Planning for end of June
It’s a critical time to look at investment portfolio
WITH less than 10 weeks remaining to the end of the financial year, now is the time to start some serious tax planning. Getting ready for tax time should go well beyond bundling receipts into a shoebox for your accountant.
The run-up to June 30 is a critical time for investors to take a good look at their investment portfolio.
Your goals and needs may have shifted over the year, and your portfolio needs to keep up, with the right blend of assets to meet your goals.
Property investors in Sydney and Melbourne, for instance, have enjoyed tremendous value gains over the past few years but this may mean the weighting of your portfolio is dramatically skewed towards bricks and mortar. If that sounds like you, bear in mind rental yields on property are sitting at just 3.7 per cent across our state capitals, and a significant chunk of your wealth could be tied up in low-yielding assets.
The need to review your portfolio ahead of June 30 isn’t just about market performance. It can also involve taking advantage of, or responding to, new legislation.
We’ve heard about Labor’s plan to scrap cash refunds for excess franking credits on Australian shares. So far, this policy has been amended to include a so-called Pensioner Guarantee that will exempt full and part-time pensioners, including those who are recipients of a self-managed superannuation fund.
Nonetheless, jumping the gun and altering your portfolio based on what may – or may not – happen further down the track is a gamble, and on this particular score it could be worth taking a wait-and-see approach. In the meantime, plenty has happened in other areas that could directly impact your portfolio.
As a guide, since July 1, 2017, property investors can no longer claim the cost of travel to inspect a rental property. This could be a significant downside for investors who own an interstate property.
Also, from July 1, 2018, over-65s will be able to contribute up to $300,000 from the sale of their home to super without the money counting towards contribution caps. Each member of a couple can take advantage of the $300,000 limit.
Fine-tuning your portfolio ahead of June 30 can mean paying costs, and capital gains tax may apply to any profit you make on the sale of an investment. The upside is hitting the new financial year with a portfolio that’s in tune with your goals and lifestyle.
Paul Clitheroe is a founding director of financial planning firm ipac, chairman of the Australian Government Financial Literacy Board and chief commentator for Money Magazine.