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Should you be getting advice?

From navigating market volatility to superannuation legislation changes to determining the right asset allocation, here's how financial advice can help investors optimise their portfolios.

 

Volatility on financial markets this year has probably buffeted your investment portfolio.

So, what should you do? Do you need to take any action, or should you just ride things through for now and see what happens down the track?

Maybe tweaking your investments will help, but what changes to your asset allocations if any make the most sense in terms of your longer-term goals?

And then there’s the raft of changes to superannuation and retirement legislation changes that just came into effect on 1 July.

Are you aware of them all? And are there any you can you take advantage of to get more money into your superannuation account, or better products now available to you that you couldn’t access before because of restrictive laws?

Let’s face it, strategic asset allocation and ongoing portfolio management is highly complex.

Getting it wrong can have a long-lasting effect on your wealth.

Keeping up with rule changes, and understanding their implications, is also complex. Not taking advantage of opportunities can also be damaging to long-term wealth.

 

Advice needs from an SMSF perspective

The just-released Vanguard/Investment Trends 2022 SMSF Investor Report found that 53 per cent of advised self-managed super fund investors rank updates to rules and regulations as the most important information they need from their adviser.

Around 25 per cent of Australia’s 600,000 SMSFs (about 160,000) use a financial adviser. A further 240,000 SMSFs don’t use an adviser but have identified they have unmet advice needs.

They’ve also acknowledged the need for guidance and information on regulatory changes as a high priority area.

In fact, of this cohort, around 80 per cent regard changes in regulations as the area where they would most like to receive financial advice.

Retirement law changes are often multifaceted.

For example, some older workers and retirees are key beneficiaries from new changes to superannuation laws that took effect on 1 July, but others are not.

Up until 30 June people aged 67 to 75 couldn’t make additional super contributions unless they could satisfy the work test.

The work test is satisfied if a person can prove they were gainfully employed for a period of 40 hours during a consecutive 30-day period.

This test need has now been abolished for people in the 67 to 75 age band making or receiving personal or salary sacrificed superannuation contributions.

But those in the same age band still need to meet the work test if they wish to claim a personal superannuation deduction for their contribution.

There’s another potentially complex change related to the removal of the work test.

The abolition opens up the opportunity for people under the age of 75 to make up to three years of non-concessional contributions into their superannuation account in one financial year, up to a maximum level of $330,000.

However, those using the bring-forward rule still need to comply with the Australian Tax Office’s provisions around total super balances and the $1.7 million transfer balance cap governing the amount of superannuation that can be transferred into retirement phase.

 

Asset allocation and investment behaviour

As well as legislative changes, demand for financial advice is strongly centred around asset allocation.

The Vanguard/Investment Trends SMSF report found that content on investment strategy accounted for close to 40 per cent of responses for where advisers can add value.

Trading ideas and strategies, and common mistakes to avoid when managing investments, both attracted more than 20 per cent of advised SMSF investor responses.

Despite control being the primary reason for setting up an SMSF, those who did so were more likely (79 per cent) to see themselves as ‘buy and hold’ investors.

Consistent with previous years, SMSF investors continue to allocate more than half of their portfolio to direct shares and cash.

Of note, the number of direct shares held in SMSFs increased in accordance with the ages of trustees, with those 65 and over holding a median of 19 direct securities.

Unsurprisingly, outside of the SMSF portfolio, investment property was the largest asset class, by proportion of the overall portfolio, followed by cash and direct shares.

SMSF investors cited rising interest rates, inflation and market volatility as the top three factors likely to influence their investment decisions in the next 12 months.

And, as a signal that SMSF investors were less concerned about their portfolio as uncertainty around the pandemic abates, fewer made substantial changes to their portfolio in the last 12 months.

 

 

 

 

Vanguard Australia
vanguard.com.au

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Louise Laing

Louise founded Salus Private Wealth to offer high quality personal advice to clients who want to work closely with an adviser for the long term. Her philosophy that understanding each individual and their motivations and needs is key to an enduring and successful financial planning relationship is at the heart of the business.

She first engaged the services of a financial adviser herself when she was in her early 20s (long before becoming one) and believes the non-judgemental support and education about her position and options provided at this early stage has allowed her to make confident decisions in different aspects of life since then.

This confidence and positivity in making choices, financial or not, is what she wants to give to her clients.

Superannuation & Retirement

Superannuation is one of the largest and longest duration investments most people in Australia have, making it a critical part of long-term planning even if retirement feels like a distant objective. For those in the lead into retirement, we design strategies so you have peace of mind that when you start to draw on your retirement savings, you have liquidity and stability to support that.

Legislation and rules are changed regularly, so advice can help you take advantage of opportunities to build for the future. We are authorised to provide advice on and to SMSFs.

Contact us today to discuss how we can work together: (02) 8044 3057 or email us at info@saluspw.com.au

Insurance

Protecting your wealth, lifestyle and family is high on the priority list for many clients and this is an area of advice need that can change very quickly. Ensuring you have the cover you need can give peace of mind that what’s important is taken care of in the event of illness, injury and death, but we also make sure over time you are not paying for cover you no longer need.

Contact us today to discuss how we can work together: (02) 8044 3057 or email us at info@saluspw.com.au

Estate Planning

While talking about death doesn’t seem like a particularly appealing prospect, it’s a topic we see as a vital part of financial planning. Importantly, it’s a topic for every adult, regardless of their stage in life. Without a proper estate plan assets may not be passed where you’d like them to go, family conflict can ensue, and in the event you lose capacity there may not be an authority in place for the person you would choose to make those decisions for you to do so. While it can be an uncomfortable subject, we are experienced in facilitating these conversations as part of our advice process.

Contact us today to discuss how we can work together: (02) 8044 3057 or email us at info@saluspw.com.au

Strategic Debt & Cashflow

Managing debt efficiently can have a material impact on your financial wellbeing and lifestyle. Having a solid plan to understand where your money goes and manage cashflow and debt can eliminate stress and set you on a positive path toward achieving your goals.

Contact us today to discuss how we can work together: (02) 8044 3057 or email us at info@saluspw.com.au

Investments

Once we have a clear understanding of what we are aiming for and how you feel about taking on investment risk, we can help direct your funds into appropriate investments to meet your goals. This includes recommending the investment structure, consideration of tax implications, asset types, and putting together a suitable blend for you. You will have transparency of and access to view your investments, providing security.

Contact us today to discuss how we can work together: (02) 8044 3057 or email us at info@saluspw.com.au

Aged Care

Aged care needs can arise suddenly. The complexity of managing this can be a significant challenge at a time when your focus should be on the person requiring care. We can assess the alternative funding options to ensure you make an informed choice in the best interests of the person requiring care.

Contact us today to discuss how we can work together: (02) 8044 3057 or email us at info@saluspw.com.au

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The Trustee for Laing Weaver Family Trust T/A Salus Private Wealth (Corporate Authorised Representative No. 1305571) and all our advisers are Authorised Representatives of Finchley & Kent Pty Ltd, Australian Financial Services Licence No. 555169, ABN 50 673 291 079, and has its registered office at Level 63, 25 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000.

Finchley & Kent Pty Ltd Australian Financial Services Licence applies to financial products only. Please note that Property Investment, Tax & Accounting, Mortgages & Finance are not considered to be financial products.

Disclaimer: The information contained within the website is of a general nature only. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the material, The Trustee for Laing Weaver Family Trust T/A Salus Private Wealth and Finchley & Kent Pty Ltd will not bear responsibility or liability for any action taken by any person, persons or organisation on the purported basis of information contained herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no person, persons or organisation should invest monies or take action on reliance of the material contained herein but instead should satisfy themselves independently of the appropriateness of such action.