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Jonathon Shapiro from the Australian Financial Review wrote a great article this week about 4 big decisions super funds are going to have to make and it highlights some of the big complexities that super fund trustees must be grappling with. My attempt here is to make that info more digestible for those less familiar with running a super fund.
Following the March inflation data, Australian students who still have HELP/HECS debt, will be hit with a major increase come 1 June 2023. Whilst interest is not charged on HELP/HECS loans, the amount of the debt is adjusted on the 1st of June each year, in accordance with an annually determined inflation factor. It is based on the year-on-year CPI figure, measured quarterly up to the end of March. Therefore, the rate of indexation for 2023 will be 7.1%. This is the highest indexation rate seen in 32 years.
Do you ever have times in life where your stomach ‘knots’ and you really can’t understand why? I know I do!! In those situations, I find myself ‘processing’ the feelings/emotions with someone to work through and understand what’s going on. I often see this with clients, particularly those who are looking at retirement. It’s an anxiety/concern/uncertainty that has probably never surfaced before, as most of us only retire once.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has proposed that from 1 July 2025, taxation on earnings from superannuation balances above $3 million will double to 30%. The new policy is expected to raise about $2 billion a year. As always, the devil is in the detail. Initially framed as a simple increase to the existing 15% tax on super fund earnings, the Treasury Consultation Paper makes it clear that this is unequivocally a new tax and will be levied against individuals in a similar way to Div. 293 tax levied on super contributions for higher income earners.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant changes in the commercial office and retail property landscape, with work-from-home and home shopping becoming the new norm across the globe. The occupancy rates of commercial properties in central business districts have been heavily impacted, with cities like Melbourne and Sydney reporting occupancies rates of 47% and 61% respectively (as of February 2023, according to Property Council members). This, combined with the sudden rise in interest rates has led to a significant increase in debt servicing costs for these properties. As a result, the valuations of large CBD offices and other commercial properties are expected to decrease in value.
Join us as we celebrate 30 years on radio with FiveAA Thursday 29th March at 3pm. Our advisers now join the fabulous Jade Robran every second Thursday at 3pm to shine a spotlight on financial planning topics and answer your questions. We are now being live-streamed via Facebook and Twitter. Follow the link on the FiveAA homepage.
In a recent announcement, pensioners are set to receive a boost to their payment rates this month to cover higher inflation. This includes an increase to the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment and JobSeeker. Starting on March 20, 2023, there will be a fortnightly increase of $37.50 for single individuals receiving the age pension, resulting in a new total of $1,064. For couples, the fortnightly increase will be $56.40, with the combined payment amounting to $1,604.60.

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During recent client review meetings, I've noticed two concerns coming up regularly. The first is the growing dominance of large US technology companies and whether current valuations can continue rising. The second is rising government debt levels around the world, particularly in the United States and Australia, and whether governments are willing or able to address these issues over the long term.
Sitting down with a financial planner for the first time can feel a little daunting. You might be wondering what to bring, what will be asked, or simply whether you’re ready to share your personal financial information. The good news is that a first meeting is simply a conversation, and a bit of preparation goes a long way toward making it a productive one.