November 2007
You are browsing the archive for November 2007.
Another reason why managed funds are not “set and forget”
Nine former Suncorp investment managers, the Australian Equities team, have walked out the door to a competitor. Should you care? (Read the news item here.) So often people recount stories to me that how they identified their managed fund was based on past performance. They also say they did lots of research when they first [...]
Cheap laptops equal smart salary-packaging
“A phenomenon in recent years has been the way the price of electronic goods just seems to be getting lower. This is attributable to a combination of ceaseless technological advances; Asia’s cheap manufacturing costs; and the strong Australian dollar. Just blink and the prices of laptop computers, digital cameras, DVD recorders and flat-screen TVs seem [...]
Where do I start?
I love receiving phone calls of enquiry from people who are new to advice. Often the calls start with them revealing that up until now they’ve not paid much attention to their money at all (besides spending of course) but for one reason or another they’ve decided to take action now. I love it because [...]
Superannuation in the showroom
“Buying a new car is exciting. There is so much choice, so many colors, body styles, engines and brands to choose from. Your budget helps narrow the choices substantially. Some brands will resonate; others will be a real turn off while practical stuff like four doors or two, work needs, number of children, hobbies and [...]
What is the value of financial advice?
Socially when I speak to people who have never seen a financial adviser, and are still reluctant to do so, one of the main reasons has been that they don’t see any value in using a financial adviser. Sometime they sense that an adviser delivers some benefit but that those benefits don’t outweigh the costs [...]
Profit sharing with your adviser
If you paid your financial experts solely on the basis of a percentage of the benefit to you of their recommendations, what percentage would you prepared to give them? I just had a conversation with a client who I sense is very fee conscious. Fee appears to be the major, initial focus and by comparison [...]
How’s your financial health?
How’s your financial health? Is everything in tip top working order, or are there areas being avoided and showing signs of wear and tear? Well, if you suspect that your finances are out of shape you are not alone. The average score from my online financial health check-up is just 39 percent. That low average [...]
3 tips to manage your mortgage stress
Have recent rises in interest rates left you feeling the strain of meeting mortgage repayments? Or perhaps are you concerned that if interest rates go much higher you will be under financial stress? If so, this interview is perfect for you. This morning I interviewed expert Mortgage Professional, Damian Day of Ardent Finance to uncover [...]
What makes you think you’ll be a millionaire one day?
Less than five percent of Australians are millionaires, yet it seem that most of us want to be. What makes you think that you’ll be one of the minority? What makes you different to 95% of Australians? In a client meeting this morning something was said that reminded me how our nature is to measure [...]
‘Tis the season to be…broke??
Wow, the Christmas decorations are up and about in the shopping centres and even through Perth city centre. Christmas is a terrific fun time, but historically it also is a time where we not only eat and party to excess but we seem to spend to excess. Eating to excess leaves us feeling terrible and [...]
Maintain the fun and cut your costs
Sometimes once we get a clearer picture of our current position, in particular our cashflow, we can get a bit of a shock and wonder how we can reign in our spending. If so, you may be interested in a wonderful resource that a client told me about. I was complimenting Kylie on her wonderful [...]
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