On 8 May 2012 Treasurer Wayne Swan delivered his fifth Federal budget. There are a number of announcements of which financial planners and their clients should be aware. The announcements in this Technical Update are proposals unless stated otherwise. These proposals need to successfully pass through Parliament before becoming law and may be subject to change during this process.  Read more

In a bid to determine whether or not Australia’s lenders were appropriate to move their rates independently of the cash rate, the Reserve Bank of Australia has launched an investigation into the true cost of funds.   Read more

“If you’re not ready to die, then how can you live?”
Charles de Lint  Read more

No need to talk about it further as it is official the RBA has cut the cash rate for the second consecutive month. The big question now is of the 25points cut, how much of the rate cut will be passed on by the banks? Over the upcoming weeks the banks will begin to communicate how much of this rate cut they will pass on.   Read more

It is estimated around 3 million Australians adult smokes cigarettes on a daily  basis. The highest rate being among men in the 18-24 years of age group (34%) followed closely by women between 25-34 years of age (27%).  Read more