Newsletters

Will the sharemarket resurgence continue?

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

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 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

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

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!

Click here to read the 2012 Summer Newsletter

In the spirit of bringing you good news we are delighted to inform you that our advisers Melinda Planken and Carl Creasey have been awarded the highest financial planning designation of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP).

After finishing their degrees they have gone on to complete further years of study to gain this status.

We congratulate both and know you will continue to benefit from the highest level of qualification held by any financial planning group in Geelong.

The Financial Planning Association of Australia has just created a new practice designation of ‘FPA Professional Practice’. We are pleased to announce that Muirfield Financial Services has been one of the first Australian firms to have been granted this status.

Click here to read the 2011 Spring eNews

Just back from a holiday and the staff tell me everything ran smoothly and I wasn’t missed! Not sure if I should be pleased or sulk. What I do know (and have been told by many of you) is that they do a great job in attending to your financial needs and for that I’m very grateful.

No sooner had I returned than we were advised (within the Carbon price info) that all Australians from July 2012 will be able to earn up to $18,200 pa before any tax.

Over 1,000,000 Australians will no longer need to do a tax return.

Click here to read the 2011 Winter eNews

Just back from a holiday and the staff tell me everything ran smoothly and I wasn’t missed! Not sure if I should be pleased or sulk. What I do know (and have been told by many of you) is that they do a great job in attending to your financial needs and for that I’m very grateful.

No sooner had I returned than we were advised (within the Carbon price info) that all Australians from July 2012 will be able to earn up to $18,200 pa before any tax.

Over 1,000,000 Australians will no longer need to do a tax return.

Plenty happening at Muirfield FS these past 3 months and much of it out of the office.

I’m sure you will join us in congratulating Carl Creasey and his wife Brigid on the arrival of their first born, Lillian Ann on March 24. All 3 family members are in good health and progressing beautifully.

Click here to read the 2011 Autumn eNews

Plenty happening at Muirfield FS these past 3 months and much of it out of the office.

I’m sure you will join us in congratulating Carl Creasey and his wife Brigid on the arrival of their first born, Lillian Ann on March 24. All 3 family members are in good health and progressing beautifully.

We hope 2011 will be very special for you on many fronts. From our perspective, as your financial advisers, we would like the financial front to be the most special.

Comments from various ‘Market Watchers and Investment Analysts’ point to a positive 2011 for investment markets.

We are now..

Click here to read the 2011 Summer Newsletter

What an exciting week we have had in Geelong with the UCI championships held in our city. The final days also brought some wonderful weather which we have all been waiting for.

With football now behind us many will rue the missed opportunity of another AFL Premiership for Geelong.

As to matters financial …

Click here to read the 2010 Spring Newsletter

What an exciting week we have had in Geelong with the UCI championships held in our city. The final days also brought some wonderful weather which we have all been waiting for.

With football now behind us many will rue the missed opportunity of another AFL Premiership for Geelong.

As to matters financial …