Shows / Investopoly
Investopoly
Investopoly is a twice-weekly podcast designed to help you make better financial decisions and build wealth with clarity and confidence. Hosted by Stuart (tax adviser, financial adviser, and mortgage broker) and Campbell (senior financial adviser), each episode delivers concise, practical insights grounded in real-world strategy, research, methodologies, and case studies. You will get two episodes each week: a main episode that deep-dives into a single wealth-building topic, and a Q&A episode…
Episodes
InvestopolyBeware: Not all ETF's (exchange traded funds) are what they seem
Exchange Traded Funds (or ETF’s) have become very popular, particularly over the past 5 years. In fact, the amounts invested in ETF’s has doubled over this…
InvestopolyAn investment case for putting all your property eggs in one basket
It is generally an accepted investment principal that diversification can reduce your risk and improve investment returns. The common vernacular is, spread…
InvestopolyGood financial decisions are a compounding asset
One good financial decision will have positive consequences. But five good decisions in a row will be life changing. It will create a lot more than five times…
InvestopolyCan property prices keep rising at the same rate?
A common question people ask is, “can property values continue to rise at the same rate which they have over the past 3 to 4 decades?” The short answer is no…
Investopoly6 alternatives to savings accounts
Interest rates on savings accounts were over 5% p.a. in 2011… only 10 years ago. Today, you would be lucky to receive more than 0.5% p.a.! That means your…
Investopoly6-step process I used to set my personal financial goals for 2021
The beginning of a new year is a great time to take stock and set personal and financial goals for the coming year. I wanted to share the process that I use…
InvestopolyFour reasons the property market will take off in 2021
During 2020, most economists and commentators predicted that property values would plummet by 10%, 20% or even 30%! In May I wrote a blog outlining the reasons…
InvestopolyHow much should you spend on investment property maintenance and improvements?
One of the advantages of investing in property is that you can make improvements to enhance its value and consequently your personal wealth. A disadvantage is…
InvestopolyWhat has 2020 taught us? Top 5 financial lessons learnt this year.
Without wanting to seem too philosophical, I believe that life offers us lessons, but we must be prepared to look for them. As we are approaching the end of…
InvestopolyDon't put your tax deductible interest at risk: 10 rules to follow
Interest expenses are often an investors largest tax deduction. You must realise that the onus of proof is on the taxpayer (you), not the ATO. That is, you…
InvestopolyImportant insights into a post COVID recovery
Understanding how Covid lockdowns have impacted certain individuals and industries, helps to inform us about how quickly the economy and markets may…
InvestopolyHow much does financial advice cost?
If you need financial advice, how much should you expect to pay for it? Of course, the cost is what you pay, but value is what you receive. The value needs to…
InvestopolyHow do you ensure your will is set up properly?
Most people acknowledge that a will is an important document to create, but we all hope there’s no urgency to prepare it. As such, many people rarely ‘get…
InvestopolyResearch report: Performance review of investment-grade apartments
It is my observation that investment-grade apartments in Melbourne have under-performed (from a capital growth perspective) compared to houses over the past 8…
InvestopolyUpdate: US election, impact of zero overseas immigration, US tech stocks, super-low rates and more
Investment update: How to navigate current uncertaintiesThere is never a perfect time to invest. The stars never align. In reality, there will always be…
InvestopolyWhy were you so wrong?
Have you ever had a strong opinion (prediction) about investment markets which was subsequently proven to be incorrect? A recent example was when many people…
InvestopolyFederal Budget 2020: Overview & analysis
This year’s budget was definitely aimed at business rather than individuals, and it needed to be. The main goal of the federal budget is to create jobs to…
InvestopolyLending update: interest rates and borrowing capacity improvements
The government made an important announcement last week. This change could substantially increase your borrowing capacity in the next year. It is perhaps the…
InvestopolyWhy blue-chip property values will rebound by > 10% in 2021
n May, I wrote a blog after CBA released its bearish ‘worst case’ forecast for the property market. It predicted a 32% drop in prices! I outlined in my blog…
InvestopolyHow long will your super last after retirement?
The compulsory superannuation contribution rate is set to increase by 0.5% each year for the next six years (i.e. from 9.5% to 12%) beginning from 1 July 2021…
InvestopolyIt's not the size of the return, it's the length that matters
Investing well is important. However, investing well over long periods of time is most important.Everyone would agree that making a one-time 50% return on an…
InvestopolyHow to tell if your accountant is missing valuable opportunities?
The difference between a great and an average accountant can be significant. Not only is tax one of your biggest annual expenses, but a great accountant should…
InvestopolyWhy the next property you buy is the most important one
This blog’s title is a bit deceptive, because every property you buy is important, for either lifestyle or financial reasons.I contemplated using the title…
InvestopolyProperty data is not always right, or helpful
My professional life has been all about “the numbers” for more than two decades! So, as an accountant and financial advisor, it pains me to say that numbers…
Investopoly5 steps to (safely) maximise your borrowing power
Slides - Click here Watch the video - click here Our most popular free guides:Over the years we've written hundreds of articles. These three bring our best…
InvestopolyWhy would you refinance? (Other than to get a lower rate)
According to the ABS, the number of people refinancing their mortgage increased by over 63% in the year to May 2020. Quite often people think the only reason…
InvestopolyWhy you should stick to your day job
There are three ways to generate passive income; start a business, invest or speculate. The key word in that sentence is passive. Passive means you can…
InvestopolyWhich super fund produced the best returns in 2019/20?
Despite the share market volatility as a result of Covid-19, all major industry super funds produced a positive investment return over the past financial year…
InvestopolyWhy is the stock market crazy?
You may have read commentary that the share market isn’t reflecting reality at the moment. For example, the share market can rise by 3% on the same day that we…
InvestopolyWhat impact will Melbourne's virus lockdown 2.0 have on property and economy?
Melbourne’s Covid transmission outbreak has been widely publicised by the media. Melbourne’s daily positive test rate is relatively benign by world standards…
InvestopolyProof that 'what' you buy, not 'when' or 'how much you pay', matters the most
The price you pay for an investment property will only matter if you purchase the wrong asset. An investment grade asset will, in the long run, mask any…
InvestopolyNot all low-cost indexes exhibit the same risks and opportunities
Over the past decade, investors and large institutions have been deserting expensive active fund managers in return for using their cheaper index…
InvestopolyHow low interest rates can help build your super
If you have a couple of thousand dollars surplus cash each month, what is the most effective way to invest it?You could invest in the share market, repay your…
InvestopolyTax planning ideas for 2020
With the financial year coming to a close, I thought it was timely to share some of the common strategies we consider when helping clients minimise their…
InvestopolyWhat is quantitative easing, and should we be concerned?
Global ratings agency, Fitch estimates that the value of Quantitative Easing (QE) implemented this year could reach $9 trillion! To put that in context, that…
InvestopolyWhy I think the property market and economy will be okay
There have been a number of economists and commentators who have predicted that property values will fall anywhere between 10% and 32% this year. It seems like…
InvestopolyWill 'working from home' change how we invest in property?
If many employees continue to work from home, then perhaps demand for property in close proximity to capital city CBD’s will fall. And conversely, perhaps…
InvestopolyWhat happens (to rents and prices) when it's cheaper to own your home than rent it?
With interest rates at all-time lows, in some situations, it is now a lot cheaper to be an owner-occupier than a renter. And with the prospect of interest…
InvestopolyMastering cash flow management during the pandemic
Due to the impact of coronavirus, many people are having to navigate unexpected changes in income and expenses for the first time in their life. This is…
InvestopolyWhich strategy? Upgrade your home or borrow to invest?
A few months ago, a reader of this blog asked me to analyse two options. Option one is to borrow more money to fund an upgrade of your family home and…
InvestopolyWill property prices fall by 10% because of higher unemployment thanks to COVID-19
CBA Economics stated last week that property price declines are “inevitable”. It has forecast that prices will fall by circa 10% in Melbourne and Sydney over…
InvestopolyHow to make financial decisions in times of high uncertainty
If there is one certainty in life, it’s that there’s always going to be some uncertainty.Of course, there are times in our lives where there’s higher levels of…
InvestopolyProperty and loan related FAQ
We provide answers to a number of frequently asked questions below. We will continue to add new questions and update our answers as events and government…
InvestopolyWorking from home (home office) tax deductions
With most people being required by their employer to work from home, I thought it would be timely to update you on what deductions you can claim and what…
InvestopolyInvesting is more a game of lending than it is investing
Author and property investor, Michal Yardney says “real estate investing is a game of finance with some houses thrown in the middle”.People think that the…
InvestopolyWhat financial actions should you take in response to coronavirus?
Given many people are worried about the unknown consequences of the Coronavirus, I thought it was timely for me to share my thoughts and advice. Like in all…
InvestopolyMy insights on the power of a gearing strategy
Borrowing to invest, particularly in property, has been a very popular investment strategy in Australia. A mortgage is a wonderful servant but a terrible…
InvestopolyWhat impact will coronavirus have on your investments?
Coronavirus’ impact on share markets is a hot topic at the moment. We’ve seen global markets fall by over 10% between 21 February and 2 March 2020. It seems…
InvestopolyThe cost to hold an investment property hits an all-time low
Over the last few weeks, lenders have aggressively cut fixed rates, particularly for investors that borrow on an interest only basis. Three and five year fixed…
InvestopolyMajor and important changes to income protection insurance
I wrote a blog in December last year about how difficult personal risk insurance (e.g. income protection, Life and TPD) is becoming to obtain. Also, in…
InvestopolyIt's a perfect time to sell dud investments
With share markets at an all-time high and sentiment in the property market recovering, it is a great opportunity to divest of any underperforming (dud)…
InvestopolyAre investment-grade apartments primed for growth in Melbourne and Sydney?
Over the past few years I have observed a strong trend of investment-grade house prices growing stronger than apartments. It is true that all markets move in…
InvestopolyWhat are the best alternatives to term deposits?
With term deposit rates currently ranging between 1% and 2% p.a., and the prospect of further rate cuts by the RBA, many investors are contemplating where to…
InvestopolyTax benefits associated with investing in shares
Investing in shares can produce tax benefits. But it can also result in tax liabilities too. Terms such as “franking credits” and “imputation credits” (same…
InvestopolyWhat does (should) a financial planner do for you?
An independent financial advisor does a lot more than just tell you how to invest your money. In fact, a lot of the work they do is ‘behind the scenes’ so I…
InvestopolyWarning: Personal insurance is becoming impossible to get!
Personal insurances such as Income Protection, Life insurance and Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) are becoming impossible to get unless you are in perfect…
InvestopolyHow can you invest well and help the planet at the same time?
The bushfires in NSW and Queensland recently reinvigorated the conversation about global warming and whether the Australian government is doing enough to…
Investopoly2020 Vision: What investment risks and opportunities will next year bring?
With the 2019 calendar year quickly drawing to a close, I thought it would be good to have a look at what next year might bring in terms of investment risks…
InvestopolyHow to invest in Emerging Markets such as China and India
According to global bank Standard Chartered, the Chinese and Indian economies are expected to more than triple between 2017 and 2030. In fact, China’s Gross…
InvestopolyNot all information is useful information
Not more than 7 months ago, according to the media, investing in property was no longer a smart way to build wealth. Labor wanted to ban negative gearing…