What could change for taxpayers after the Federal Election? With the Federal election only weeks away, both major parties have set out their plans for taxation of superannuation, especially as it relates to SMSFs.  There are also new taxation plans for individuals and trusts.  But it can be hard to wade through all the policy speeches and interviews, so here is a quick summary of the current law and the possible changes to come after the election: Comparison of policy areas...

February 2019 Review - Markets continue strong recovery
The share market recovery experienced in January picked up further pace in February with leading indices across the globe recording solid gains. Some of the notable developments for the month included: Positive sentiment stemming from the hope of a trade agreement between the US and China Global bond yields remained steady, while Australian yields fell The benign outlook for interest rates supported listed infrastructu...

Investment Implications of franking credit changes. The proposed changes announced by the Federal Opposition to the way franking credits operate will have significant implications for some investors; but will have little to no impact for the majority of investors. Under the existing framework, franking credits exist to ensure that the dividends paid by companies to shareholders are effectively taxed at the marginal rate of the shareholder. As such, credits are passed through to the shar...

January 2019 Review - Share markets bounce back strongly A strong recovery on global equity markets over January saw approximately half of the December quarter decline reversed. Highlights for the month were as follows: A significant bounce back occurred across all major world share markets. Bond yields continued to drift lower as the U.S. Federal Reserve appeared to soften its stance. Lower bond yields resulted in significant gains on listed property and infrastructure marke...

The retail sector is experiencing a dramatic shake up with massive growth in online shopping indicating a shift in how consumers interact with products, sales and spaces. Recent figures speak for themselves. Domestic online sales represented more than 50% of 2017 total retail sales growth in Australia as opposed to three years ago when they accounted for less than 10%.i This rapid growth is staggering in a sector that has otherwise been sluggish of late. But what does it mean for consumers?...