In Practice

As a business evolves, one of the issues it must deal with is whether its branding adequately reflects product and service expansion over time. This is a question we have had to address at SuperAA (Superannuation Advisers Australia), a business that was launched in 2013 with the aim of offering SMSF audit services and technical support to accounting firms.

Over the last few weeks there has been a heightened level of debate concerning Listed Investment Companies (LICs) and Listed Investment Trusts (LITs). As always, industry experts have presented thoughtful, considered positions following ASIC’s analysis provided to Treasury on LIC performance.

In its latest quarterly statement on monetary policy, the Reserve Bank of Australia declared its preparedness to “ease monetary policy further if needed”.

Over the last year, 10-year German Bund yields have gradually declined. Investor sentiment deteriorated over the course of this period as the US-China trade dispute dragged on, taking global growth down with it.

The US Federal Reserve’s latest 25 basis points rate reduction in mid-September is seen by many market observers as another signal that world markets are in, or are fast approaching, a late cycle.

Compared with the rest of the world, income inequality is not particularly high in Australia, nor is it getting much worse. The real problem is housing inequality.

Investing in emerging markets is a bit like making a soufflé: it’s a courageous undertaking fraught with the risk of things not working out as hoped. EM economies may be buffeted by political strife, currency crises, and other upheavals, leaving investors a bit deflated.

Fewer people in Australia are likely to get financial advice in the wake of the Hayne Royal Commission – the inevitable consequence of implementing the final report’s wide-ranging recommendations.

The Coalition has put forward a scheme to help first home buyers get into homes, under which the government will underwrite a loan of 15 per cent of the value of the home, to be treated as part of their deposit, taking a deposit of 5 per cent up to 20 per cent.