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This Month

How markets just got real for these 4 Millennial investors

Meet four young investors who this week experienced their first major market shock (albeit a very quick one). Here’s what they plan to do next.

The S&P 500 index slumped toward a “bear market” before a wild rally a day later.

One surprising group sailed through the Trump turmoil - here’s how

As markets plunged, jumped, slumped and soared around them, the one thing this group didn’t do was panic.

ATO commissioner Rob Heferen.

‘Feels like the commissioner is sitting at the kitchen table’

What was once a relatively simple formula has become a maze of complex decisions with potentially severe tax consequences.

Some exposure to bonds may be protecting your super from the worst of the share market falls.

This will cushion your super balance during the Trump slump

Bonds typically act as a counterbalance to equities, providing ballast during share market corrections. But this time around there’s a wrinkle in the system.

To make the downsizer contribution, you’ve got to be 55 or older selling a property that you’ve owned for at least 10 years.

How can I add a downsizer contribution and inheritance to super?

There is the potential to contribute a combined $1.32 million to your super fund and that of your spouse.

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legend has it that Holmes a Court carried an unsigned will around in his briefcase for years that he just never got around to finalising.

Don’t repeat this estate planning mistake by Robert Holmes a Court

Australia’s first billionaire died of a heart attack in 1990 at the age of 53. The problem was he didn’t leave a valid will.

There may be good opportunities as shares fall, but advisors say it is difficult to find a bargain while things are so heavily in flux.

Six things for investors to do right now (and one to avoid)

Retail investors, superannuation savers and retirees are understandably jittery, so we asked financial planners for advice. 

Recently retired Jo White at home in Coogee in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

This retiree expects a market ‘bloodbath’. Here’s what will help

Jo White, 64, refuses to look at her super balance given what’s happened in financial markets over the past few days. These wealth experts lay out a game plan.

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The average sum Australians will inherit and what to do with it

Inheritances can be life-changing – so long as the money is spent wisely. Here are four options.

Leaving assets to a pet can lead to bitter disputes.

What a beach house and dog called Trouble teach us about succession

Estate planning is where wealth collides with family politics, and nowhere does that hit harder than with lifestyle assets.

One bias we often experience when investing is herding behaviour.

4 questions to answer before leaping into ‘trendy’ assets

If you truly can’t resist, consider dedicating a small portion as “fun money” to your experiments with trendy assets.

March

Expat Denise Moloney says the UK pension deal is a ‘no-brainer’.

How this expat turned $6300 into a UK pension worth $370,000

Experts say 2 million Australians could qualify for a UK pension when they retire, but the opportunity is about to become less lucrative.

Payment in shares is sometimes referred to as “golden handcuffs” because it is a way to retain high-quality staff.

This could be the magic number for employees paid in shares

Being rewarded for performance or loyalty with restricted stock units can help build wealth. But watch out for tax bill shock and consider limiting exposure to one company to 33 per cent of your wealth.

It is important for investors to remember that it is share market volatility which creates opportunities for capital growth.

A guide to long-term wealth creation amid rising uncertainty

Look past the noise and you’ll see shares are cheaper and mortgage rates are set to ease.

Make sure the loan is interest-free and repayable upon the sale of the property.

Will a loan from the bank of mum and dad cruel our mortgage plans?

A few lenders are willing to exclude a parental loan from serviceability assessments.

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What the top 1 per cent in Australia looks like in 2025.

What it takes to be in Australia’s top 1 per cent (in 6 charts)

Wondering how wealthy you are compared to your fellow Australians? Find out whether you rank in the top 25, 5 or 1 per cent.

Joseph Evans and the electric car that powers his winery.

How to power your home with your EV (and save $30,000)

A South Australian winery that’s almost entirely powered by the sun and two Nissan Leafs gives a glimpse of what a low-cost, green energy future looks like.

Rather than simply selling, considering the options for an inherited property could increase its value.

How three siblings increased their inheritance by $278,000

Renovating may be a lucrative option if you’ve inherited an outdated property with dowdy features.

Maybe you thought hard work and competence would speak for themselves. They don’t.

The $1m cost of not asking for a pay rise

Hundreds of thousands – even millions – of dollars quietly disappear over the course of a career. It’s a financial catastrophe in slow motion.

For most Australians and UK expats, it’s remarkably affordable.

A $480,000 opportunity for Australians who did a stint in London

Thanks to an unusual provision in UK law, Australians who worked in the UK for at least three years may be eligible to claim a state pension.

Shouldn’t childcare costs come from “family money”?

Should mum or dad pay for childcare?

Having a baby is a pivotal point in moving from casually pooled finances to a family money system.

Retirement planning

This is what a $5 million retirement budget looks like

We asked financial adviser Olivia Maragna to devise a plan for a couple entering retirement with a generous super balance.

What to do when disaster strikes your holiday house

While loss or damage to a beloved family retreat may not be as wrenching as a hit on your main home, the process of getting it fixed has challenges that can be equally infuriating, baffling and stressful.

How to get a tax break on your EV before it’s too late

The tax break means car buyers can afford an EV that’s $20,000 more expensive than the petrol version. Here’s how to take advantage of this perk.

Fighting over finances? You might need a money date

Coming to the meeting with the mindset that you’re going to be able to figure it out together is crucial.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance