Blog - Total Wealth Management

April 28, 2020

For retirees, satisfying your income needs today remains a top priority. But equally as important...

Dealing with market volatility for soon-to-be retirees

April 28, 2020

The global fight against Coronavirus, in addition to plummeting oil prices, has caused share markets...

Insurance inside super — should you keep it?

April 28, 2020

If you’re a member of a super fund, it’s more than likely you have insurance...

Light at the end of the coronavirus tunnel – what does it mean for investors?

April 28, 2020

Key points After a strong rally, in the short-term shares are vulnerable to bleak economic...

Magic money tree – QE & money printing and their part in the coronavirus economic rescue

April 28, 2020

Key points Central bank support to ensure the flow of money and credit through economies...

What signposts can we watch to be confident shares have bottomed?

April 28, 2020

Key points While shares have rallied 15-20% from their March low and may have started...

Managing your super in a market downturn

April 5, 2020

We’re here to help you understand what happens in a share market downturn, If you’ve...

Wealth Warning: Things to consider about the Government’s $10K early release of super measure

April 5, 2020

On March 22, the Federal Government has announced people facing significant financial hardship as a...

What our investment managers are saying

April 5, 2020

Download PDF Given the speed and size of share market falls, it’s understandable for investors...

Wise moves: The new start-up economy

April 5, 2020

This article was originally published on smh.com.au When Marty Moore left his role as CEO of...

Growth assets: identify and capitalise on your best performers

April 5, 2020

Experts agree that retirees should go for growth if they want to boost their retirement...

Capturing coronavirus and other remote possibilities in the Investment Futures Framework

April 5, 2020

Download PDF Managing risks intelligently — those that can be reasonably anticipated all the way...

The Coronavirus pandemic and the economy – a Q&A from an investment perspective

April 5, 2020

Key points Significant government support is essential to enable parts of the economy to successfully...

Is Coronavirus driving a recession, depression or an economic hit like no other? What does it mean for the bear market in shares?

April 5, 2020

Key points Global share markets have fallen into a bear market, but whether this turns...

The threat to Australian house prices from Coronavirus

March 23, 2020

Key points The Australian housing market is at risk from the coronavirus recession Australia has...

Five charts on investing to keep in mind in rough times like these

March 23, 2020

Key points Successful investing can be really difficult in times like the present with immense...

The increasing economic threat from Coronavirus – what to watch for and what should investors do

March 23, 2020

Key points The rout in financial markets has continued, on the back of coronavirus, made...

Investment market impacts of coronavirus. Part II

March 2, 2020

By Grant Mizens, Assistant Portfolio Manager, MLC Download PDF Financial markets, which had until now...

Three reasons why low inflation is good for shares and property

February 19, 2020

Key points Shares are vulnerable to a short-term correction. But with inflation low, and as...

Retirees benefitting from the gig economy

February 13, 2020

This article was originally published on smh.com.au. When Chris Longhurst received a generous redundancy from...

From bushfires to Coronavirus – five ways to turn down the noise around investing

February 12, 2020

Key points The coronavirus outbreak is just another of a long list of worries. Our...

Investing in residential property versus shares – which is better?

February 10, 2020

There are many investment strategies you can implement to help you build real long-term wealth....

5 things to consider before investing

February 10, 2020

Investing your money may be one of the most effective ways to help you build...

4 strategies to help manage debt

February 10, 2020

Thinking about debt probably doesn't spark a positive reaction for most people, but it is...

3 retirement income strategies for you to consider

February 10, 2020

One of the biggest misconceptions about retirement is that in order to have enough to...

How to help grow your money through compound interest

February 10, 2020

Einstein has repeatedly said that compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. While...

How much do you need to start investing in shares?

February 10, 2020

Investing in shares can be one of the most effective ways to help you create...

The China Coronavirus outbreak – economic and investment market implications

February 5, 2020

Key points The China coronavirus outbreak has led to concerns of a global pandemic triggering...

Five charts to watch regarding the global economy and markets this year

January 15, 2020

Key points Shares are at risk of a short-term correction or consolidation after a strong...

Bushfires and the Australian economy

January 9, 2020

Key points The bushfires are expected to result in around a 0.4% hit to GDP...

2020 – a list of lists regarding the macro investment outlook

January 8, 2020

Key points Despite ongoing bouts of volatility, 2020 is likely to provide solid returns, albeit...

Review of 2019, outlook for 2020 – the beat goes on

December 5, 2019

Key points 2019 saw growth slow, recession fears increase and the US trade wars ramp...

Why offshore investing is the right move for retirees

November 26, 2019

This article originally appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald. Most Australian retirees would admit they...

Five reasons why the $A may be close to the bottom

November 25, 2019

Key points In the absence of significant fiscal stimulus soon, further RBA monetary easing both...

5 easy ways to save money by going green

November 22, 2019

Saving the planet isn’t the only reason to go green. Using less energy and fewer...

Your 5 step plan for a life of good mental health

November 22, 2019

Anxiety, stress and depression can rob you of life’s pleasures. Use these simple moves to...

New rules on insurance through super

November 22, 2019

A new law started on 1 July 2019 which requires us to cancel insurance cover...

Are you as financially savvy as you think you are?

November 22, 2019

Make your money work harder for you with our myth-busting guide to finance. How many...

Why super and growth assets like shares really are long-term investments

November 14, 2019

Key points While growth assets like shares go through bouts of short-term underperformance versus bonds...

Newsletter – 18th October 2019

October 18, 2019

Dear Sir/Madam, September has been and gone and we are nearly through October! 9 working...

Newsletter – 29th Aug 2019

August 13, 2019

Dear Sir/Madam, Once again, not a lot to report from our office since our last...

Newsletter – 12th Jul 2019

July 13, 2019

Dear Sir/Madam, Not a lot to report from the office since our last newsletter. We...

Don’t fight the Fed… or the ECB or RBA

June 24, 2019

Key points The ECB and the Fed now clearly look to be heading towards monetary...

Australian growth will be constrained but here’s nine reasons why recession is unlikely

June 24, 2019

Key points Australian growth is likely to be weak over the next year or so...

The $A still has more downside, but a lot of the weakness is behind us

June 17, 2019

Key points The Australian dollar likely faces more downside as Australian growth is weaker than...

Newsletter – 17th Jun 2019

June 13, 2019

Dear Sir/Madam, Another enjoyable golf day but with a change of venue resulted in a...

The nine most important things I have learnt about investing over the past 35 years

June 6, 2019

Key point My nine most important lessons from investing over the past 35 years are...

Should you and your partner retire at the same time?

June 5, 2019

It’s one of those curious questions people rarely ponder before the time draws uncomfortably near:...

So how much do we really need to retire?

June 5, 2019

There’s been a lot of pretty scary “information” come out about the insane amounts of...

RBA cuts rates to a new record low

June 4, 2019

Key points The RBA’s latest rate cut is aimed at heading off a further slowing...

How do you plan for an uncertain future?

May 28, 2019

By MLC The problem with the good times is that they make it easy to...

Australian house prices getting closer to the bottom, but don’t expect a return to boom time conditions

May 23, 2019

Key points The combination of the removal of the threat to property tax concessions, earlier...

Aussies making a slow transition to retirement

May 22, 2019

This article originally appeared in The Australian Retirement used to be a clearly demarcated milestone...

Worry, wellbeing and why more of us work later in life

May 22, 2019

Dean Pearson, Head of Behavioural & Industry Economics, MLC Ill health, job loss and family...

Ageing is old hat for baby boomers

May 22, 2019

This article originally appeared in The Australian There was a time, not so long ago,...

The trade war is back – what went wrong, what it means for share markets and Australia

May 14, 2019

Key points The trade war between the US and China has returned after talks to...

Newsletter – 7th May 2019

May 7, 2019

Dear Sir/Madam, Only 11 days till the Federal election and we won’t have to...

2029’s four major retirement tribes and their aims

May 7, 2019

This article originally appeared in The Australian By 2029, the last baby-boomer (born 1946-63) will...

Rich and invisible lives of over-55s

May 7, 2019

This article originally appeared in The Australian Google the term “over-55s” and up will pop...

It’s time to rethink retirement for an ageing population

May 6, 2019

Dean Pearson, Head of Behavioural & Industry Economics, MLC, part of the NAB Group. It...

Seasonal patterns in shares – should we “sell in May and go away” and what about renewed trade war fears?

May 6, 2019

Key points Seasonal patterns typically see shares do well from around November to May and...

Inflation undershoots in Australia – why it’s a concern, is the RBA running out of ammo & what it means for investors?

April 29, 2019

Key points Surprisingly low inflation in Australia has increased the pressure on the RBA to...

Managing your pension in volatile markets

April 18, 2019

Sinead Rafferty, Portfolio Specialist, MLC The severe falls in global share markets in late 2018,...

Navigating redundancy: make it work for you

April 18, 2019

Redundancy unfortunately affects more and more Australians. With the right approach and professional advice, however,...

Estate planning: what your will doesn’t cover

April 18, 2019

Most of us think of estate planning as simply writing a will. However, ensuring your...

Plan ahead for the aged care you want, for your parents

April 18, 2019

Helping parents make the transition into supported living can be challenging, but forward planning and...

5 ways to take control of your money

April 18, 2019

Five ways to take control of your money, grow your wealth and start enjoying financial...

10 habits of highly successful homebuyers

April 18, 2019

Ready to take the leap into home ownership? It’s worth doing your homework first. Buying...

Stay covered with your insurance in super

April 18, 2019

Nobody plans to have a serious accident or illness. But if it happens, you may...

Coming into an inheritance: key considerations

April 18, 2019

The death of a parent can be a hugely distressing time. It may also mean...

Newsletter – 12th Apr 2019

April 12, 2019

Dear Sir/Madam, This year is passing us by too quickly and Easter is upon us...

“Millennial socialism” and the swing of the political pendulum back to the left – what it means for investors

March 25, 2019

Key points Growing support for higher taxes on the rich and greater government intervention in...

Newsletter – 15th Mar 2019

March 15, 2019

Dear Sir/Madam, We are a little busy this month, hence the tardiness of our newsletter!...

Empowering women to own their finances

March 11, 2019

Money is still a taboo topic of conversation. Although we live in a world where...

Australia slides into a “per capita recession”

March 11, 2019

Key points Australian growth slowed even more in the December quarter. Growth may bounce back...

Five great charts on investing – why they are particularly important now

February 20, 2019

Key points Successful investing should be simple but increasing rules, regulations, choices and social media...

Why growth in China is unlikely to slow too far and why it needs to save less and spend more

February 7, 2019

Key points China’s economy is slowing but not collapsing as the services sector holds up....

Newsletter – 7th Feb 2019

February 7, 2019

Dear Sir/Madam, Happy (belated) New Year to all of our clients! The office is...

Australian housing downturn Q&A – how bad will it get?

January 23, 2019

Key points Australian home prices are likely to fall another 5-10% this year driven by...

The 2018 year in review: a confident start but a volatile finish

January 15, 2019

John Owen, Portfolio Specialist, NAB Asset Management A challenging year for investors, with rising uncertainty...

How to diversify when investing in bonds no longer works

January 10, 2019

Bonds have traditionally helped diversify the risk of shares because bond and share prices tend...

Newsletter – 18th Dec 2018

December 18, 2018

Dear Emma , Christmas is nearly upon us and we have been very busy...

The Australian economy in 2019 – house prices, growth and interest rates

December 17, 2018

Key points Australian growth has slowed again. The housing cycle downturn and its impact on...

Should you borrow to invest in shares or property?

December 10, 2018

Experts discuss the pros and cons of borrowing to invest in property or shares At...

Dealing with a serious health issue

December 10, 2018

Planning carefully and working through the issues can help if you or your partner experiences...

Eight ways to boost your fitness in retirement

December 10, 2018

It’s time to put physical fitness at the top of your priority list and start...

What does the recent market volatility mean for investors?

December 10, 2018

Portfolio Specialist John Owen discusses what’s causing the current market volatility and how MLC is...

How to transition to retirement

December 10, 2018

Find out how to transition into retirement easily We’ve given you a few tips to...

Review of 2018, outlook for 2019 – another cycle extension

December 10, 2018

Key points 2018 saw reasonable global economic and profit growth and still low interest rates...

Corrections, gummy bears and grizzly bears in shares

November 22, 2018

Key points The pullback in shares could still have further to go but a deep...

13 common sense tips to help manage your finances

November 22, 2018

Key points Getting your personal finances right can be a challenge. Here are 13 tips...

Rising US interest rates, trade wars, the US midterm election results, etc – should investors be worried?

November 12, 2018

Key points It’s still too early to be sure that last month’s pullback in shares...

Newsletter – 2nd Nov 2018

November 2, 2018

Dear Sir/Madam, After being away at a conference in South Australia, Rod is back on...

Are shares expensive?

October 29, 2018

Key points Starting point valuations for shares matter a lot in terms of medium-term return...

Boom turns to bust – falling Australian home prices. How far and for how long and what’s the impact on the economy?

October 19, 2018

Key points Property prices in Sydney and Melbourne are likely to see top to bottom...

The pullback in shares – seven things investors need to keep in mind

October 19, 2018

Key points The current pullback in shares has been triggered by a range of things...

Successful investing despite 115 million worries and Truth Decay – how to turn down the noise

October 19, 2018

Key points A surge in financial information and opinion combined with our inclination to focus...

Newsletter – 4th Oct 2018

October 4, 2018

Dear Emma , There isn’t a lot to report from the office this month. We...

Lost in your career? The Japanese concept of Ikigai could help

September 21, 2018

If you’ve lost your passion for work, Ikigai might help you re-discover it. What’s the...

Five charts to keep an eye on regarding the global economy

September 20, 2018

Key points Whether a recession is imminent or not in the US, and more broadly...

In the Media: Financial Services Royal Commission

September 13, 2018

Financial advice and superannuation have been closely examined in the ongoing Financial Services Royal Commission....

Seven lessons from the Global Financial Crisis for investors

September 12, 2018

Key points The key lessons for investors from the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) are that:...

Newsletter – 7th Sep 2018

September 7, 2018

Dear Sir/Madam, In office news, Monica is still slowly recovering from her recent surgery and...

Five things you need to know about the Australian economy

September 6, 2018

Key points The Australian economy grew solidly over the last year. While recession remains very...

Freelancing or in a startup? Here’s five ways to look after your super

September 3, 2018

Now that the government has tightened up the amount of money you can get into...

The Twilight Zone with Trump, Trade Wars and Turkey

August 30, 2018

Bob Cunneen Senior Economist & Portfolio Specialist The calendar year is coming to a close...

Royal Commission Hearings: Round 5 – Superannuation

August 21, 2018

The fifth round of Royal Commission public hearings was held Monday 6 August to Friday...

Newsletter – 10th Aug 2018

August 10, 2018

Dear Sir/Madam, In office news, Rod has returned to work following his hip operation at...

Infographic: 2017-2018 financial year in review

July 31, 2018

Take a visual tour of markets during the 2017-2018 financial year - a good year...

Trumponomics and investment markets

July 31, 2018

Key points So far President Trump has been positive for share markets but this year...

Winning gold against the odds

July 24, 2018

Empowered by family support, track cyclist Scott McGrory overcame personal tragedy to win gold against...

The US economy – does the flattening yield curve indicate recession is imminent?

July 24, 2018

Key points If you are worried about a major bear market, the US economy is...

2017-18 saw strong returns for diversified investors – but there’s a few storm clouds around

July 9, 2018

Key points 2017-18 saw strong returns for diversified investors, but it was a story of...

Newsletter — 2nd July 2018

July 3, 2018

Dear Sir/Madam, Happy New Financial Year! Hi there!! It’s been a busy few weeks since...

Should the RBA raise rates to prepare households for higher global rates?

July 2, 2018

Key Points The RBA should avoid calls to raise interest rates prematurely just to prepare...

All set for the new financial year?

June 25, 2018

Making plans for the new financial year will help set you up for the next...

Using failure to fuel your future success

June 25, 2018

To help us grow, sometimes we have to overcome our fear of failing – with...

Trade war risks are escalating – but a negotiated solution remains most likely

June 25, 2018

Key Points US actions in recent weeks have increased the risk of a full-blown trade...

Putting the global “debt bomb” in perspective – seven reasons to be alert but not alarmed

June 25, 2018

Key Points Global debt levels have reached new records. Countries with very high gross debt...

Your 7-point guide to the First Home Super Saver scheme

June 20, 2018

The First Home Super Saver (FHSS) scheme may allow you to save more money to...

Newsletter — 12th June 2018

June 19, 2018

Dear Emma , June is here!! Hi there!! Over the last couple of years quite...

Newsletter — 14th May 2018

June 19, 2018

Dear Emma , Hi all! Our newsletter is a little delayed this month as we...

Making the most of rental and holiday properties

June 13, 2018

Given increasing government focus, now’s the time for investors to be more savvy about their...

Putting the ‘I’ in education: why we’re investing in disrupting the education system in China

June 13, 2018

Alicia Gregory, Head of Private Equity, MLC For millions of mainland Chinese students, long days...

China’s economy is pretty stable – but what about high debt levels and other risks?

June 13, 2018

Key points Chinese economic growth has been stable since 2016 at around 6.8%. Expect Chinese...

TWM GOLF DAY – Saturday 5th May 2018

May 15, 2018

Newsletter — 3rd Apr 2018

April 3, 2018

Newsletter — 8th Mar 2018

March 8, 2018

Newsletter — 2nd Feb 2018

February 2, 2018

Newsletter — 7th Dec 2017

December 7, 2017

Newsletter — 2nd Nov 2017

November 2, 2017

Newsletter — 3rd Oct 2017

October 3, 2017

Newsletter — 1st Sep 2017

September 1, 2017

Golf Day Rundown – 2017

May 10, 2017

The Total Wealth Management $10,000 hole in one tournament supporting Team J & J to...

Advice for 20 year olds and Investing

May 8, 2017

AMP have put together a great article where they have asked a number of leading...

Total Wealth management $10,000 Hole in One Charity Golf Day

March 7, 2017

What Does Tennis Have to do With Wealth Creation?

February 2, 2017

How following the strategies of a tennis champion can make you Wealthy How did Roger...

What Value do you Put on Planning for Retirement?

January 13, 2017

We often come across people who know they should be thinking about the future, but...

What’s the difference between Health Insurance, Income Protection and Trauma Insurance?

December 16, 2016

We speak to a lot of people about insurance and they often don’t understand the...

You Get What You Pay For With Financial Advice

November 25, 2016

In this 3-part blog series on financial advice, we look at the why it is...

Understanding the Value of Advice- Why Get a Financial Adviser?

November 9, 2016

For those who have never engaged the services of a financial adviser it can be...

What is Income Protection?

October 24, 2016

As part of delivering advice to clients we are frequently asked about the various insurance...

The Age Pension is No Holiday

October 21, 2016

I took a holiday a few weeks back and while checking my emails I saw...

What exactly does a financial adviser do?

August 8, 2016

One of the main reasons that most ordinary Australians don’t approach a financial adviser to...

Is it worth getting financial advice?

August 2, 2016

In short, a Financial Adviser can give you the right financial advice once they take...

4 Great Reasons to Buy a Car NOW

July 12, 2016

Here are four great reasons to buy a car now. Can finance and affordability has...

What can a financial adviser do for me?

June 22, 2016

1 Reply

You might be saying to yourself; • I don’t have enough money or assets to...

TWM Golf day to raise funds for The Leukemia Foundation

Investment Mortgage Finance

April 1, 2016

Total Wealth Management $10,000 hole in one Golf Day for Team J and J raising...

Financing your asset purchases

March 29, 2016

For most businesses, the decision for financing your asset purchases is very clear cut as it...

Health Insurance in a Word: OUCH!

March 7, 2016

Health insurance premiums will go up – again - on April 1st, between five and...

Banking on your misguided loyality

February 22, 2016

If you have been banking with your current lender for more then 10 years, then...

What is Investment Yield?

February 8, 2016

What is an investment yield? The yield an investment provides is basically its annual cash...

2016 Investment Themes

Investment Mortgage Finance

January 25, 2016

2016 has started with many of the same fears/investment themes as seen in 2015. This...

Renting VS Buying, it’s quite simple really!

January 15, 2016

To help answer the renting VS buying question, I will never forget the feeling of...

Financial Goals

January 11, 2016

What financial goals will you achieve by 2020? Research shows that financially successful people are...

GEN-Y – Redefining the Australian Dream

December 10, 2015

GEN-Y are redefining the Australian Dream because the Australian dream was simple when our parents...

Financial Outlook for 2016

December 4, 2015

2015 has seen another long worry list for investors and this poses the question of...

Total Wealth Management Office Relocation

December 1, 2015

After 7 years at the Ipswich Corporate Centre, Rod has finally decided to relocate our...

Investment information overload

November 24, 2015

The technology revolution has made it easier and easier to track our investments, and perhaps...

Has low investment growth settled in?

November 12, 2015

Global investment growth has been sub-par and is likely to remain so for a while...

What stage of the Investment Cycle are we in?

June 16, 2015

A major concern for many involved in investing is our location in the investment cycle....

The Home Prices And Interest Rates Of Australia

June 16, 2015

1 Reply

It comes as no shock to hear that Australian properties are overvalued. The Reserve Bank...

Recent downturn in the stock market