Patricia Howard Financial Planning

The No-Regrets Retirement Newsletter

While we are still getting use to the disappointment of cancelling the 2026 Commonwealth Games, there seems to be a bit of hope that while interest rates might still nudge a big higher, it does not look like the economy will avoid falling into recession. August of course is the

Age Pension Asset Test

If there is anything good to say about the recent spike in inflation, it is that it has prompted the Federal Government to upwardly review the figures it uses regarding the asset test, when calculating age pension entitlements. While it won’t have much impact on those already receiving an

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Simplify your finances

Boosting your super

A recent report by the leading accounting firm, Deloitte’s, found financial ignorance is the biggest single issue facing older Australian’s planning their retirement, followed closely by the fear that they don’t have enough money to retire. The two issues of course go hand in hand. Most people

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Greenwashing

Why is low unemployment a bad thing?

Later today the Reserve Bank will meet yet again to determine whether it should continue to push interest rates higher in its continued attempts to bring inflation down or sit on its hands and do nothing as it has for the past two months. Interestingly most analysts believe the key

The No-Regrets Retirement Newsletter

So with winter now well and truly upon us, the outlook for the Australian economy appears just as bleak, with interest rates still rising and little to suggest that will stop anytime soon. While you will read in my latest economic run down that the local rate of inflation has

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Read this before you do anything

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What are the pitfalls?

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Can you really find green investments?

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Where to now?

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To hold or not to hold?

The No Regrets Newsletter

Yet again it feels we have raced into the middle of the year, with the weather turning decidedly chilly and the end of the financial year almost upon us. As a result, I thought it timely reminder to anyone who still has assets in a self-managed superannuation to really think

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So what is a green investment?

Should you be receiving the age pension?

My father looked upon the age pension as a sophisticated savings account. He felt he had worked hard all his life and paid more than his fair share of taxes - taxes that the Federal Government effectively kept aside for his old age. That once he reached pension age, he

Time to close your SMSF

If you're sick of the ever-increasing cost of running and owning a self-managed super fund, here are five simple steps for closing your fund before the end of the financial year, which is just 30 days away. 1. Start today. The end of the financial year is just

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Five tips for successful investing

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Economic outlook for 2023

The No-Regrets Retirement Newsletter

As we are getting close to being halfway through the year, I think this is a good time to give everyone a bit of a booster concerning the economic outlook and more importantly where their superannuation sits among all the doom and gloom. There is no doubt that a large

Deeming rates

Will the Federal Government decide to lift the deeming rates inferred on assets held by those receiving the aged pension, in this month’s Federal Budget or later in the year? In calculating how much each older Australian receives by way of the Federal Government’s aged pension, Centrelink combines

Why super matters!

One of the most common statements I hear from people is that my super balance is so low, there’s nothing a financial planner can do for me when in fact, these are the very people that need my help the most. For people who feel like this, it is

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Early Access to Super

Are you are gold bug?

In times of uncertainty, investors everywhere start turning their heads to so called safe haven investments and the most obvious choice of a safe haven investment is gold. It just kind of makes sense to a lot of people. It’s a rare metal that no one is making any

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Tax time

Free book offer!

While you might not know it, April is Financial Literacy month in Australia and to mark the occasion, I am offering to give any reader of this newsletter a free copy of my book The No-Regrets Guide to Retirement. Simply email me your name and mailing address this month and