Tuesday, September 06, 2011

A perfect time to review your Insurances…


Hi 


Please find an email below from Dylan Chan of Ark Total Wealth. There is a real opportunity for you to save substantial dollars on your insurance premiums.


For a complimentary review of your personal insurances, contact Dylan Chan on 02 9262333 or click here fro more information.......




During our regular research review of various insurance providers, we’ve noticed that there is considerable pricing difference between the various insurance providers and some major providers are currently offering personal insurance at extremely competitive and low rates.

These low rates won’t be around forever as they are currently undertaking their review to increase their insurance rates in mid February.

If you have an existing insurance policy (Life/TPD, Income Protection or Trauma) you may be able to replace these insurances at a lower cost to you.  This can create additional cash flow or if your insurance is held within super it will give you more money back into your pocket to spend as you like.

If you have an insurance policy that has been underwritten within the last 5 years you can potentially roll your insurance over without completing any additional medical forms.

Below is an example of a client whose insurance we re-structured in December;

Current Insurance

Life/TPD and Income Protection all held outside of super costing $5,644 per annum from their personal cash flow.

New Insurance

Life/TPD moved to inside super and all insurances moved to new provider at a total cost of $3,962 per annum. This reduced their premiums by 30% and their cash flow was increase as the Life/TPD insurance is now funded through their superannuation.

If you would like a quick and easy complimentary review of your personal insurances please contact 02 9262 3333 or click here.

Regards,




Dylan Chan
Financial Advisor

Level 7, 14 Martin Place, SYDNEY NSW 2000
PO Box 4013, SYDNEY NSW 2001

P: +61 2 9262 3333 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            +61 2 9262 3333      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
F: +61 2 9262 5788
E: dylan.chan@arktotalwealth.com.au
www.arktotalwealth.com.au

...taking you beyond what you thought possible...

Interest Rates on hold for 10th month in a row - GReat De3als Available

At today meeting the RBA decided to leave the cash rate at 4.75% for the 10th consecutive month.

Since our last interest rate update, there was some speculation that the RBA would reduce rates due to the global financial situation, but this pressure seems to of been stabilised over the last few weeks.

Retail spending has increased (very moderately) so we believe the RBA has taken he view that it will not jump on any rate cut as they can afford to sit steady for the time being.

With the United States’ economy barely growing, and European sovereign debt weighing down market sentiments , it does not appear that interest rates will be rising any time soon. This is in contrast to the market’s expectation at the start of this year, when many economists forecast a rate rise towards the second half of 2011.

What the global situation has resulted in however is very competitive fixed rates with most lenders “slashing” their fixed rates over the past 3 weeks. We believe it is a great time to speak to us and see what is on offer as we have identified some great opportunities in the lending market.

The trials and tribulations of the last month go to show that nothing is for certain, and the importance of having the right home loan.

Feel free to contact us today to discuss your current and future home loan needs.


Michael Luca Mortgage Broker - Manager 
 Suite 701, Level 7, 14 Martin Place Sydney NSW 2000
GPO BOX 4013 Sydney NSW 2001P: 02 9290 2777 D: 02 9009 1519 M: 0405 113 543 F: 02 9262 5788E: michael.luca@liquidityfinance.com.au



Thursday, August 18, 2011

Monday, August 15, 2011

Good time to review various home loans, leases, and credit card debt, says Liquidity Finance

Good time to review various home loans, leases, and credit card debt, says Liquidity Finance

Changes to the Home Loan Industry - opportunity to save money

The last 2 weeks have seen some interesting times in the home loan industry.

We have seen lenders offer discounts of up to 1% off the Standard Variable Rate and slashing their fixed rates by up to 0.6%, while there is still uncertainty in the market place, we feel there has never been a better time to consider your current loan and review the options available to you.

We have also seen lenders relax some of their previously stringent lending policies, which shows they are keen for business.

If you are looking to access your equity for further investments or renovations, are looking to pay out personal debt and consolidate your repayments or simply are looking to see if your current home loan structure is still the best one for you, then please do not hesitate to contact us.

We do not charge for our service. Michael, Danny and the Liquidity team ensure that the process from initial enquiry to loan settlement and beyond is seamless. We ensure that we keep you up to date during the process and pride ourselves on a efficient and professional service.

We also offer services such as Car and Equipment finance, commercial loans and deposit bonds.

If you would like to know more about the service we offer or if you would simply like to discuss your home loan, we look forward to hearing from you.




Tuesday, August 02, 2011

Diploma of Management for International Marketers - 15 Places available for a Government Funded Accredited Programme

There is an opportunity for 15 people to take advantage of the NSW Government and BSIL HumeLearning's “Diploma of Management in International Marketing" programme.


You or a member of your team may be eligible to Complete the accredited Diploma of Management for International Marketers Course valued at $4,000 over the next 6 - 9 months.

If you or someone you might know, is a NSW Resident , have not completed a qualification above a Certificate IV level, Diploma or a University Degree, and are seeking to gain new skills with a focus on Exports and International Marketing and Management, then you should apply.

For more about the Diploma of Management for International Marketers CLICK HERE

To REGISTER and determine your eligibility to apply for the Diploma of Management for International Marketers CLICK HERE

If you would like a complementary review to identify whether you are maximising grants that are applicable to you CLICK HERE

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Insurance Lift Off

Just when they have the money, time and inclination to travel, senior Australians say they are being stopped in their tracks by the cost and difficulty of arranging suitable insurance.

But don't falter at the first hurdle, specialists say, because you will be able to find cover - at a price.

''Once you're over 70 … everything is a pre-existing condition,'' laments Ruth, 74, of Bondi who has had trouble securing insurance since back surgery for sciatica, despite fully recovering.

 
''People are living much longer now - must we vegetate at home?

 
Advertisement: Story continues below ''There are people in their 40s and 50s who are in worse health than we are but because of their age they can travel.''

The general manager of online insurer Travel Insurance Direct, Ian Jackson, says that while health insurance is ''community rated'', travel insurance is based on the risk of the insurer having to pay out.

 
''With medical insurance, regardless of the risk factors, everyone pays the same whether they're 18 or 80,'' he says. ''With travel insurance it's a bit different - basically, insurers base the cost of travel insurance on risk factors, taking into account years and years of data.

''And the older we get, the statistics say, the more we claim.''

His business insures people up to the age of 80, with a ''loading'' for travellers aged between 71 and 80.

 
''Different insurers have different caps,'' he says. ''People can be disappointed when they start to look but they should shop around.''

Jackson also argues that going online, where the insurer doesn't have to build in costs such as commissions to travel agents, helps keep down the cost of what can be an expensive product.

Peter Arnold, an analyst with financial products researcher Canstar Cannex, says there are several products on its database that go up to age 85 and even some that have no maximum (see box).

 
Your first task is to find an insurer that insures your age group. Your next undertaking is to look at how each of the insurers on your shortlist handles pre-existing conditions.

''Some will be covered without further ado,'' Arnold says. ''Some will be covered conditionally - you might have to show your medical records or meet certain criteria. Then there are conditions they just won't cover.''

 
Each insurer assigns conditions differently to those ''boxes'', so while one insurer may not cover a pre-existing condition, another may well do.

 
Still not quite there?

Arnold says your final step may be to phone the insurer to see if the insurance can be tailored to meet your needs - again, probably at a cost.

 
''A few people might have to get their head around the fact that they may have to pay double what their son or daughter will pay - there's definitely a cost involved,'' he says.

 
A short cut could be to go to a group such as National Seniors or the Council on the Ageing, which have negotiated with insurers to provide a service to members and non-members.

 
''We've got very good at arguing the case with them for older people and we're continually out there in the market testing what we can get, trying to ensure that older people have the right to get insurance,'' says the COTA chief executive, Ian Yates.

 
''We work to make sure that extra premium or loading is evidence-based, not some lazy, arbitrary line in the sand.''

Natalie Nicastri of Odyssey Travel, a not-for-profit organisation with offices in Sydney and Melbourne and specialising in travel for the over-50s, says it has started using SureSave's TravelClear service, a simplified, phone-based medical assessment system.

This is allowing older clients who wouldn't previously have had access to medical cover to travel, she says.

An Ark General Insurance broker, Michael Klompas, says another alternative is to use a broker to find the right cover.

 
He says there are three things you shouldn't do:
  • rely on basic credit card cover,
  • travel with no cover, or
  • travel with inadequate cover just because the policy is cheaper.

 Call Michael Klompas on 02 92623333 or email him on michaelklompas@yahoo.com 
 
''A broker will make sure there are no gaps or holes, and that's very important,'' Klompas says.

 
Most major insurers have ''find a broker'' services on their websites.

 
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/money/planning/insurance-liftoff-20110719-1hm21.html#ixzz1SiVc4rAx

 

Wednesday, June 08, 2011

Reserve Bank of Australia has decided to leave the cash rate at 4.75% for the 7th consecutive month

Yesterday, the Reserve Bank of Australia has decided to leave the cash rate at 4.75% for the 7th consecutive month.

In our opinion, the recent fall in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rates, has allowed the Reserve Bank to hold the trigger for the time being.

But this relief may be short term, as this fall in GDP was largely due to the Queensland Floods and Cyclone Yasi, which had a negative impact on the production of bulk commodities from that region such as coal and iron ore.

Although we note that this is a relief for Home Owners and investors, we acknowledge it is general consensus that an interest rate increase is inevitable in the upcoming months.

It may be an opportunity for you to consider other lenders who may be offering a cheaper variable rates, or even consider locking in your current home loan to a competitive fixed rate, which will give you the added security when rates do start to rise.

In the current economic environment, we believe it is now time to consider your home loan and ensure your loan still continues to meet your current and future needs.

Call Liquidity Finance today on 02 9290 2777 or click here  for a Home Loan Health Check.

Michael Luca and Danny Luu
Mortgage Brokers

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Back to the Black Swan

Please find below our May 2011 Ark Informer which covers the main outcomes of the budget from a financial planning perspective.
Our  current poll on our Ark Website is "do you think that the Budget is good or bad" . Feel free to make a vote.


Back to the Black Swan
Welcome to our special May Budget edition of the ‘Ark Informer’. In this Informer, we have covered of the main outcomes of the budget from a financial planning perspective. Overall it was a quiet budget for financial services but there are still a few key items that may have a material impact on your personal situation.

In regards to superannuation the main points are:-
1.     $50,000 concession contribution limit extended for those who are age over 50 and have a superannuation balance of under $500,000. Previously this limit was to be decreased to $25,000 from the 1 of July 2012. There is still no clarification of how they will calculate the $500,000 and if it includes withdrawals and pensions. The opportunity here is for those with individuals who are approaching retirement to continue to increase their superannuation benefits and for those over 60 to take advantage of the very beneficial transition to retirement income stream.
2.     Reduction in Penalty for excess contributions – For those individuals who make excess concession contributions of less than $10,000, this excess will be taxed at your Marginal Tax Rate as opposed to 46.5%. This is a once off allowance from the 1 of July 2011.
3.     Minimum Pension phased out – The Federal Government previously lowered the minimum pension payment to 2%. By 2012/13, this will have been phased out and it will be back to the 4% minimum for those aged under 65.
In regards to taxation, the main points to consider are the following;
1.     Introduction of one off flood levy
2.     Simplification of Fringe Benefits Tax in relation to cars – This will be change to a flat 20% calculation as opposed to the current tiered structure which is based on kilometers driven. This will reduce the need for those employees to drive additional kilometers towards the end of the financial year.
3.     $5,000 write off for small business owners – This allows small business owners to purchase a car and write of the first $5,000 in the first year as a deduction. The remaining purchase price will be added to the depreciation pool and written off at either 15% or 30%
4.     Tax treatment clarified for Instalment Warrants – This confirms the previous clarification that a capital gains tax event will not occur for those who own an instalment warrant over a security and then that security is then later transferred directly into their name.
These are just some of the proposed changes from the Federal Budget 2011. If you would like more information and you would like to know how these changes may influence your personal situation please do not hesitate to contact us on 02 9262 3333 or email info@arktotalwealth.com.au
Regards,
The Ark Total Wealth Team

  With kind regards



 

Ark Total Wealth has been established for 18 years and we provide a large range of services that help you build, maintain and protect your wealth.
Ark Total Wealth offers the complete
wealth creation service, offering all the traditional financial planning services you would expect, such as investments, insurance and
superannuation, plus a range of additional services you might not expect.
We are one of the rare groups who include direct property and lending solutions in our strategies with a large emphasis on education.



Liquidity Finance is a mortgage and finance brokerage that has identified the need to provide specialist strategy and advice in mortgage lending for investors, owner occupiers and Small to Medium Size Businesses.
At Liquidity, we have developed significant experience in structuring loans to suit your needs, be it for purchasing your own home, an investment property, a car or business assets.
Our success can be seen in the growth of our business through referrals. Our core focus is the customer - ensuring their needs and expectations are meet.





Federal Budget 2011: IOOF Adviser Special Bulletin



What the Funding for Training and Upskilling the Workforce means to you 





Buying a new car? Speak to Danny at Liquidity Finance for fleet discounts and Finance





A Summary of the Budget in education/skills sector

The major focus of the Budget is Jobs, Jobs, Jobs and upskilling the Nation through Training. What does this mean to you?

You or your team will probably be eligible for grants to enable you to upskill you or your team to take part in the Economies Growth.

If you need more information, click here to register your Interest

Federal Budget 2011: Government unveils major skills, workplace participation drive
By Oliver Milman
Tuesday, 10 May 2011

A National Workforce Development Fund, bringing 130,000 new training places, will be created as part of a fresh drive to increase skills and participation rates in Australia’s workforce.

Financing

The government revealed that $3 billion will be spent over the next six years to tackle Australia’s skill shortage and encourage the long-term unemployed back to work, amid a declining unemployment rate.

Of this, $558 million has been earmarked for the National Workforce Development Fund, which will work with industry groups to tackle skills shortages.

The government says the initiative will deliver 130,000 “high quality training places directly tailored to industry skills needs” over four years.

Training will be a third funded by small businesses, with medium-sized enterprises contributing 50%. The scheme will target “high need” industries, with the resources, construction and aged care sectors highlighted as immediate priority areas.

A competitive process will be set up to apply for grants, with the fund set to be supported by the creation of a new National Workforce and Productivity Agency from July 1, 2012. This agency will be tasked with identifying skills shortages in Australian businesses.

The new fund is the flagship announcement among a raft of government measures in what is a noticeably skills-heavy budget.

In his budget speech, Swan said: “In a growing economy like ours, we cannot justify the fourth highest proportion of jobless families in the developed world.”

Major workplace initiatives unveiled in the budget include:

Skills

The government has taken a carrot-and-stick approach to the states and territories over vocational education and training.

The Budget commits an extra $1.75 billion in funding over five years from 2012-13 to the states for training, but only if they sign up for “more ambitious” reform of the sector.

The government says it will introduce “tougher new standards” for its National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development, including better quality training and aligning programs with economic needs. Negotiations are set to kick off in the coming months.

Elsewhere, $143 million has been put forward in the budget to improve basic employment skills, with the creation of 30,000 additional places in the Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program.

Apprenticeships
Mentoring programs for apprenticeships have received an additional $200 million in funding. The government says this cash will help remedy the current situation, where less than half of apprentices finish their training.

More than 300 mentors will be funded to help nearly 40,000 apprentices in traditional trades and small businesses.

In addition, 144 apprentice advisors will be employed to assist school leavers to select the best option when taking up an apprenticeship.

Participation

Faced with a declining unemployment rate, the government has set its sights firmly on raising participation rates among long-term workforce absentees.

Income support for single parents will be restructured to encourage them back into the workforce. $103 million will be spent on training and career advice for single parents to ease them back into work.

From July 1, 2012, there will be participation requirements for those on Disability Support Pensions aged under 35. The DSP will be made more stringent, while wage subsidies will be given to employers who take on disabled workers for at least 15 hours a week.

A further $68 million will be spent to help school leavers develop basic employability skills, while $95 million in funding will reward businesses who give a job to someone unemployed for more than two years.

Immigration

A “measured” increase in permanent migration will see 185,000 visas issued in 2011-12. This is up slightly from the 180,000 given in the year ending September 2010.

Of this total, 125,850 will be skilled migrants, with the government fast-tracking permanent residency for temporary business visa holders who have spent two years in regional Australia and where their employer is prepared to sponsor them for a further two years.

What are the analysts saying? Budget 2011

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/09/3211180.htm 

Stephen Long: It's hard to fault the political priorities of the budget - increasing skills training and workforce participation - but a "tough budget"? Tough as tofu.
Alan Kohler: Despite all the stern prime ministerial repetition, this budget is not tough... Any decent CFO would be embarrassed by this budget.
Ross Gittins: Taken in sum, there are plenty of cuts and savings that suggest some courage in Canberra.
Peter Hartcher: Stop the presses: it's a budget that ditches tax cuts.
Dennis Shanahan: It's not radical in any sense of the word but it's as close to an old-fashioned Labor budget as you could get.
Peter van Onselen: The political impact of this year's budget will only really be known in two years' time.

Key budget stories

Key budget videos

What's been the reaction?

Find out what the following groups are saying about the budget:

When does the Opposition respond?

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott will deliver the Opposition's budget right of reply on Thursday May 12 at 7.30pm. It will be broadcast on ABC News 24 and ABC1.

AUSTRALIAN BUDGET – 2011 - Back to the black swan


The Government promises to have the budget back in the black in 2012-13, forecasting a modest surplus of $3.5 billion…. But will there be a Black Swan

The deficit this year is $49.4 billion - up nearly $10 billion on the previous estimate - and will fall to $22.6 billion next year, up from the estimated $12 billion – attributable to black swans….

The major initiatives are:

· new $1.5b program to address mental illness
· $360m National Workforce Development fund to deliver 130,000 training places
· $425m in bonuses for excellence in teaching
· up to $4,200 in new support for low-income families with teenagers still at school or in training
· $200m for more school facilities and programs for disabled students
· $222m to expand school chaplaincy program to 1,000 more schools
· $1.8b for regional health services
· 16,000 skilled migrants allocated to regions to take advantage of mining boom
· low-paid workers to have tax offset paid during year rather than at tax time 

In all, the Government has flagged new spending of more than $19 billion and savings of $22 billion.



Positives

· Money for training to upskill Australia – various programmes your company can take advantage of
· Looking to bring in 15,000 skilled migrants
· Funding for Health $16.4b– especially mental Health $1.5b - Reduction of Company tax to 29% in 2013
· big cuts in Public Service $2b and Defence $2.5b
· 2011-12 Federal Budget measure to allow refunds of excess concessional superannuation contributions of up to $10,000 for first time breaches from 1 July 2011.
· $425m for teachers performance bonuses
· $4.3b for the bush – hospitals, health care, universities and roads + NBN
· Support to SME $5000 of up front write off for cost of work car – woopee doo!!


Negatives

· $50b deficit this year, $22b deficit next year and budgeting for $3.5b surplus in 2013 – yeah right!!
· "Australian businesses embrace fierce competition, but many are feeling the pinch of workforce shortages and our rising dollar," Mr Swan said.Swan talks about the pain of Exporters but does nothing to support them – although the EMDG programme that has been a major support for exporters has shown a 12 to 1 return of revenue per $ spent 
· Swan does nothing to support Innovation – key to continued growth of the Economy
· shelving the Green Car Innovation Fund
· a $500 million cut in renewable energy programs
· 4% growth in GDP expected, 4.5% unemployment rate – Rate rise seems on the cards… may be kept down because of high A$ - Reserve Bank will have their work cut out for them
· Asylum seeker stuff 

Assumptions

· BRIC countries – specifically China will continue to grow and rely on our Minerals
· We are have been on a roll in last few years, and look at our deficit!!
· No Black Swans 

Comments from Around the traps

The Australian is calling this a "nip and tuck" budget of "thousands of tiny cuts".

The ABC economics correspondent Stephen Long, called it as "tough as tofu". and quotes from the lyrics of Lou Reed: "Vicious - you hit me a flower."

Australia now has a twin-speed economy - Swan called it a "patchwork economy".

This budget was about "jobs, jobs, jobs", said Swan.

Australian economy cannot continue to rely on the resources boom for its revenues - partly because the mining giants, like Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, are investing so heavily in infrastructure, for which they receive tax deductions.

Western Australia Premier Colin Barnett claims the federal government's emphasis on the mining boom as the driving force of the national economy will prove to be "inherently flawed" because only the resource rich states will significantly benefit. It will not flow to Sydney nor Melbourne

Xingweiinc ♥♫ lisa ,xing,☼ ♥ Wayne swan kicked mothers in Australia in the teeth " and family,s .So heartless ..Cant believe labor would do that @@

CHRIS UHLMANN Channel 7: But if you could miss your back by $8 billion this year and $10 billion the next, anything like that would see you miss your surplus by a considerable mark in two years' time, so why can't we just focus on the now rather than the never-never?

Greens leader Bob Brown said the budget was "lacklustre" and his party, which will hold the balance of power in the Senate from July 1, would discuss changes with the treasurer.

Joe Hockey – said the governments budget is bullshit and rubbish

LyndsayFarlow Lyndsay Farlow $32m saved from "rationalisation of corporate functions"#FewerDepartmentalPissUps #budget2011 #auspol

Asked why he thought Treasurer Wayne Swan did not mention the words environment or indigenous in his speech, Senator Brown said: "I just think there's a mind-blank there."

And what do I think? Swan needs to ensure that more money comes in than goes out, and there is a good chance there will be a surplus!

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

The RBA have decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 4.75%

The RBA Governor Glenn Stevens noted that there will be possible inflationary pressures as a result of higher utilities costs, rising food costs due to the natural disasters in QLD and high prices at the petrol pumps.

We believe that this higher costs of living will force the Reserve Bank’s hand in moving interest rates in the second half of this calendar year to stifle consumer spending and curb further inflationary pressures.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU?

With all the above to consider, there is no better time to have a home loan health check.

The last 2 years have seen the Australian home loan market go through some major changes in the way in which lenders approach home and investment loan products. We have seen lenders increase interest rates above the Reserve Bank increase and we also saw lenders reduce Loan to Value Ratios (LVR’s) as a consequence the uncertain market.

In the past 3 months however, we have seen LVR’s return to more “normal” levels as well as increased competition between lenders, which has been a welcome change for the consumer.

Now is the time to ask yourself the following questions, as a review of your current home loan may be overdue.
  • Has it been more than 12 months since you have reviewed your home loan?
  • Are you unsure whether or not your current loan is still the best one for you?
  • Are you looking for ways to reduce your monthly repayments or outgoings on your home loan, personal loans or credit cards?
  • Are you looking to change your current situation, in regards to work or family?
  • Do you want to build wealth by accessing any potential equity in your property?

 If you answered yes to any of the questions above, then you need to call today or click here to arrange your complementary home loan health check. click here .        Why?

  You change....

Over time, your personal and financial situation may change. You may get a pay rise, or you might want to start a family, or look at starting to invest in either property or shares. As your needs and priorities change, you'll probably find the right home loan product for you will change. A home loan health check will ensure your current loan suits your current needs.

 Rate rises

In stable economic conditions, a variable interest rate might look more attractive, while in more volatile periods you could prefer the predictability of a fixed interest rate. Refinance your home loan to suit the economic times. We can also look at the option of splitting your loan to give you both some amount of security without compromising the flexibility of a variable product.
  
Access to an Ark Total Wealth Financial Planner
 
As well as giving your home loan an overview, we will arrange for an Ark Total Wealth Financial Planner to give you a complementary financial planning meeting valued at $395. (including but not limited to Investments, Residential Investment Property, Superannuation, Insurance and Business Planning.)

We  look forward to meeting with you
Michael Luca and Danny Luu
Mortgage Brokers

Suite 701, Level 7, 14 Martin Place Sydney NSW 2000
GPO BOX 4013 Sydney NSW 2001
P: +61 2 9290 2777
D: +61 2 8203 0426
M: 0405 113 543
F: +61 2 9262 5788
E: michael.luca@liquidityfinance.com.au  or danny.luu@liquidityfinance.com.au