admin — True Financial Brisbane and Gold Coast

Investing in Gold

September 22, 2010 by admin

Gold digging

“Gold gets dug out of the ground in Africa, or someplace,” Warren Buffett once said. “Then we melt it down, dig another hole, bury it again and pay people to stand around to guard it. Anyone watching from Mars would be scratching their head.”

The price of physical gold has risen five-fold since 2001 and continues to reach new heights. There is significant interest in gold today as a means of possibly hedging against depreciating global currencies and inflation. The concern now is that for those investors who choose to load up on gold today may be placed in a disadvantageous position if history repeats itself. After gold hit a then-record high in 1980 of US $850 an ounce, it fell and failed to recover for more than 20 years. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Investment Tagged With: comodities, gold, investing, warren buffet

Housing affordability

August 18, 2010 by admin

The residential property market in Australia is easily the most favored asset class by Australian Investors. Residential property is a tangible asset that people can see and experience. Most Australian property investors experience from the past 10 years has given the investor the inner belief that by holding the asset they will reap incredible rewards well into the future. They believe they understand the asset class and will benefit similarly into the future by holding the asset. Most of the last 10 years have been an extraordinary time for property investors with property returning well into the double digits. Rents have also risen at astonishing rates making negatively geared properties cash flow positive after only a few short years. What were the main factors driving property prices so high and in my view highly overvalued by historical standards? [Read more...]

Filed Under: Investment, Property Tagged With: house prices, housing affordability, property market

End of Year Tax Tips for 2010

June 2, 2010 by admin

The end of the tax year is fast approaching and many people scramble to reduce the dreaded tax bill. Paying money to the tax office that could have been used to benefit your own position can be painful, however there are still some last minute tax strategies that can help you and hopefully with effective tax planning for next year you can reduce your need to panic when June rolls around again. [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, Tax Tips Tagged With: capital gain, investment, pre pay deductions, salary sacrifice, tax tips

2010 Federal Budget

May 26, 2010 by admin

What does it mean for you?

Treasurer Wayne Swan released the Government’s third Federal Budget on Tuesday, 11 May 2010. It has been reported to be a budget with a “few surprises”, however there is potentially a number of proposals that may impact you.

The proposed changes still need to be legislated before becoming effective, therefore the final form of these proposals may differ significantly. It is important to seek professional financial advice in relation to the impact these measures may have on your personal financial position.

The budget aims to return us to a surplus by 2012/2013 after a budget deficit for 2009/2010, estimated at $57 billion. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Budget, General, Tax Tips Tagged With: co-contribution, deductions, federal budget, income tax, marginal tax rate, super guarentee, superannuation, tax deductions, tax offset, tax rate

50% Business Tax Break – Will it be of real benefit to your business?

September 16, 2009 by admin

A 50% tax break on a new car makes that new car sound like a bargain; it’s a very tempting offer. It also sounds like a great idea to reduce tax for small business owners. But when considering taking the government up on their offer, you really need to think about the real cost of the new car. Any new assets for your business can be a significant cost to your business, so buying one needs to be a purely business decision. [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, Tax Tips Tagged With: rebate, tax break, tax tips

Credit Crisis Explained

September 20, 2008 by admin

From reports on TV and in the newspapers the world’s financial house of cards is said to be falling. But we all know that the more sensational the story the more newspapers and television programs will be watched. The world economy is not in the best shape at the moment mainly due to the credit crisis. How has this happened and how will it affect you?

The basis of what’s going on in the world economy stems from the credit crisis or credit crunch in the United States. What is a credit crunch? Credit crunch simply means that the amount of money available from savers to be lent has decreased and the lenders are also asking more interest on the money they are going to lend. Why is it that this seems to be causing so many problems? [Read more...]

Filed Under: General Tagged With: credit crisis, gfc, global credit crisis

Getting insurance through your Super?

December 18, 2007 by admin

Would you and your family really be covered by the insurance in your super?

Many Australians choose to be insured through their super as a low cost option and an option that only requires a tick in a box. This option is not underwritten which means that you can be insured without undergoing any medical assessment. Sounds great to most people and there is nothing extra to organise. However there are a number of pitfalls in taking this option. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Insurance, Superannuation Tagged With: insurance, superannuation