The Muirfield Team, Author at Financial Planning Geelong | Muirfield Financial Services

A New Bull Market In Shares?

By The Muirfield Team | April 4, 2013

Oliver’s Insights presented by AMP Chief Economist, Shane Oliver.

Key Points of the article:
1. Shares are overbought and vulnerable to a correction. February is often a soft month and current risks regarding Italy, Spain, the US budget and earnings results in Australia may constrain markets in the very short term.

2. However, the pattern of rising highs and milder lows since late 2011, reasonable valuations, improving global economic news and easy monetary conditions suggests shares have likely entered a new cyclical bull market.

Retirement’s New Face

By The Muirfield Team | February 28, 2013

We’re retiring for longer, wanting a more stimulating post-work lifestyle and finding smart ways to maximise our retirement finances.

For many, retirement is no longer about living simply off the age pension – or purely about slowing down, enjoying a few hobbies and spending time with the grandkids. More people are wanting a fuller retirement lifestyle with greater options and financial flexibility.

With Australians’ life expectancies now higher than ever, many are needing to plan for 20-plus or even 30-plus years of retirement

2013 Summer Newsletter

By The Muirfield Team | January 16, 2013

Will the sharemarket resurgence continue?
Muirfield FS Image

Welcome to 2013 and all the joy your financial planning will bring this year! We hope it echoes the comments in our newsletter to start 2012: “It’s going to be a good year.” Such optimism was rewarded with good investment returns for our client portfolios over 2012.

We believe 2013 will see a continuation of the rising investment markets. You may like to read the full article by leading economist Dr Shane Oliver on our website. Some of the key points of the article follow:

While 2012 had its share of worries, it turned out far better than feared and sharemarkets and growth assets were able to generate strong returns for investors. This was boosted by investors looking for higher yields in the face of zero or falling cash rates.
The combination of diminishing extreme global downside-risks, a modest pick up in growth as the year progresses and attractive valuations for most growth assets point to another year of reasonable returns in 2013. Expect interest rates to remain low globally and fall a bit further in Australia.
The main risks going forward relate to US budget and debt problems, a relapse in Europe, slow growth in Australia and a sharp back-up in bond yields if investors get more confident.

Click here to read the 2013 Summer Newsletter

Dispelling The Super Interest Rate Myth

By The Muirfield Team | December 20, 2012

There’s a spurious argument doing the rounds that low interest rates hurt retirees. It is based some notion that it is a bad thing that the fall in deposit interest rates to around 4 to 4.5 per cent in the wake of the easing in monetary policy from the Reserve Bank lowers investment returns for savers.

This argument is scandalously wrong and seems to be a perpetuation of the snake oil from those wanting to peddle gloom and create erroneous perceptions of broadly-based economic hardship.

It pains me to spell out some very basic economics that I have spoken to year 12 economics students about this year, but here is why easy monetary policy based on low inflation and solid productivity gains is good news for investors.

The Top 5 Money Issues Facing Retirees

By The Muirfield Team | November 6, 2012

You’ve retired. Now what?

It’s likely that your retirement will be very different to that of your parents.

These days when you retire, it’s likely you’ll continue to do part time or volunteer work. And may even go back to university. To keep enjoying an active retirement it’s important to keep reviewing the plan you had before you stopped full time work.

You’ll need to keep making choices about your income and investments, government benefits, your super, tax and estate planning. A financial adviser can be a guide for your journey – and help you manage through retirement.
The top five money issues on minds of retirees.

Find out the top 5 money issues facing retirees.

2012 Spring Newsletter

By The Muirfield Team | October 30, 2012

Our new leadership team

We have some very exciting news for you in this newsletter – Melinda Planken and Carl Creasey are so happy with you, and the business, that they have bought into Muirfield Financial Services. There are now 3 owners of Muirfield.

Joanne and Hayden intend working on as financial planners for some time, but Hayden as owner of Muirfield, needed to consider his succession options. After reviewing several unsolicited external offers to buy the business, he formed the view that our existing staff are at least the equal of, and probably better than, those in any other firm. Furthermore, he would rather see you enjoy a continuation of their demonstrated excellence (backed up by our other outstanding staff) into the years ahead, than expose you to an unknown purchaser at some later stage.

Both Melinda and Carl have worked at Muirfield for over 5 years and we have been thrilled with their progressive development and maturity. They have attained the highest academic standards as Certified Financial Planners and epitomise the values, integrity, business and people skills that are so essential to looking after your financial future.

Click here to read the 2012 Spring Newsletter

The 8 Worst Money Mistakes You Can Make

By The Muirfield Team | October 8, 2012

Do you know what the interest rate is on your home loan? How does it compare with what the big banks are offering? If you can’t answer either of these questions then you’re guilty of one of the biggest money mistakes – not looking around for the best deal.

It’s now easier than ever to change home loans and even your regular banking accounts. So shop around for the best interest rate and refinance if necessary.

One of the best

2012 Winter Newsletter

By The Muirfield Team | July 16, 2012

The Sun Will Shine On Investors This Financial Year
Let me go out on a limb (and I haven’t done this since climbing trees as a kid – but that’s another story!). I believe the sharemarket will recover this year.

In brief, Australia’s economy is performing very well with company profits at record levels. The high $A is making it more expensive for overseas investors than in the past. If the exchange rate moves back towards its long term average of 80c US – not $1.03 US, as it is now, it will make investment in Australia and the purchase of our goods cheaper for those overseas. The sharemarket is low but dividends from ‘blue chip ‘ shares are now often more than the interest rate you can get on Term Deposits.

It’s for these reasons that I believe the sun will shine on investors over the next year.

We have an informative eNews ahead. We hope you enjoy, and share the link to our eNews with friends and family.

Click here to read the 2012 Winter eNews

From iPhone To iPad To iPod Touch To iRon

By The Muirfield Team | July 12, 2012

Sometimes it is good to take some time out from our busy lives to enjoy some light humour.

Here’s a funny scenario we thought you would enjoy.

It all began with an iPhone .. my son was celebrating his 16th birthday, so I got him an iPhone. He just loved it. Who wouldn’t?

2012 Autumn Newsletter

By The Muirfield Team | April 11, 2012

In our Summer eNews we expressed our optimism for investments in 2012. As Autumn leaves start to fall, our wish for a good start is en route with a 6% rise in Aussie shares from Jan 1 to March 31. Your portfolio will have enjoyed this lift!

We have an interactive eNews ahead, with topical articles, film clips and calculators adding substance and depth. We hope you enjoy, and share the link to our eNews with friends and family.

In This Issue

So, You Are About to Retire …
The Carbon Tax mystery
5 Key Questions on Aged Care
Protection in Super

Click here to view our 2012 Autumn eNews