BLOGS

Should you fix your home loan interest rate?

With the recent hikes in fixed and variable rates by the major banks recently (refer to last week’s blog), we have been having lots of conversations with clients about whether it’s a good idea to fix your interest rate. Below are 11 points for you to consider when contemplating the fixed versus variable dilemma: Will …

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The banks get away with a lot, don’t they?

This week, three out of the four major banks increased 5 year fixed rates by a significant amount (around 0.80% p.a.) without any warning. The banks used to give mortgage brokers and branch staff a few weeks’ notice before they increased fixed rates. This allowed us time to let clients know and give them the …

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How to take advantage of the super changes

The changes to super announced by the Turnbull Government in the federal budget in May 2016 became law this week. There are a few financial planning opportunities that you should be aware of. Super contribution planning can be deferred until May each year Self-employed people currently have greater flexibility with how and when they make …

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What’s is advice really worth?

There’s a story that Henry Ford was having problems with a generator in one of his plants so he hired General Electric (GE) to fix the problem. The engineer from GE climbed up on the generator and made a chalk mark and told Ford’s people to replace sixteen windings from the field coil. The job …

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Warning: Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance… or should it be?

I was listening to an ad on the radio this week and at the end the advertiser read the following disclaimer: “past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance”. The government (ASIC) requires businesses to state this disclaimer whenever past investment returns are quoted, so that investors are forewarned that history might not …

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Home loan interest rate discounts – an idiot's guide

This short blog will provide you with the tools and knowledge to negotiate the best interest rate discount on your mortgage/s. The banks leave themselves open to price competition Much has been written lately about whether the banks will be able to maintain their enormous profits (and dividends) in a low interest rate environment. The …

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