ASSET CHECK

Treasurer's idea of using super to achieve home ownership deserves consideration

Daryl Dixon Allowing access to super to help fund home ownership via mortgage offset accounts is a low cost solution to a national problem.

ASSET CHECK

Time to reform self-serving super industry

Daryl Dixon The industry's priority is to control other people's money and maintain its own comfortable situation. Fundamental change is long overdue.

ASSETT CHECK

Maybe it's time to switch into reverse

Daryl Dixon With house prices rising steadily and the costs of borrowing at historically low levels, reverse mortgages are an increasingly attractive investment option for retirees.

Outdated social security system harsh on non-homeowners

Daryl Dixon Retirees who don't own a home are penalised and those who do own a home discouraged from selling.

Age pension out of touch with the needs of non-homeowners

Daryl Dixon Our social security system was designed when house prices were low and rents affordable. Now the financial situations of non-homeowners are deteriorating rapidly.

Pressure on elderly investors to make risky choices

Daryl Dixon Self-funded retirees are being driven towards risky investments that could lead to capital losses as returns on safe investments fall.

ASSET CHECK

Pressure on retirees to take risks

Daryl Dixon Deprived of good returns on safe investments, self-funded retirees are turning to risky investments that could lead to capital losses.

Time to look at ways investors are taxed

Daryl Dixon Low-rate environment is a good time to look at changes to negative-gearing rules.

Low interest rates present chance to alter investor tax arrangements

Daryl Dixon The government has a rare and cost-effective opportunity to help new owner-occupiers acquire a property and to boost economic activity.

Plenty to cheer about

Daryl Dixon Times may harder for fixed interest investors but the overall impact of lower interest rates will be positive.

Lower interest rates keep currency down, lift economy

Daryl Dixon Cutting interest rates to ease pressure on dollar helps the economy in time of low commodity prices.

ASSET CHECK

Greek result spells climate change

Daryl Dixon Investor uncertainty is increasing in the wake of falling commodity prices and interest rates.

Australian investors should exercise caution in current financial climate

Daryl Dixon There's a consensus of gloom over the prospects of many of the world's largest economies at the moment which underscores the current need for caution in risk taking and gearing decisions.

ASSET CHECK

Prepare portfolios for rough weather ahead

Daryl Dixon Investors need to ensure that the asset composition and risk profile of their holdings suit their personal needs.

FLOATS

Some buoyed by Medibank float

Daryl Dixon Both the government and small investors have benefited from the privatisation of Medibank Private.

ASSET CHECK

Investors beware of snake oil salesmen

Daryl Dixon No matter how good a scheme may appear, it pays to remember key investment fundamentals.

Your bank holdings under threat

Daryl Dixon Decisions need to be made on the banking industry - the savings of millions of Australians are at stake.

ASSET CHECK

Borrowers will be hung out to dry if rates rise

Daryl Dixon The only strategies to cope with an increase in interest rates are to pay off loans quickly and ensure there is spare capacity to service debts.

ASSET CHECK

Investing outlook not necessarily brighter

Daryl Dixon The recent sharp rebound in world share markets does not automatically mean that better times lie ahead