[Smart Investing] Closer look at excess super contributions; Shrinking the McMansion; Asset allocation ranks number one

14 December 2012 - [ click here to view this email online ]
As 2012 draws to a close, Smart Investing would like to thank you for your continued readership and support and wish you a very happy and safe festive season. Your next edition of Smart Investing will arrive in February 2013. However, if would like to continue following our articles during this break please visit the Smart Investing page on our website. Best wishes, Robin Bowerman Closer look at excess super contributions Few superannuation and tax professionals would have been surprised when the inspector-general of taxation recently announced that he would inquire into the administration of the excess contributions tax. [more »] Shrinking the McMansion Many homeowners who have struggled over the years to pay off their mortgages may be tempted to regard their home as a source of capital to help finance their retirement. [more »] Asset allocation ranks number one Researchers recently asked Australian financial planners a straightforward question: What is the main benefit that you provide to your clients? [more »] 'Extraordinary' involvement with SMSFs How often do you or your spouse review the state of your self-managed super fund and of your non-super investments? [more »]   Vanguard in the news These links show a copy of the article (where freely available), or the publisher's website if a subscription is required. Renewed calls for Govt to stop tinkering with superannuation policy Mike Taylor, 03 December 2012 The Federal Government has received a further call to stop tinkering with the superannuation policy settings - this time via research conducted by Rice Warner on behalf of the SMSF Professionals' Association of Australia (SPAA) and Vanguard Investments. Money Management website »	QUICK LINKS   Tim Blue: Think MySuper Video | 04 December 2012 Tim Blue: Asset Allocation Video | 26 October 2012   CONTACT US Email clientservices@vanguard.com.au Our office: Level 34, Freshwater Place 2 Southbank Boulevard Southbank VIC 3006 (map) Telephone: 1300 655 101, 8:00am - 6:00pm Monday to Friday, Melb time.   Vanguard ETF enquiries For more information on Vanguard ETFs please call 1300 655 888 Unsubscribe  |  Vanguard on Twitter
We will keep your details so that in future we can also send you marketing material on products and services offered by us. (By providing your details you agree we can do so.) You can let us know at any time if you no longer wish to receive information from us. We may provide your details to our service providers - for example, the mailhouses which dispatch our publications - or to market research companies which conduct research for us. You can access or update your contact details at any time by contacting Vanguard on 1300 655 101. To view our full privacy policy, which outlines what we will do with any information we collect from you, click here or contact us to request a copy. Vanguard Investments Australia Ltd ABN 72 072 881 086 / AFS Licence 227263 is the product issuer. We have not taken your circumstances into account when preparing the information in our electronic publications so they may not be applicable to your circumstances. You should therefore consider your circumstances and our Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before making any investment decision. You can access our PDS online or by calling 1300 655 101. Past performance is not an indication of future performance. Our electronic publications are prepared in good faith and we accept no liability for any errors or omissions. Not all articles are prepared by Vanguard so they may not represent our views and opinions. Vanguard Investments Australia Limited is in no way responsible for the content or loss resulting from use of any website owned by a third party that may be linked to this email via hyperlink. © Copyright 2012 Vanguard Investments Australia Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Smart Investing] Super's unfinished business; Great expectations; Behind adviser demand for ETFs

04 December 2012 - [ click here to view this email online ]
Super's unfinished business The curtains have been drawn on another year of Parliament. But as the politicians pack their bags and leave Canberra for the summer there is a strong sense of unfinished business around superannuation. [more »] Great expectations How much annual income do you expect in retirement? And how much income are your retirement savings really likely to generate? [more »] Behind adviser demand for ETFs Despite the difficult stop-start share market, the market capitalisation of exchange traded products - Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and Exchange Traded Commodities - has grown to more than $6 billion by the end of October. [more »]   Vanguard in the news These links show a copy of the article (where freely available), or the publisher's website if a subscription is required. Members have their say on self-managed super funds Max Newnham, 30 November 2012 Research into self-managed super funds has given an insight into the attitudes of members of this fastest-growing sector of the superannuation industry. It also provides a big reason why traditional financial planners have been so eager to criticise SMSFs. SMH website »	QUICK LINKS   Tim Blue: Asset Allocation Video | 26 October 2012   CONTACT US Email clientservices@vanguard.com.au Our office: Level 34, Freshwater Place 2 Southbank Boulevard Southbank VIC 3006 (map) Telephone: 1300 655 101, 8:00am - 6:00pm Monday to Friday, Melb time.   Vanguard ETF enquiries For more information on Vanguard ETFs please call 1300 655 888 Unsubscribe  |  Vanguard on Twitter
We will keep your details so that in future we can also send you marketing material on products and services offered by us. (By providing your details you agree we can do so.) You can let us know at any time if you no longer wish to receive information from us. We may provide your details to our service providers - for example, the mailhouses which dispatch our publications - or to market research companies which conduct research for us. You can access or update your contact details at any time by contacting Vanguard on 1300 655 101. To view our full privacy policy, which outlines what we will do with any information we collect from you, click here or contact us to request a copy. Vanguard Investments Australia Ltd ABN 72 072 881 086 / AFS Licence 227263 is the product issuer. We have not taken your circumstances into account when preparing the information in our electronic publications so they may not be applicable to your circumstances. You should therefore consider your circumstances and our Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before making any investment decision. You can access our PDS online or by calling 1300 655 101. Past performance is not an indication of future performance. Our electronic publications are prepared in good faith and we accept no liability for any errors or omissions. Not all articles are prepared by Vanguard so they may not represent our views and opinions. Vanguard Investments Australia Limited is in no way responsible for the content or loss resulting from use of any website owned by a third party that may be linked to this email via hyperlink. © Copyright 2012 Vanguard Investments Australia Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Smart Investing] SMSF gearing: Be aware of the risks – and opportunities; A couple of super classics; How is your SMSF diversified?

26 November 2012 - [ click here to view this email online ]
SMSF gearing: Be aware of the risks – and opportunities Just because an investor can legally do something doesn't mean, of course, that it is a good idea. Much should depend on the actual strategy and investment being considered as well as the investor's personal circumstances. [more »] A couple of super classics Two of the most fundamental provisions in superannuation law are the ban on self-managed super funds providing financial assistance to members and the rule that super funds must be maintained for the sole purpose of providing retirement and death benefits. [more »] How is your SMSF diversified? One of the fundamental legal obligations of self-managed super fund trustees is to ensure that their funds have an investment strategy. [more »] The long arm of tax One of key developments in Australia's tax collection regime in recent years is the increasing sophistication of the tax office's data-mining and data-matching processes. [more »] A rarely exercised discretion The tax commissioner has a legal discretion in "special circumstances" to disregard excess super contributions or reallocate the amounts to another financial year. However, the commissioner rarely exercises that discretion. [more »] A history lesson in super Although superannuation has existed in Australia for more than 160 years, the modern super system really began only in the past 26 years with the introduction of award-based superannuation. [more »] Vanguard in the news These links show a copy of the article (where freely available), or the publisher's website if a subscription is required. Time to exchange strategies Bina Brown, 16 November 2012 Investors are putting more money into exchange traded funds (ETFs) than ever before. Big growth in this area coincides with a massive shift from actively managed funds to lower cost passive funds as investors focus on minimising costs in an environment of low returns. AFR website »	QUICK LINKS   Tim Blue: Asset Allocation Video | 26 October 2012   CONTACT US Email clientservices@vanguard.com.au Our office: Level 34, Freshwater Place 2 Southbank Boulevard Southbank VIC 3006 (map) Telephone: 1300 655 101, 8:00am - 6:00pm Monday to Friday, Melb time.   Vanguard ETF enquiries For more information on Vanguard ETFs please call 1300 655 888 Unsubscribe  |  Vanguard on Twitter
We will keep your details so that in future we can also send you marketing material on products and services offered by us. (By providing your details you agree we can do so.) You can let us know at any time if you no longer wish to receive information from us. We may provide your details to our service providers - for example, the mailhouses which dispatch our publications - or to market research companies which conduct research for us. You can access or update your contact details at any time by contacting Vanguard on 1300 655 101. To view our full privacy policy, which outlines what we will do with any information we collect from you, click here or contact us to request a copy. Vanguard Investments Australia Ltd ABN 72 072 881 086 / AFS Licence 227263 is the product issuer. We have not taken your circumstances into account when preparing the information in our electronic publications so they may not be applicable to your circumstances. You should therefore consider your circumstances and our Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before making any investment decision. You can access our PDS online or by calling 1300 655 101. Past performance is not an indication of future performance. Our electronic publications are prepared in good faith and we accept no liability for any errors or omissions. Not all articles are prepared by Vanguard so they may not represent our views and opinions. Vanguard Investments Australia Limited is in no way responsible for the content or loss resulting from use of any website owned by a third party that may be linked to this email via hyperlink. © Copyright 2012 Vanguard Investments Australia Ltd. All rights reserved.