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Are you adjusting your retirement expectations?

A recent global survey conducted by HSBC[1]  found that only 21% of working age Australians believe they will be financially comfortable in retirement!

In fact, the report suggests, of those surveyed,

  • 58% believe they will have to work longer and continue working to some extent in retirement
  • 75% were willing to defer retirement for two years in order to have a better retirement
  • 65% are concerned about declining state pensions, like the Australian Age Pension because of mounting national debt and an ageing population.

This report paints a rather bleak picture of the future, not only for the baby-boomer generation, but also for Generation X (1966 – 1979), and Millennials (1980 – 1997).

The report sets out some practical steps when planning for retirement. While these are more directed towards the Millennials, I believe they apply to all generations:

  • Be realistic – start saving earlier, and save more
  • Consider different sources of funding – balance savings to spread risks and maximise returns
  • Plan for the unexpected – include worst case scenarios when planning
  • Embrace new technology – use online planning tools, and seek professional advice.

While on the topic of retirement planning, the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia has just released its March 2017 Quarter Retirement Standard figures.

The March 2017 figures show a small increase in costs over the previous quarter’s figures. The factors that led to the most recent increases included petrol, medical services and electricity. Offsetting that were savings in international travel and accommodation, and fruit, with a small fall in clothing and footwear reflecting discounting during the post-Christmas sales.

The Retirement Standard budgets for March 2017 are:

Couple Single Female
Comfortable Modest Comfortable Modest
Weekly $1,150.13 $668.45 $837.41 $465.07
Annual $59,971 $34,855 $43,665 $24,250

So, my tips for those who are considering retirement in the foreseeable future;

  1. Consider deferring retirement if possible – even if it means continuing to work on a part-time basis for a while
  2. Understand exactly how much it will cost you to live in retirement – prepare a realistic budget, and account for contingencies (like new hot water system, or roof repairs)
  3. Know what government benefits you are entitled to
  4. Seek some really good financial advice from a financial planner experienced in retirement advice

As was highlighted in the HSBC report, starting to save earlier, and saving more, will be the secret to being best placed to enjoy the type of retirement you have always dreamed of.

 [1] Reproduced with permission from The Future of Retirement Shifting sands, published in 2017 by HSBC Holdings plc.

 

Source:  Peter Kelly | Centrepoint Alliance

Getting your personal finances under control

Australians are typically very good at spending money, but there comes a time when many of us need to look at getting our finances under control.

This may be due to starting a family, getting a mortgage, educating children, losing a job, or a reduction in income. For some, the need to gain control of personal finances comes with the realisation that their debt has spiralled out of control, and cannot be paid off effectively.

According to American author George S. Clason in his famous book The Richest Man in Babylon there are seven ways to take control of your financial future:

PAY YOURSELF FIRST – Ideally, you should aim to save 10 per cent of everything you earn for long-term savings in case there is a period you are no longer able to work.

This money is not being saved to buy a new car, have a holiday, or even buy a house.

For some, making additional contributions to superannuation may be an ideal way of saving that extra 10 per cent. If you can’t afford to save that much, then save a smaller part of your income and gradually increase it over time. Ideally you should aim to live off 90 per cent, or less, of your income.

MANAGE EXPENSES – We all have regular expenses that need to be met in order to live including food, housing, clothing, and transport. But, many of us spend unnecessarily and it often consumes most, if not all, of our surplus income.

Start by setting a budget of your known fixed costs. Look back over past bills and identify your regular expenses. Bills often arrive at irregular intervals.

For example, a phone bill might arrive once each month (or once each quarter) but you might be paid weekly or fortnightly. Expenses should be calculated over a full year, and then divided by the number of pay days, in order to work out how much needs to be set aside out of each pay to cover bills as they arise.

GROW YOUR WEALTH – Now that you have started saving part of what you earn, you should look to having it grow in value. The investment earnings achieved should be added to your growing pool of savings.

PROTECT YOUR CAPITAL – In order to protect your savings from loss, care must be exercised to ensure the security of the principal. Before investing, understand the associated risks and, if the risk is unacceptable, look for a more suitable alternative.

Take advice from a qualified financial adviser. There are many good investment savings plans that allow small amounts to be saved on a regular basis while providing access to a wide range of investment options including fixed income, shares, property and overseas investments.

INVEST IN YOUR HOME – Eventual home ownership is the desire of many Australians, and owning your own home provides security for you and your family. Home ownership also delivers favourable tax concessions. This means that any gain achieved on the sale of your home is, generally, exempt from tax.

It therefore makes sense to maintain and improve your home, within reason and without over capitalising, to ensure you maximise the price you want to achieve when you come to sell.

PROTECT YOURSELF – We all understand how important it is to insure our possessions, but how many of us have adequate insurance on our life and our ability to earn? You should seek the advice of a qualified financial adviser to ensure that you are adequately insured against events that might rob you of your life, or your ability to earn. Yes, you can insure your future income.

INVEST IN YOURSELF – One way of building wealth is to increase your capacity to earn. To achieve this you need to be willing, irrespective of age, to increase your knowledge and skills through continuing education and training. Many people expect their employer to provide additional training. However you should take personal responsibility for increasing your knowledge and experience by investing time and money in suitable training that enhances your opportunity to increase your earnings over time.

Taking control of your financial future takes time and discipline. It will involve making some hard decisions, but if you make a plan and stick to it, over time it will become a habit and will deliver financial security and prosperity.

 

Source: Peter Kelly – Technical Advice

Centrepoint Alliance

This editorial is of a general nature only and neither represents nor is intended to be specific advice on any particular matter. Centrepoint Alliance strongly suggests that no person should act specifically on the basis of the information contained herein but should obtain appropriate professional advice based on their own circumstances.

Save or Invest? Which comes first

WHICH COMES FIRST: SAVINGS OR INVESTING??

SaveOrInvestFinancial advisers say clients can save and invest simultaneously, irrespective of their financial situation.

Although this advice might sound like financial boot camp, the principles of this advice lay the foundations for effective cash flow management that will ultimately enable a brighter financial future.

The key is establishing and practicing the art of saving – setting funds aside beyond what is needed to pay bills, groceries, utilities, school fees and repayments.

To do this, clients need to get real about their true costs.

It’s difficult to stick to a budget but you need to be really transparent about spending.

Currently, Australians are saving more money than they ever have in the past 30 years. Since the Global Financial Crisis, there has been a dual trend of increased savings and the willingness by Australians to deleverage or to reduce debt.

This is the opposite of what was happening in the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s when Australians went into negative savings. That is, we spent more than we earned.

Financial advisers say most Australians should aim to save 10-15% of their after­tax savings.

Although this may be difficult in some stages of life, it is more important to stick to the practice of savings rather than the specifics of the amount.

Meanwhile, one of the most beneficial saving strategies continues to be salary sacrificing into superannuation. This allows investors to make more tax- effective contributions to superannuation and is subject to thresholds.

Another great saving strategy is reducing mortgage payments via an offset account. It allows you to use your savings account balance to reduce the amount you owe on your loan.

Stripping out money as soon as you get paid also reduces the likelihood of unaccountable spending.

Although the above strategies may seem quite simplistic, when utilised in a comprehensive financial plan put together by a qualified financial planner and tailored to your specific financial circumstances and goals, the results can be significant.

Source | BT

 

Investment Tips

We all need to have financial goals. You may want to provide the best education opportunities for your children or you may want to build an investment portfolio so you can live comfortably in retirement. Whatever these may be, saving to meet those goals is important but regular investing is critical.

 

Saving versus investing

Regular saving is a familiar concept; however, saving in your bank account will only give you a few percent per annum in return. Investing can deliver much more.

 

Saving and investing – make your money work harder

 

Clarify your investment goals and set a plan to ensure you save while investing wisely to make sure you can reach them.

 

One of the easiest ways to keep your saving plan on track is to ‘pay yourself first’. Set aside a part of your pay packet for yourself, before you pay anyone or anything else such as bills, groceries, shopping, car, phone, rent or mortgage. By setting aside an amount straight from your bank account when your pay goes in, you can make sure that you get paid regularly and on time. But how much can you afford to pay yourself? Start by making a budget. List all your expenses and then work out how much you can afford to save each month.

 

Invest your savings to grow

The next step is to make the most of your savings by investing them. The type of assets you invest in will depend on your financial needs and objectives.

 

Managed funds are one way to put your plans into action as they pool your savings with many other investors. You can then access a wide range of quality investments which are managed on your behalf.

 

Diversification can also be important. It means spreading your risk across each of the main investment types (shares, property, fixed interest and cash) with an aim to achieve more consistent returns.

 

Power of Compound Interest

Once you’ve set your investment goals and decided where to invest your money, another reason for regularly investing into a managed fund is access to compound returns. Each dollar you invest earns a return. If you reinvest that return, it can earn more dollars, allowing your investment the potential to grow much faster.

 

Turn your savings into earnings

Turning your savings into an investment which can help you to reach your goals does not have to be difficult. With just $1,000 to start, you can make regular investments of $100 or more each month, switched directly from your Australian bank account to a managed fund.

 

Things to start thinking about …

  1. Is your savings account providing you with a competitive interest rate?
  2. Keep your credit card receipts and check them against your monthly statement. How much are you spending?
  3. Put together a savings plan (your personal budget planner).
  4. How much of your income do you save?
  5. Should you get the help of a financial adviser?

Source | Colonial First State

Adelaide Financial Advice - Seven Deadly Sins

Seven Deadly Financial Sins for Women (and some men!)

Seven Deadly SinsSeven Deadly Financial Sins for Women (and some men!)

Unless we’re rubbing shoulders with A-listers or running a multi-million dollar fashion business, we need to invest time and effort if we want a successful financial future.

It seems that today’s woman can be easily distracted by the comforts that short term material wealth can provide and these ineffective money management habits are best described as Seven Deadly Financial Sins.

 

Sin: Sloth

People who stick their head in the sand and are happy to take the lazy approach when it comes to their financial situation may suffer from the financial deadly sin – Sloth.

Rescue yourself by…
Taking charge of your financial affairs, starting with your superannuation and find lost super by logging onto the ATO’s Super Seeker website at http://www.ato.gov.au/super.

Sin: Anger

Finding excuses or others to blame for your financial situation doesn’t make it go away.

Rescue yourself by …
Take a reality check by doing a budget based on your income and expenses. You may be surprised. Visit the budget planner tool on the ATO website. If it helps curb your needless spending ways, then you shouldn’t be angry any longer.

Sin: Greed

People of today live in a ‘now’ society and the risk of this behaviour is that it may trap you into spending more than you earn.

Rescue yourself by…
Building your wealth through sound financial strategies that suit your financial and lifestyle needs. This can give you peace of mind to have all that you want – with a little discipline.

 

Sin: Damsel in distress

Ladies (or fellas) in-waiting on the lookout for a knight in shining armour to rescue them from the burdens of their financial situation is otherwise known as Cinderella syndrome.

Rescue yourself by…
Saving regularly – just $20 per week can add up to over $7000 in five years in an online high interest bearing account.

Sin: Gluttony

Ladies with an appetite for debt and credit cards to feed their addiction may suffer from the financial deadly sin of Gluttony. Online shopping and VIP nights at your favourite department stores feed on gluttonous appetites and before you know it, you’re in way over your head.

Rescue yourself by …
Spring cleaning your debt – start with cutting up store cards and start to seriously consider protecting your wealth.
Income protection insurance will provide you an income when you’re sick or injured and unable to return to work.

Sin: Lust

It can be hard to resist a good deal and retailers enhance their businesses to appear irresistible with ambient music and designer scents – all to put shoppers in the mood for spending money.

Rescue yourself by…
Take control of your financial future and put a portion of your regular income into savings and investments so it’s not all lost through the temptation of impulse shopping.

Sin: Envy

Don’t hold a vendetta, do something about your financial situation if you’re not happy with it.

Rescue yourself by …
Consider an investment plan that works for your short, medium and long term goals.

Be your own fairy Godmother

It’s never too late to rescue yourself and take control of your financial destiny. Your financial planner (hint! hint! ) can provide straightforward and transparent financial advice by helping you with your current situation and implementing a plan to meet your needs in every stage of your life. 

Source | MLC