As part of Financial Planning Week (24-30 May), Announcer's Certified Financial Planners will take part in an online question and answer service "Ask an Expert" developed by the Financial Planning Association (FPA).

Some of Announcer's financial planners, who are members of the FPA, will answer your questions on financial matters as wide-ranging as superannuation, savings and investments, managing tax and retirement planning.

Those looking for a big spending pre-election budget review won't get one.
Andrew Rocks - Announcer

The long awaited Henry Review was released yesterday. The announcement is part of a "first wave" of tax reform which focuses on super, company tax and superannuation.

The Federal Government is appealing to low-income earners and older workers through superannuation reform, with the employment guarantee to be lifted to 12% and its age restriction increased from 70 to 75 years of age.

For once there was some good news for small business with a 2% cut in company tax and immediate asset write-off provisions. If you are a medium-sized business though, you'll have to wait for your tax cut.

The Media outlets have been focusing on the fact that only a fraction of the recommendations are being supported by the Government, and much is dependant of the big miners footing the cost, but for accurate timely advice please call your adviser.

UP to half of Australians don't have a will, leaving their family exposed to a long, stressful paperwork nightmare. Even with a will, however, there is still a high chance that assets and personal items can end up in the wrong hands. Mistakes and misunderstandings about how to word a will are common practice.

Don't let your spare cash sit idle. Use a home loan offset or redraw account to earn the equivalent of 12.5 per cent. How does a 12.5 per cent annual return sound? What if I said it was after tax? Would you believe me if I said it's virtually risk-free? In fact, that's the sort of return you can achieve if you "save" by directing money into extra mortgage repayments.

Once a feature of more expensive home loan packages, redraw facilities and mortgage offset accounts come attached to even some "basic" home loan products these days.

Then there are line-of-credit loans where you can also move money in and out - eroding the interest payable on your home loan as long as you're disciplined enough to make sure you stay in positive territory.

Announcer Tax is re-inventing the way tax administration services are being undertaken for their tax clients. With a process driven approach, the Announcer Tax team can efficiently and effectively process tax returns, “We’d like to spend more time providing advice than just doing tax returns”, says Joe Gittany, head of Announcer Tax. Read more...

Announcer is delighted to announce that we have been selected as a FINALIST for the Financial Reviews’, ASSET INNOVATION AWARDS. As a finalist we are pleased to have received the messages of support from our clients, industry peers and media such as...

Follow these 10 commandments and thou shalt not be lost in a financial wilderness, Announcer Financial Planning advisers Phil Sgangarella and Michael Sik talk to Lesley Parker from Sydney Morning Herald.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth. But in the boom-time clamour to gear up, chase yield and leap into exotic investments, those people following a more traditional path must have felt occasional doubt.

Then came the bolt of lightning that was the global financial crisis. Wealth no longer multiplied like the loaves and fishes, the Bernie Madoffs were exposed as false gods and we had to be reminded ??? again ??? that greed is not good but one of the seven deadly sins.

Welcome to Announcer's 2009-10 Federal Budget Newsletter.What an interesting time to produce a budget! The economies all around the world are falling into recession and Australia is no exception.

The budget has produced its forecasts for the economy with GDP expected to fall by 0.5% in 2009-10 and then begin to recover in 2010-11 with a growth of 2.25% and then begin expanding by 4.5% pa for 2011-12 and 2012-13. In order to have this happen the Government has had to make some changes. The centrepiece of the Budget is a $22billion program of investment in nation building infrastructure, including roads, rail, ports, universities and energy efficiency.

Announcer Group are finalsts for one of the top National FPA (Financial Planning Association) AWARDS for ‘Wealth Accumulation and Protection'. The Ray Albrighton and the Announcer Group were finalists in the ‘Wealth Accumulation and Protection' category for the FPA Value of Advice Awards.