Super funds ramp up push for $220bn US investment goal
Australia’s super industry heavyweights are headed to the US next week as they ramp up plans to more than double investment in that market to $220bn-plus over the next ten years.
Wealth
My dropkick brother-in-law feeds off me like a parasite
My brother-in-law has it sorted – mail-order bride, living rent-free, demanding lavish gifts and refusing to pay back a $10k loan he lost on the stockmarket. Here’s Barefoot Investor’s advice to a fed up woman.
Lower rates to help city property markets
The Reserve Bank’s rate cut, coupled with a surprise tightening of vacancy rates, should see Australia’s major cities avoid further property price drops.
Drop in savings rates will drive investors to take risks
Conservative investors – especially older Australians – could be tempted to look for riskier homes for their savings as bank deposit rates begin to fall.
How to spot scammers and not become the next victim
Scammers with fraudulent tax and investment schemes are preying on cash-strapped Australians, promising a windfall but delivering financial ruin. Here’s how to protect yourself.
The unexpected shocks that could end the bull run
Just a few weeks ago many avid market watchers expected the bull run to continue well into 2025 but now they’re not so certain. What’s changed?
Are financial advisers worth the money?
Financial advisers are a steady hand when markets wobble. But do they deliver on the returns front? New data shows that it depends on a few key things.
To fix or not to fix, the answer is not what you think
Anyone with a mortgage or about to get one might think variable rates offer the best chance to take advantage of an expected falling cash rate. But fixing now might be a smarter option.
Brighter Super boss on talent trail after high-profile resignations
Brighter Super boss Kate Farrar has put up the help wanted sign after a couple of senior executive departures in recent weeks including her chief financial officer.
‘Awkward and weird’: Barefoot’s summer love affair with AI
An AI chatbot named Lucy has become Barefoot’s go-to for advice, insights, and road trip conversations. Is this the beginning of a beautiful relationship or will it end in tears?
Annuities a retirement product with a future
The time has come to offer retirees a set income for life through annuities and it could be done with the help of Australia’s Future Fund.
Wayne Swan plans fightback over hits to Cbus reputation
The former treasurer is not going anywhere but has come out firing with a plan for the mega super fund to get its mojo back.
How DeepSeek has exposed the short lifespan of monopolies
The top investors will tell you that monopolies are the best investments money can buy but as the emergence of China’s DeepSeek shows, assumptions about sectors can be short lived.
Hey, SMSF investors … here’s a life insurance solution
SMSF investors don’t get the automatic insurance cover offered by Big Super funds, but there are plenty of ways to solve the problem.
Ten ways to save our super system
The reputation of big super funds hit the rocks in 2024. Here is what needs to happen this year if we want the system to improve.
Lower-taxing Queensland’s soaring property performance
Queensland has overtaken its more populous rival Victoria to become Australia’s most consistent performer on price in residential property investment. So what has brought this about?
SMSF Association to fight $3m super fund tax in Canberra
The SMSF Association is concerned the federal government could try to push the tax through with some last minute amendments.
Annuities: A promising idea gets tangled in flawed thinking
A report about an alternative supplying retirees income for life had merit until it said it should be compulsory for the wealthier. So should the government get into the annuities business?
Building wealth needs a big mindset change
Building good investment habits early is the hallmark of coasting into an easy retirement. But it’s almost never too late to start planning.
If you’re chasing superior returns then the US is where it’s at
US shares consistently beat ours for value and under newly installed President Donald Trump there are indications the pattern will accelerate.
An alternative way into the market for first-home buyers
Buying ‘bricks’ in houses rather than a whole property is a rising investment strategy to bridge the finance gap for first-time property buyers. Here’s what you need to know.
Forget the naysayers, Melbourne is the land of opportunity
The nation’s big cities are all at different stages in the property cycle and, for investors, Melbourne is the market best placed for long-term returns.
Trumped: ASX’s inferior value driving investors to Wall Street
The secret behind the steady exit of local investors from the Australian sharemarket is not so much the attraction of Wall Street, but the poor value offered by the ASX.
How to get ready for $2m tax-free super
Advisers are suggesting inflation indexing will raise the tax free super allowance per head by $100,000 to $2m this year, and investors should be making plans now.
A diversified portfolio is always worth the effort
Diversification can feel like eating vegetables. You know it is good for you, but it is nowhere near as enjoyable as eating hot chips.
ART shifts to infrastructure and property
The nation’s second-largest super fund sees a better return outlook for real assets following equities’ strong performance.
The surprise super stars outperforming big funds
Super funds delivered bumper returns in 2024, with the best of the lot a retail fund focusing on younger members. See the top 10 performers.
Unlearn and prosper: the bad habits holding you back
Aged in their 50s, Jack and Rhonda broke free from the financial habits they thought were set in stone. See how they transformed their financial outlook.
The high outlay reality of the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’
The so-called ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ is often parting with more than $200,000 to get their children on the property ladder, a landmark new survey finds.
How you can avoid losing Centrelink pension benefits
The downside of a strong year on the sharemarkets can be the changed arrangements with government pensions but there are some options.
Is the worst over for the Aussie dollar?
There are good reasons to expect the Australian dollar to move higher this year, while hoping for many US rate cuts may be wishful thinking.
Wall Street remains on a winning streak
The world’s most important share market still looks very promising and the new approach from the Federal Reserve is just what is needed.
Death and super: how to maximise your benefits
Superannuation payouts upon death can be delayed, heavily taxed and completely confusing. Here’s how to take back control.
Does bushfire devastation also destroy home prices?
What happens to Australian property prices after a bushfire has swept through an area? The answer may surprise you.
Where property investors selling out of Melbourne are looking
There’s an ‘escalation’ of investors quitting Melbourne as new state property taxes begin to bite. So where are they going?
CFS eyes new asset classes after 17pc return
Colonial First State’s investment chief says the fund won’t invest in bitcoin, but will look for other opportunities after member returns jumped in 2024.
Should some Aussies get the age pension before others?
Experts believe Australia’s pension age will continue climbing, but the pace and how it’s handed out could become controversial.
Two top stocks to sell right now
The tech sector has richly rewarded investors over the past year but our expert stock pickers say time’s up for two of the best performers. Here’s what you should sell.
Look before you leap: the best way to handle financial risks
Learning how to manage financial risks requires understanding, strategy and calculated decisions, says financial adviser Bruce Brammall.
How to maximise long-term investment property success
Professional investors focus on this key metric, and so should you. Learn how to make your investments work better for you.
Mea culpa: My worst investment mistakes and how to avoid them
You can be your own worst enemy when it comes to successful investing, so learn from my mistakes with this guide of what not to do.
If bitcoin’s good enough for AMP then should you get into it?
Now that one of the nation’s best-known financial services companies has bought into cryptocurrency, is it time you also take the plunge?
As property prices fall, Victoria piles on the taxes
Two new property taxes will be imposed from this month on the state’s struggling property market — already the weakest in the country.
How Trump’s tariffs will disrupt stockmarkets
Hefty new taxes on US imports from various countries was a Trump election platform, but what does it mean for your shares?
Buy BHP, sell Rio: the top 12 tips from our stock experts
Giving your portfolio a makeover for the new year? Our expert stock pickers recommend buying BHP and Woolies, while ditching Rio Tinto and QBE. See what else they suggest.
From $70k to $1.3m: Mick’s 15-year journey to early retirement
Fear drove Mick to transform his finances when he was in his 40s and now, through sacrifice and planning he is looking at retiring 12 years earlier than he originally thought possible.
Alternative alternatives for the very wealthy investor
Very wealthy investors chase the ‘new thing’ before the rest of the market catches on … and it leads up some unlikely roads.
Vale boomers: Gen X now the wealthiest property owners
Generation X has become the property king and is on track to become the richest cohort of all, as the great wealth transfer starts.
Battle of the asset classes: the investments likely to grow in 2025
Shares surged higher in 2024 and their returns will be tough to repeat in 2025, but other investment opportunities appear attractive.
Don’t fear high share prices…they might be good for you
How many times have you been told to look for lowly valued stocks and ignore the ones flying too close to the sun? Here’s why that’s wrong and some soaring ASX options to consider.
Ignoring super app costs Aussies hundreds of thousands, says ART
About 77 per cent of the nation does not check their super app regularly while 28 per cent are yet to download it and that neglect is expensive, says Australian Retirement Trust.
How to avoid the ‘loyalty penalty’ and cut power costs
More than 80 per cent of Aussie households could be paying less for their electricity. Here’s how to get a better deal.
Why our stock experts see upside in Rio, Ramsay and NextDc
It may be the festive season but our expert stock pickers are always watching their portfolios and this week see buying opportunities in health, mining, tech and travel sectors.
Tis the season to break bad investment habits
If you get hit by a financial tornado every festive season, now is a good time to reflect on – and change – the money mistakes you make year after year, says financial adviser Bruce Brammall.
The defining trends for private wealth in 2025
Australia’s population of high-net-worth individuals is continuing to grow, putting greater demands on the wealth management industry.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/wealth