The RBA has decided to leave the cash rate at its current levels. This may leave our home loan lenders in a bit of a quandary. All four majors have recently commented that they need to gain some profit margin due to their rising cost of funds. This move by the RBA may force the banks to increase our current rates despite the RBA’s decision to hold. We will wait and see.
Interestingly, ANZ in an attempt to break away from the media’s expectation that they “always match the RBA decision” have decided to review their rates
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Posted on February 7, 2012
Hello 2012 – Let’s be friends
After the investment challenges of the past few years, our New Year’s wish is to be a friend with 2012.
Naturally, as our friend, 2012 will provide us with greater predictability, lower investment volatility, double digit (positive!) investment returns, no global disasters, clear recovery in world economies and excellent personal health. Surely that is not asking too much? (For Best Friend status, we’d need World Peace and an improved Environment thrown in).
What we can report with certainty is the success Muirfield has achieved for our clients through our recent project to recover tax and find lost super. Since July’ 11, well over $80,000 has been returned to you.
We wish you a wonderful 2012 and remind you to take time to enjoy family, friends and holidays. Life is short and is to be lived!
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Posted on January 11, 2012
A common goal for many of our retired clients is to achieve a steady, reliable income. While fixed interest and cash based investments are traditional instruments for achieving consistent income the reduction in interest rates has raised some concerns.
Interest rates on bank deposits have now been falling for more than a year – to the point where a rate of 5% pa is the norm. This is a drop in earnings from interest of more than 20% from 2010.
On the other hand, share dividends from Blue Chip shares such as CBA, NAB, Wespac, ANZ and Telstra are paying gross dividends of approx 10% pa .
Whilst the current market conditions make cash a somewhat comforting investment, Blue Chip shares should not be overlooked. Our use of the SMA Blue Chip Top 20 and diversified Australian Share Funds have been favourable in providing consistent income for our clients.
Read on for a comparison between cash interest and Woolworths dividends as well as the forecast on Blue Chip dividend yields….
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Posted on January 4, 2012
Welcome to 2012! We would like to welcome all of our clients to 2012. We hope your New Years celebrations lived up to the hype of the occasion and we look forward to talking with you during the year. Our office will reopen from 3rd January 2012.
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Posted on January 1, 2012
Thankyou to everyone that has supported Muirfield Financial Services throughout the year and we look forward to continuing to assist with your financial planning needs in 2012.
We hope you enjoy your Christmas day and good luck trying to avoid the usual over indulgence of food and wine. Remember to remain safe if travelling on the roads.
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Posted on December 25, 2011
