pack presents a landscape where global markets are adjusting to shifting trade dynamics, easing inflation, and evolving monetary policies. Investors face a mix of cautious optimism and persistent headwinds, particularly in equities and real assets.
The March 2025 Mercer Market Review highlighted significant global economic developments and evolving investment conditions. While Australian markets showed modest resilience, global uncertainties — especially related to geopolitical tensions and trade policies — weighed on investor sentiment.
The funds that have been rated negative by our analysts have characteristics in common.
Morningstar has conducted research on active and passive investment strategies and their associated vehicles since 1986. Strategies are given a rating – Gold, Silver, Bronze, Neutral or Negative. These ratings are a summary expression of our analysts’ forward-looking analysis of the investment strategies. The top three ratings of Gold, Silver, and Bronze all indicate that our analysts expect the rated investment vehicle to beat the Morningstar Category index or category median over the long term.
Read MoreInvestors continue to navigate a dynamic global financial landscape, with interest rate shifts, economic uncertainty, and historical market trends shaping portfolio decisions. The Mercer Asset Class Performance Report – February 2025 provides a deep dive into market performance over the past decade and beyond, analyzing key events that have impacted asset growth.
Read MoreThe global economic landscape continues to evolve, shaped by shifting interest rates, market fluctuations, and geopolitical events. The Mercer Chart Pack for February 2025 provides a comprehensive analysis of key market trends, economic indicators, and investment opportunities.
In this post, we break down the most important takeaways from the latest data to help investors make informed decisions.
Read MoreAn investment property tax expert runs through what every investment property owner should know. One in five of us own an investment property, with 56.7% of Aussie wealth held in housing (at June 2023). It is an incredibly attractive investment option for many investors due to the capital growth that investors have historically seen in property. This is boosted by favourable tax treatment through policies such as negative gearing and the capital gains discount.
Read MoreThe global financial landscape in February 2025 was marked by shifting monetary policies, trade tensions, and mixed market performances. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cut interest rates, the U.S. imposed new trade tariffs, and the equity and bond markets experienced fluctuations. Here’s a breakdown of the key developments and their implications for investors
Read MoreDoes the sales pitch for private assets hold up to scrutiny?
Conventional wisdom is a byproduct of groupthink that presents solutions good enough
for the average person while simultaneously not being right for any individual. You
follow it at your peril. The more different you are from the person that defined a rule the
less you should follow the rule. Each Monday I will challenge the investing norms that
just may be holding you back from living the life you want.
Read MoreSuper funds and private assets in the spotlight after ASIC release. On Feb. 26, 2025, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, or ASIC, released a paper titled “Australia’s evolving capital markets: A discussion paper on the dynamics between public and private markets.” The paper discusses the changing Australian capital markets landscape, focusing on both the rapid growth in the capital allocated to private assets and the influence of Australian superannuation funds on private markets.
Read MoreThe rules to age successfully include, 'the unexamined life lasts longer', 'change no more than one-eighth of your life at a time', 'nobody is thinking about you', and 'pursue virtue but don’t sweat it'. I recently happened upon a practical and often humorous book about how to age successfully. It’s called Rules For Ageing by Roger Rosenblatt, a literary overachiever who’s had success as a Harvard lecturer, newspaper editor and columnist, and is the author of 21 books and six plays. I first came across Rosenblatt on the PBS Newshour show years ago, where he regularly presented essays on an array of topics.
Read MoreMorningstar's International Women's Day event brought together a property expert and a financial wellness expert to discuss the best ways to increase financial security. For International Women’s Day, Morningstar brought together leading experts Kitty Parker, an award-winning buyers' agent, and Betsy Westcott, a financial wellness coach. Kitty and Betsy shared their expertise on some of the main financial challenges facing Aussies. They covered homeownership, investing and financial security.
Read MoreThe proposal to add superannuation contributions to the Commonwealth-funded Paid Parental Leave Scheme (PPL Scheme) has now been enacted. Superannuation contributions (called PPL Superannuation Contributions) will be payable in respect of 2025/26 and subsequent financial years at the rate of 12% (which will be the SG rate for 2025/26 and following financial years) of the total amount of eligible Parental Leave Paid during the financial year. After the close of the financial year, the ATO will pay the PPL Superannuation Contribution to the individual’s nominated super fund.
Read MoreHow do you start accessing your super funds when you stop working, or maybe even before you stop working? This covers the basics, including how to switch your super accumulation account to an account-based pension.
Read MoreReviewing your super is a small investment of time that can result in a large return. Superannuation is one of the most effective vehicles for Australian investors saving for their retirement. It has favourable tax rates, compulsory contributions going in from employers, and difficult conditions of release meaning no temptation to access it prior to retirement. If you’ve never reviewed your super, here are a few steps to get you started. Small changes can have a meaningful impact to your retirement outcomes in the future.
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