Sep222015
Financial PlannersNewsSuperannuation Fund Splitting Super With Your Spouse

Splitting Super Contributions with Your Spouse

Financial Planners, News, Superannuation Fund

Superannuation splitting is a concept that we have shared with a growing number of our Perth area clients. Known as “super splitting,” it is a way you can split your before tax or concessional super contributions with your spouse. The two most common types of concessional super contributions are your arranged salary sacrifice contributions and your employer’s mandatory contributions under the superannuation guarantee.*

If your super fund allows you to do it, you can split contributions to a different fund or within the same fund. While contributions can be split, your super fund’s account balance cannot. If you wish to split your contributions, you must be in a de facto relationship or married to the person with whom you are splitting your super contributions.*

To receive split contributions, your spouse must be under 55 years of age or between 55 and 64 but not retired (other conditions may apply). If your spouse is 65 or more years of age, you cannot split any superannuation contributions.*

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Sep182015
Financial PlannersNews Financial Information If Getting A Divorce

Getting Divorced? This Information Could be Valuable to Your Financial Future.

Financial Planners, News

We are biased, but we think Perth is the best place to live in Australia. However, even Perth isn’t immune to marriages ending in divorce. While it is important to have the right divorce lawyer, it is also important to have the right financial planner.

According to a recent blog post by the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA), one out of three marriages will end in divorce, after an average period of 12.2 years. The average age of divorce for men is 44.1 years, while the average age for women is 41.5 years.*

The FPA notes that in the absence of a prenuptial agreement, known as a BFA or binding financial agreement, the distribution of assets is negotiated. The longer and more deeply lawyers are involved, the more of your assets end up being paid as legal fees. The FPA recommends an “amicable asset split agreement” whenever possible.*

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Sep172015
Financial PlannersNews Financial Planners Help Balance Present and Future Lifestyle

How the Right Financial Planner can Balance Your Present Lifestyle with Your Future

Financial Planners, News

In Perth, financial planners have an important job to do. We have to help you live the kind of lifestyle you want now while helping you plan for your future. Most people want to live well now, but they want to have enough money to live well in the future, too. We understand that and are experts at helping you strike that balance.

We know that everyone has different “drivers” in their lives. Some like to take vacations. Some like to play golf. Some like to fish or boat. Some like knowing that their children’s college education will be taken care of for them. Some place the most importance in the house they live in.

In Perth, it can be quite expensive to do many of these things. That makes it even more beneficial for people to maximise every dollar they earn, both in the present and the future.

How We Help You Meet Your Goals

At Approved Financial Planners, it all starts with your goals. When you talk to one of our financial planners, we can start with your goals. Then, we find out your resources, such as assets and income. We also take your monthly expenses into consideration. Your superannuation fund is also important. Some people decide to use a self managed superannuation fund and make extra contributions through the fund.

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Sep152015
NewsSuperannuation Fund Defined Benefit Super Scheme

Defined Benefit Super Scheme? Why a Super Checkup May Be Beneficial.

News, Superannuation Fund

Many Government or public sector employees have PSS defined benefit superannuation funds. We would like to explain the difference between an accumulation-style superannuation fund, a defined benefit superannuation fund and a self managed superannuation fund.

When you retire, especially if you plan to stick around the Perth area, you don’t know how much money you will need to live the lifestyle you want. We feel it is helpful for those with defined benefit supers to understand their options.

What is a PSS Defined Benefit Super Fund?

A PSS defined benefit super is so named because the benefits you receive upon retirement will be “defined” or based upon final average salary (FAS), your contribution rate and the amount of time you were a PSS member. The Australian Government and other participating employers offer this kind of super fund.*

Why is it Different

Other super funds are invested for you. You can either gain money or lose money. The amount of money you eventually collect is dependent upon how much money is in your super fund. When you retire, you can collect your super as a monthly payment (retirement income stream), a lump sum or a combination of both.**

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Aug182015
Investment PlanningNews Spot an Investment

Can You Spot an Investment Before it Becomes a Trend?

Investment Planning, News

If you happened upon this page, you are probably interested in investment planning and live somewhere in the Perth area. At Approved Financial Planners, we provide a full range of services such as financial planning and mortgage broking to our Perth area neighbours.

We are often asked what the “new trends” are regarding investing. While many investors like to jump on the newest trends, those who prosper the best are usually those who can spot investments before they become trends. If an investment is a trend, it often means that too many people have already “jumped in.”

Our parent company, AMP Capital, has identified what they believe will be an investment trend and a new asset class soon: global listed infrastructure.*

The Global Listed Infrastructure Team of AMP Capital is led by Tim Humphreys. Mr Humphreys holds a Bachelor of Engineering Degree with Honours from the University of Sheffield. He applies his knowledge of engineering to the financial field and is known as a skilled infrastructure analyst.*

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Aug112015
Mortgage BrokingNews Lenders Tighten Up Investment Property Loans

Game Changer: Lenders Tighten Up Investment Property Loans

Mortgage Broking, News

At Approved Financial Planners, we combine mortgage broking and financial planning into a “one-stop” shop for Perth area residents. Recently, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) issued a memorandum to lenders demanding that they adhere to a 10% cap on the growth of property investment lending growth.*

Lenders are doing this by making it more difficult for property investors to obtain loans. The intent is to slow areas such as Sydney, which is in an extremely strong growth cycle, while allowing the rest of the economy to flourish under the record low RBA cash interest rate. *

According to Shane Oliver, Chief Economist for AMP Capital, the term for this is “macro prudential regulation” and was popular before the financial deregulation of the 1980’s. It refers to using prudential lending controls as a tool with which to influence the economy.*

According to Mr Oliver, “time will tell” whether or not the 10% cap will help APRA achieve its goal of boosting the entire economy. While APRA is demanding that lenders adhere to the 10% growth rate, compliance is officially voluntary. Mr Oliver believes that lenders will comply so they don’t force the APRA to create more regulations. *

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Aug52015
Investment PlanningNews Investing in Infrastructure

Investing in Infrastructure: Key Drivers

Investment Planning, News

The financial advisors in our Perth office are often asked for recommendations on what companies are the best or most reliable investments. Since everyone’s financial situation is different, we can’t really give any specific advice on this blog or over the phone until we have had an individual consult.

All information on our website is general by law, but we are allowed to provide some insight for you from our parent company, AMP Capital. We would like to tell you about infrastructure investment and why it can sometimes make a lot of sense for those trying to maximise their incomes.

What is Infrastructure Investment?

Infrastructure investment means investing in companies that build, operate or supply what is considered to be infrastructure. This includes distributors of gas, water, electricity and oil. It also includes communications, roads, airports, ports and toll roads. *

Many companies involved in infrastructure have long-term contracts, monopolies and built-in protection against inflation and other market characteristics.*

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Aug32015
NewsRetirement Planning Factors for Investing in Retirement

Important Factors for Investing in Retirement

News, Retirement Planning

Retirement planning can be tricky if you don’t know what you’re doing. Fortunately, we have helped numerous people in the Perth area get started on the path to a prosperous retirement. At Approved Financial Planners, we have a wealth of local experience, combined with the resources of AMP Financial.

While we are not allowed to give any specific advice on this blog due to the disparity in individual financial situations, we would like to provide you with some general information that both we and AMP feel is important when making investment decisions.

Why Retirement Planning is Important

For many in the previous generation, an age pension was enough to provide a comfortable retirement. However, the Australian Government is now encouraging everyone to take control and save for their own retirement.*

As more baby boomers reach retirement age, the number of people drawing pensions will soon be too large for the current workforce to sustainably support them. Consequently, Australians are being encouraged to create their own sources of income to supplement their age pensions and ensure a comfortable lifestyle after retirement.*

Here are some factors to consider when planning your retirement.*

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Jul312015
Mortgage BrokingNews Mortgage Broking in Perth

Two Workarounds to Becoming a Property Owner

Mortgage Broking, News

At Approved Financial Planners, we also offer mortgage broking to our Perth area clients. Many of our clients use us for “one-stop shopping” for financial planning and home loans. One of the most fulfilling facets of our job is being able to help someone into their first home or first investment property.

We know that if you don’t yet own property, it can seem daunting. While we can’t give anyone specific advice on our company blog, we are allowed to provide general information that can be helpful. Here are two workarounds that have helped involve people in their first properties.

Sharing

You may decide to pool resources with family or a bunch of mates to buy a home. This allows you to save for your deposit and your stamp tax more quickly. It can also allow you to borrow more money and find a higher quality home. In addition, if you can raise 20% deposit, you may not have to purchase mortgage insurance.

Remember, though: there are a lot of pitfalls involved. It can be helpful to have a legal team draw up papers that afford all investors a measure of protection.

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Jul292015
Financial PlannersInvestment PlanningNews Creating Passive Income Streams

Tips for Creating Passive Income Streams

Financial Planners, Investment Planning, News

Investment planning can be confusing and scary. It is one of the services we offer in our Perth office. When investment planning is done right, your money can make money for you. We cannot offer specific information over a blog; you will have to contact our office in Perth for a consult if you would like specific advice. However, we can provide some general tips to get you pointed in the right direction.

Do You Have Goals Yet?

Our parent company, AMP Financial, has a lot of good information on their website, https://www.amp.com.au/. On their page entitled “Understanding Investments,” they recommend that you formulate short term, medium term and long term goals. Short term is defined as in the next six months to two years. Medium term is the next two to five years. Long term is anything further down the road than five years.

Choosing the Correct Investment Vehicle

On AMP’s webpage called “Choosing the right investment option,” they explain how to decide which forms of investments are right for you. The first factor to take into consideration is your risk tolerance. This is determined by combining your attitude towards risk with the amount of time you have to invest.

Generally, the higher the potential return, the higher the risk. However, that isn’t always the case and our financial planners are experts at finding investments that have above-average risk to reward ratios. Here are some risk-reward factors of popular investments.

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