Author Topic: Australian Investing Thread  (Read 2588794 times)

ianvestor

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4250 on: November 09, 2018, 09:12:51 PM »
Investing bits of money into some random fund doesn't make you learn about the stock market. Learning about the stock market helps you learn about the stock market. Why not give her some learning resources to that she can take responsibility for her actions and own the results, by learning and make a decision for herself?

https://jlcollinsnh.com/stock-series/
https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/index.php
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/investor-alley/
https://www.amazon.com/Million-Life-Make-Manage-Maximise-ebook/dp/B007DIAENU

Actually putting money in should be the last step and only when she has a reasonable fundamental understanding about the nature of the stock market, can decide an equities to bonds allocation, and a home country to international allocation, and have reasons listed for each decision and why she chose it over other options. Just my 2c.

Andy - this is too much even for me. If you expect people to know this before they invest then I'd hazard a guess only 1% of people should ever buy equities.

For most people a financial plan that involves a simple allocation to VAS and IVV, while paying down the mortgage and contributing a little extra to super, over 25 years, would be more than sufficient and generate a wonderful outcome, with absolutely no research at all.

Those links are not learning about stock picking or complex modelling. They explain very basic fundamental concepts like
• The market can go anywhere in the short term and it's normal to do so, and if you can't handle a 10% 30% or even a 50% drop then you need to adjust your AA
• Nobody knows where the market will go and anyone who does is worth walking away from
• Indexing lets you accept that nobody knows which way it will go and still get the market return

These aren't complex topics, they're fundamental and very basic. They are also "need to know" pieces of the puzzle otherwise you could really end up suffering. I don't want to jump on the bandwagon of "warren says" but the reality is that you shouldn't invest in anything you don't understand, whether shares or property. It takes a little time to learn but honestly not that much. We're talking about half an hour a day over a few months. Just going out and buying some VAS is not the answer and it can get you into serious trouble imo. Say you buy some, after a year it moves up and down slightly, over the next years you keep adding but never learned about it and you see it as a "black box" of where you park money to invest a bit like a bank account, and one day the all over the media they are saying the market is crashing, it's in ever media article, on FB, everywhere you look, and in complete ignorance  you panic and sell at a time when the market is (only) at a 30% loss. If by then you had a few hundred k (not an unreasonable amount), you have just lost a hundred grand. How long does it take most people to recover a hundred grand in savings? 5 years you have been set back. This could have been so very easily avoided by just spending 20-30 minutes a day reading for a few months in the beginning.

Well said Andy. A simple strategy is not necessarily easy to follow for a period of decades with all the temptations out there to change course. Especially for a beginner investor. Some basic reading to understand that falls of 50% in the U.S. major indices is quite possible along the long term journey is worthwhile. Also that there have been a few periods in the last century that the U.S. stock market has virtually done nothing over 15 - 20 years. When aware of such things it may substantially increase the chances of one sticking to their simple strategy.

Shaz_Au

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4251 on: November 19, 2018, 07:43:18 PM »
I currently actively invest in VAS\VGS\MVW (I also hold VTS and VEU). I'm looking at investing for my kids, so I've taken another look at the options.

I will be setting up an account for each of them (in my name) and was hoping to keep it relatively simple. I looked at VDHG (Diversified High Growth Index Fund), it does tick a few boxes. For me, it would be better if it was 100% growth, but mostly I don't like the ~16% hedged component of VGS (performance quite a bit lower than non hedged component). I could go VAS\VGS\MVW, but don't know if I can be bothered with the admin across an additional two portfolios. Lazy of me....

Any better ideas?

I also occasionally wonder about just holding VTS (or perhaps IVV, being domiciled in AUS) instead of VGS or VEU for international exposure. VTS seems to have better long term returns.

Have you looked into the LICs that offer dividend substitution share plans (AFI, WHF) or the Investment Bonds mentioned on Aussie Firebug's website?  the AFIC website has some reading to get you started and https://carpedividendum.com/ has a good post with further information about DSSP.

I know you will need to take care when setting up the accounts so that the beneficiary doesn't change when control is passed to your kids which, would otherwise be a CGT event.

Let us know what you end up deciding to do.

TJEH

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4252 on: November 24, 2018, 03:43:57 PM »
Shaz_Au, thanks, I have heard of the DSSP but need to read up to understand them.

Yes, also thinking of how to structure things as to who will hold the shares or funds I choose. I'm aware of the punitive tax imposed on minors for unearned income, so on one hand it seems like the only real option is to hold things in my name. In this case I believe I'll pay tax on income and there will be CGT when they pass to my kids. I have seen the option where you can purchase the shares on behalf of the kids, i.e you are the legal owner but you also nominate the minor with a designation A/C "minor name". In this case I believe there is no CGT event but it's not clear to me who pays the tax on the income. I've seen the ATO info at https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Investing/In-detail/Children-and-under-18s/Children-s-share-investments/ but it's not clear to me how this would work given this structure. I'm also looking at a testamentary trust, going to speak to someone about that this week.

Shaz_Au

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4253 on: November 26, 2018, 02:55:44 PM »
My understanding is that by using DSSP there is no income to declare, therefore no punitive tax or tax return required for the minors... The additional shares that are received through the dividend substitutions do affect the cost basis of the shares you purchased though.  The cost basis is instead spread across the shares purchased and those received as substitutions which, effectively lowers the cost basis of each share, meaning more CGT when/if the shares are sold.  Again this is just my understanding, please do your own reading.

TJEH

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4254 on: December 09, 2018, 03:12:32 AM »
Yes, that's my understanding too, thanks Shaz_Au.

mjr

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4255 on: December 09, 2018, 04:47:59 PM »
ASX tumbling again.  Going to be some good index fund bargains in the new year, methinks.

Juan Ponce de León

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4256 on: December 09, 2018, 11:44:09 PM »
I wouldn't touch the ASX with a barge pole.  VGS every time crew.

PDM

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4257 on: December 09, 2018, 11:53:01 PM »
I wouldn't touch the ASX with a barge pole.  VGS every time crew.

Long term yes, day to day it gets hammered with wider ASX sentiment it seems. Down 2% today in line with wider market.

limeandpepper

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4258 on: December 10, 2018, 12:24:30 AM »
Does anyone here buy VEQ or VAE and what others do you buy it with to form your portfolio?

marty998

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4259 on: December 10, 2018, 02:21:53 AM »
ASX tumbling again.  Going to be some good index fund bargains in the new year, methinks.

I plopped $20k in last week into VAS @ $71.72 (got the low for the day).

Busted right through that today.

Funny though... I look at every stock in the top 20 and I'm struggling to see any that have fallen less than the 13% the index has in the last 2 months... seems CBA and BHP are holding up the entire market at the moment. Maybe WOW as well?

Scentre is up, but only after having fallen over 17% previously.

Looking forward to a massive VAS dividend & reinvestment in January. Should be a cracker with the BHP buyback, the bank and RIO divvies and a few other specials like the IAG capital management initiative.


bigchrisb

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4260 on: December 10, 2018, 11:06:51 AM »
I'm currently putting money to work - placed another $10k of VGS and $10k of VAS orders today.  After not doing much the last 6 months (indeed selling down about $60k of SVWPA and GRB), I've put $60k back in within the last month - DUI, VAS, VGS.  I'll continue to average in if things continue to fall.  I'm funding this by drawing down from an offset (with the loan already being investment purposes so tax deductible).  Things are starting to look like value to me - albeit having a lot further that they could fall.

MrThatsDifferent

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4261 on: December 10, 2018, 11:30:28 AM »
Man I wish I was as smart at this as you guys. I’m changing my strategy and putting the bulk of my money in a HISA to save up for a possible deposit for a place in Sydney (nothing crazy, a 2 bed flat under $650 in Dulwich Hill would be great!). I have a Lifestratefy fund but not sure what I should do? Just leave it and maybe add $1000 a month. If I have that it doesn’t make sense to get VAS or VGS separately does it?

Little Aussie Battler

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4262 on: December 10, 2018, 06:13:30 PM »
I'm sitting on quite a lot of cash right now, but will probably invest it over the next few months.

We could have some large renovation costs coming up over the next 18 months, but at this point it probably makes more sense to invest the cash and fund the renovation from our offset.

@MrThatsDifferent - the transport options to the city are pretty good from Dulwich Hill, and there are quite a few apartments going up in the area (particularly if you include Canterbury, etc).  I would expect that a lot of the existing stock would be available at $650k or under?  I'm not sure that I would be rushing to buy right now, although I clearly think that of all asset classes.

MrThatsDifferent

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4263 on: December 10, 2018, 07:55:06 PM »
I'm sitting on quite a lot of cash right now, but will probably invest it over the next few months.

We could have some large renovation costs coming up over the next 18 months, but at this point it probably makes more sense to invest the cash and fund the renovation from our offset.

@MrThatsDifferent - the transport options to the city are pretty good from Dulwich Hill, and there are quite a few apartments going up in the area (particularly if you include Canterbury, etc).  I would expect that a lot of the existing stock would be available at $650k or under?  I'm not sure that I would be rushing to buy right now, although I clearly think that of all asset classes.

I’m thinking a year from now, but that means not investing that for the year. I get the idea that everything is a bargain now, but I just hate seeing my money disappear.

itchyfeet

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4264 on: December 12, 2018, 07:58:22 PM »
Like others, I picked up $20K of VAS today. First trade since July, which was purchased right near the top.... sigh.

Between property and the ASX it’s been a bit of a bugger of a year. I got a little lucky with the AUD dropping 8% against the USD which helped prop up my non-AUD investments.

Hopefully 2019 will be a better year for stash building.

NotSure

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4265 on: December 13, 2018, 08:09:00 PM »
I've only ~$150k invested, the rest is in cash (~$700k). In the next month or two will get another ~$350k, so it will be over 1 mil in cash :( I know it's stupid to have so much in cash, probably should start slowly investing more, trying to catch a falling knife is a fools game :D

Richmond 2020

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4266 on: December 16, 2018, 12:51:52 PM »
Is anyone worried/altering there investment strategy with the impending change of Government and the likely changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax?

marty998

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4267 on: December 16, 2018, 01:21:25 PM »
Is anyone worried/altering there investment strategy with the impending change of Government and the likely changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax?

No. Why would you be worried? No one is going to die or go broke from paying a little bit more tax.

There is a lot of whinging and complaining about this, even though there is no chance of it being fully implemented because the Senate will be another dogs breakfast of micro parties and interests.

My existing investment property will be grandfathered, and even if I buy another, I'll have enough dividend investment income to mean I'll be a net taxpayer on non-salary income anyway.


bigchrisb

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4268 on: December 16, 2018, 01:23:24 PM »
Is anyone worried/altering there investment strategy with the impending change of Government and the likely changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax?

I'm frustrated at the prospect of more change.  The timing of negative gearing doesn't personally impact me - while I have been neg geared in the past, I'm currently positively geared.  Capital gains changes would be a nuisance, but in the main I'm not really intending on selling substantive assets either (holding for life and collective the income instead).  Aside from being bad policy to try to push SMSFs back into their union mate's funds, the proposed modifications to franking credits is terrible news for Australian Mustachians - after pension phase SMSFs, it has its biggest impact on low-medium income individuals.  People don't seem to understand how this works - it impacts those with modest share income and no other income hardest.     

Am I changing anything?  Well, no. There is still an election to have, and still a crossbench to navigate before anything gets implemented.  Will I change things once I know what is actually implemented?  Possibly. 

The things I am doing however are taking advantage of things that may change - getting post-tax money into super before budget night for example.  Mostly, I'm just sticking the course.  If you let your life be run on a three (or less) year political cycle, you won't ever really think long term!


marty998

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4269 on: December 16, 2018, 01:32:08 PM »
If you let your life be run on a three (or less) year political cycle, you won't ever really think long term!

This is important for people to understand. Some people have missed out on hundreds of thousands in superannuation because "the gubbmint keeps changing the rules and it doesn't matter because in a few years they will steal it all".

If you jump at every shadow and refuse to invest because of change you are only going to make yourself poorer.

mjr

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4270 on: December 16, 2018, 04:09:04 PM »
All true, but I have stopped buying VAS for the time being for just this reason.  Further purchases will be of VTS.

Echoing bigchrisb, if (and it's a big if) Shorten's franking credit refund policy gets up, that will be a big deal for me.  It's already changed my national/international target allocation and you can bet that I'm not the only one.  It's already exerting downward pressure on Australian stocks.

Dropbear

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4271 on: December 17, 2018, 03:04:21 AM »
These potential changes in Australia are part of the reason why my asset allocation has for quite some time been skewed a little more towards VGS than VAS...  But nothing has changed with my approach since then.

---

Those issues aside, I saw an interesting idea...  I noticed the BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX:NDQ) as a tech market index mentioned in an article (below).  What does everyone think about it?

At 0.48% for NDQ, it's a couple of times the price of VGS at 0.18%.

Being strongly convinced of the merits of index investing and buy-and-hold strategies, I'm not one for picking individual stocks.  But picking the tech sector as a whole sounds a bit more inviting, if only it wasn't so expensive.

I suppose the weight of the tech sector within any international ETF such as VGS would provide a decent exposure to the techies without committing additional management fees to it?  (That's currently where I sit on this particular fence).

Quote
The gift of diversification (and value)
When I suggest the BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX:NDQ), and trumpet the benefits of geographic, industry and currency diversification from a US technology ETF, you’re probably thinking you’re going to have to pay a pretty penny for it. But recent jitters in global sharemarkets have seen this ETF fall by 15 per cent over the past few months. Oh, and did I mention it gives you exposure to Google, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Netflix and many other companies that are creating the future?

Source:
https://www.smh.com.au/money/investing/stocks-for-your-christmas-stocking-20181211-p50ljl.html

MrThatsDifferent

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4272 on: December 17, 2018, 02:17:26 PM »
Is anyone worried/altering there investment strategy with the impending change of Government and the likely changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax?

The things I am doing however are taking advantage of things that may change - getting post-tax money into super before budget night for example.

Big Chris or anyone, could you help me with this? I only contribute super through work up to the $25k limit. I put my after tax extra into Vanguard. Should I be contributing after tax to my super as well? Maybe split what I’m putting into Vanguard and do 50/50–between super and Vanguard? I have a pretty nice salary, would that result in me getting a tax rebate?

happy

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4273 on: December 17, 2018, 02:30:56 PM »
The answer depends on how old you are and at what age you wish to retire, and also what asset allocation you have in Vanguard. The split is oft debated/discussed. Have a read around the Australian tax, super threads etc.

mjr

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4274 on: December 17, 2018, 03:13:58 PM »
Big Chris or anyone, could you help me with this? I only contribute super through work up to the $25k limit. I put my after tax extra into Vanguard. Should I be contributing after tax to my super as well? Maybe split what I’m putting into Vanguard and do 50/50–between super and Vanguard? I have a pretty nice salary, would that result in me getting a tax rebate?

Can't answer that question without knowing your age, balances of taxable and super accounts, when you plan to retire, etc, etc.

Make sure you have enough to cover yourself from your retirement date until preservation age before going nuts with non-concessional contributions.    But once you're covered, it's good to get the funds into a low-tax earning environment instead of full marginal.

You won't get a tax deduction on non-concessional contributions.

MrThatsDifferent

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4275 on: December 18, 2018, 01:16:31 AM »
Thanks MJR, you answered my question. I get what you guys are suggesting, I can work it out.

deborah

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4276 on: December 18, 2018, 01:56:25 AM »
Because of the changes that came in this financial year, from now on, you are able to catch up on up to five years of contributions to super, so if you want to put money in after you have retired, you now can. Because it has just started, next year you will be able to catch up on this year only...

Evasion

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4277 on: December 30, 2018, 07:59:57 PM »
Hello everyone,

Opinions on VESG the international shares index from vanguard with ethical screening?
So far we bought VDHG but I would like to stop investing in fossil fuels for ethical and investment reasons.
The ER is lower (0.18 Vs 0.27) but it is slightly less diversified, quite weighted towards the US and un hedged, so interested in your opinions!

Anyone here who tries to invest ethically?
I don't care about investing in alcohol or porn but helping the fossil fuel industry survive a bit longer really annoys me.

Andy R

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4278 on: December 30, 2018, 09:40:31 PM »
Little bit of a pain in the ass, but best I can come up with is something like this

1. Decide on portion of fixed income (VAF or TDs)
2. Decide on an Australian equities portion (VAS)
3. Rest split between: VESG/VISM/VGE 80/10/10

Essentially slotting out VGS for VESG. So 5 funds and you cover all markets.
It is slightly more work rebalancing once a year, but still manageable.

mjr

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4279 on: December 30, 2018, 09:53:51 PM »

I don't care about investing in alcohol or porn but helping the fossil fuel industry survive a bit longer really annoys me.

Coal is Australia's single biggest export earner and when it's not the biggest it comes in 2nd.  Get rid of coal and our economy tanks.

No doubt you don't drive a car, catch a diesel bus, fly anywhere and have completely unplugged your house from the grid ?

marty998

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4280 on: December 31, 2018, 03:08:08 AM »

I don't care about investing in alcohol or porn but helping the fossil fuel industry survive a bit longer really annoys me.

Coal is Australia's single biggest export earner and when it's not the biggest it comes in 2nd.  Get rid of coal and our economy tanks.

No doubt you don't drive a car, catch a diesel bus, fly anywhere and have completely unplugged your house from the grid ?

The economic benefits of mining are grossly overstated. I am especially irritated by the advertising blitz the BHP has engaged in, in part purveying the benefits of coal mining.

The headline export numbers might be large, but if you take away transfer pricing of revenue to marketing hubs in Singapore, the excessive use of intracompany loans to holding companies in Bermuda and the Caymans (Adani, Chevron here's looking at you), the monumental capex spending required to actually dig up the ore (much of it wasted on one-off infrastructure in and around a mine in the middle of nowhere, to a port in the middle of nowhere, the degradation of vegetation, habitat and the water table & basins, the social and family related problems caused by the FIFO "lifestyle".... etc etc

The resulting royalties, wages paid and company tax extracted is simply not enough to counter all of this. Couple with the fact the vast majority of large mining and oil companies have significant foreign ownership, which means profits go offshore and not accrue to Australia at large means we get a pretty raw deal.

Norway had the right idea. Even the much maligned middle eastern oil sheikhdoms manage to hold onto the wealth (however unevenly distributed).

Over here - we simply give it away. A $5m advertising campaign was all it took to overthrow the government 10 years ago when Rudd's mining tax was introduced (which raised a rounding error of tax anyway). The general population have no idea how much they are being taken for a ride, and there is little hope on the horizon of that changing.

PDM

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4281 on: December 31, 2018, 03:25:12 AM »
Perhaps, but mining has kept me in pretty well paid jobs for the last decade and fingers crossed the next as well. Only 1 year of that was directly employed at a mine by a mining company. A lot of industries support mining.

Evasion

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4282 on: December 31, 2018, 04:37:52 PM »

I don't care about investing in alcohol or porn but helping the fossil fuel industry survive a bit longer really annoys me.

Coal is Australia's single biggest export earner and when it's not the biggest it comes in 2nd.  Get rid of coal and our economy tanks.

No doubt you don't drive a car, catch a diesel bus, fly anywhere and have completely unplugged your house from the grid ?

In true Mustachian style I only use my muscle power to get to places 90% of the time and I don't even know how to drive. Coal is a terrible thing for the world and a terrible investment. Even if the economy does great, it's not going to be of much use when we can't grow food anymore is it? Many serious investors including Jeremy Grantham have pointed this out.
I'm not really interested in debating whether coal should be phased out (as it is obvious it should) but rather about the best way to do so.
Thank you Andy for your response and good points Marty, even without mentioning climate change.

ImLikeTT

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4283 on: January 02, 2019, 12:03:54 AM »
Rolling 15 Year Returns for the All Ordinaries and S&P500 have been between 0% to 20% p.a during the past 100 years.

So this has essentially acted as a financial product with the ability to multiply your capital by up to 15 times without the risk of capital losses.


« Last Edit: January 02, 2019, 12:19:07 AM by ImLikeTT »

Evasion

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4284 on: January 02, 2019, 01:26:36 AM »
Rolling 15 Year Returns for the All Ordinaries and S&P500 have been between 0% to 20% p.a during the past 100 years.

So this has essentially acted as a financial product with the ability to multiply your capital by up to 15 times without the risk of capital losses.

I know this but I want to avoid investing in certain companies that would be in these indexes for ethical reasons. I am searching for a solution to my issue.

Andy R

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4285 on: January 02, 2019, 02:13:54 AM »
Rolling 15 Year Returns for the All Ordinaries and S&P500 have been between 0% to 20% p.a during the past 100 years.

So this has essentially acted as a financial product with the ability to multiply your capital by up to 15 times without the risk of capital losses.

Welcome to the forum.

This comment is not correct.
1. If there is a 0% return over 15 years, then with inflation, you have lost about half of it in real terms (ie in terms of what that money can buy). Losing half your money is not without risk of capital loss.
2. What if you are retired and the market drops and takes over a decade to recover, and your proposed 4% withdrawal rate means you are actually taking out 8% per year causing you to deplete it to a point where it can't recover? If you hit a particularly nasty period, you will be in the 5% of people who go broke and only realise it when you are too old to work and recover your finances.
3. Is there some reason you think a Japan style situation can not happen to your country? Or do you think "Japan is just somehow different"? What about Thailand? Still different? What about the Netherlands? How many countries do you think are somehow "just different" and that you are magically immune? How many of those countries have people that assumed the same thing before it happened?

There are ways to minimise various risks, but it certainly is not without risk of capital losses.

mjr

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4286 on: January 02, 2019, 02:22:09 PM »

I'm not really interested in debating whether coal should be phased out (as it is obvious it should) but rather about the best way to do so.


Quite apart from the hide of stating your opinion as objective and uncontestable fact, from an investment point of view the purchase of stocks on the secondary market does not affect the business operations of the companies you don't like a jot.

There are many, many companies on the Australian and US stock markets that I don't care for personally, but my having money in them makes no difference either way and keeping it simple with a broad index is what index investing is all about.

Marty, you mention many things there about which I know nothing and am happy to admit I know nothing, but regardless of how much of a raw deal we're getting, mining's contribution to our economy and balance of payments is huge.  Saying that we're being screwed over and it should be contributing is a whole other argument.

Evasion

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4287 on: January 02, 2019, 03:51:44 PM »
Thanks for the comment on the secondary market mjr, was only partially aware of this.
I know me switching index fund for my next 500k isn't much, but if everyone does it it might have an impact, and like I said  its an ethical consideration for me, not an impact or cost benefit analysis.

As per my "opinion", and I won't argue further as not really the point of this thread, 99% of scientists and most people on the planet (everyone except the 5 countries brainwashed by a very powerful fossil fuel industry) agree that phasing coal out is the right thing to do for humans, animals, the economy and the future of the whole planet.
If you don't agree with this, you need to read more, do your research or look at yourself in the mirror because if we don't phase it out our grandchildren are in big big trouble.
For that matter I have decided to not have children because of climate change in part.
I recommend a start with "race of our lives" Jeremy Grantham. He's the founder of GMO Asset Management so can hardly be accused of being a delusional hipster like me.

Thank you everyone for your response, in any case. Will probably go VGSE next bundle and then balance with something capturing aus market + some bonds later this year.

mjr

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4288 on: January 03, 2019, 04:42:43 PM »
Gee, thanks for the reading advice and the "look at yourself in the mirror" advice, but I decline.

Evasion

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4289 on: January 03, 2019, 09:12:41 PM »
Initially I felt bad for saying that, then I looked at your other posts. Didn't know there would be climate change denial people here. You need to have another read at MMM blog.
Enjoy retirement because it won't be so pleasant for future generations..

MrThatsDifferent

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4290 on: January 03, 2019, 10:45:08 PM »
Hey Aussies, need some help here. I’m considering having a kid and working on the budget so I can figure out how that impacts what I have to invest and FIRE.  I’m looking at the numbers going, that can’t be right, how could Aussie families survive? I don’t have a car but when I added it in (I think you need a car if you have a baby), the numbers have skyrocketed. And that’s me using an au pair instead of childcare. I’d love to know what a typical budget should be from you folks or any advice on mine?

This is for a fortnight:
 Baby budget

Rent $1100
Electric/gas $20
Optus $65 (phone & Internet)
Health $100
Hobby $40
Netflix: $10
Skype: $10
Food $170
Travel $384
Household $15
Personal $90
Au pair $140
Baby accessories: $50
Diapers: $50
Car: $850
Gifts: $50

Grand Total: $3144
« Last Edit: January 03, 2019, 10:46:53 PM by MrThatsDifferent »

Juan Ponce de León

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4291 on: January 03, 2019, 11:48:39 PM »
Hey Aussies, need some help here. I’m considering having a kid and working on the budget so I can figure out how that impacts what I have to invest and FIRE.  I’m looking at the numbers going, that can’t be right, how could Aussie families survive? I don’t have a car but when I added it in (I think you need a car if you have a baby), the numbers have skyrocketed. And that’s me using an au pair instead of childcare. I’d love to know what a typical budget should be from you folks or any advice on mine?

This is for a fortnight:
 Baby budget

Rent $1100
Electric/gas $20
Optus $65 (phone & Internet)
Health $100
Hobby $40
Netflix: $10
Skype: $10
Food $170
Travel $384
Household $15
Personal $90
Au pair $140
Baby accessories: $50
Diapers: $50
Car: $850
Gifts: $50

Grand Total: $3144

So a car costs you $850 a f/n and an Au pair $140?  Cars don't have to cost a lot.  Get a 6 grand Corolla and just put Petrol and oil in it.  Mine costs me per fortnight probably $150.
« Last Edit: January 03, 2019, 11:50:29 PM by Trevor Reznik »

Little Aussie Battler

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4292 on: January 03, 2019, 11:51:28 PM »
It would probably be better for you to post your current expenses/budget, and then discuss and seek input on the expected incremental costs of adding a baby to your household.

MrThatsDifferent

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4293 on: January 03, 2019, 11:56:15 PM »
Hey Aussies, need some help here. I’m considering having a kid and working on the budget so I can figure out how that impacts what I have to invest and FIRE.  I’m looking at the numbers going, that can’t be right, how could Aussie families survive? I don’t have a car but when I added it in (I think you need a car if you have a baby), the numbers have skyrocketed. And that’s me using an au pair instead of childcare. I’d love to know what a typical budget should be from you folks or any advice on mine?

This is for a fortnight:
 Baby budget

Rent $1100
Electric/gas $20
Optus $65 (phone & Internet)
Health $100
Hobby $40
Netflix: $10
Skype: $10
Food $170
Travel $384
Household $15
Personal $90
Au pair $140
Baby accessories: $50
Diapers: $50
Car: $850
Gifts: $50

Grand Total: $3144

So a car costs you $850 a f/n and an Au pair $140?  Cars don't have to cost a lot.  Get a 6 grand Corolla and just put Petrol and oil in it.  Mine costs me per fortnight probably $150.

I don’t have a car and looked up what the average cost was and it said $425/week in Sydney, which seemed extreme but I have no idea. That’s not even buying the car, that’s maintenance, gas, Insurance’s, rego.  What do your car budgets look like?

Juan Ponce de León

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4294 on: January 04, 2019, 12:04:16 AM »
Hey Aussies, need some help here. I’m considering having a kid and working on the budget so I can figure out how that impacts what I have to invest and FIRE.  I’m looking at the numbers going, that can’t be right, how could Aussie families survive? I don’t have a car but when I added it in (I think you need a car if you have a baby), the numbers have skyrocketed. And that’s me using an au pair instead of childcare. I’d love to know what a typical budget should be from you folks or any advice on mine?

This is for a fortnight:
 Baby budget

Rent $1100
Electric/gas $20
Optus $65 (phone & Internet)
Health $100
Hobby $40
Netflix: $10
Skype: $10
Food $170
Travel $384
Household $15
Personal $90
Au pair $140
Baby accessories: $50
Diapers: $50
Car: $850
Gifts: $50

Grand Total: $3144

So a car costs you $850 a f/n and an Au pair $140?  Cars don't have to cost a lot.  Get a 6 grand Corolla and just put Petrol and oil in it.  Mine costs me per fortnight probably $150.

I don’t have a car and looked up what the average cost was and it said $425/week in Sydney, which seemed extreme but I have no idea. That’s not even buying the car, that’s maintenance, gas, Insurance’s, rego.  What do your car budgets look like?

That average cost of a car would likely be a new car with all of its scheduled services and costs.  You don't have to buy one of those to have a car.  My car expenses are roughly

Petrol $80 f/n
Servicing (done myself) $6 f/n?
Rego $27 f/n
Insurance $15 f/n

That's $128 f/n.  Occasionally other things might come up.  I'll need new tyres soon.  Brakes I'll do when they are wearing out, other repairs if/when they come up.

MrThatsDifferent

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4295 on: January 04, 2019, 12:14:01 AM »
Hey Aussies, need some help here. I’m considering having a kid and working on the budget so I can figure out how that impacts what I have to invest and FIRE.  I’m looking at the numbers going, that can’t be right, how could Aussie families survive? I don’t have a car but when I added it in (I think you need a car if you have a baby), the numbers have skyrocketed. And that’s me using an au pair instead of childcare. I’d love to know what a typical budget should be from you folks or any advice on mine?

This is for a fortnight:
 Baby budget

Rent $1100
Electric/gas $20
Optus $65 (phone & Internet)
Health $100
Hobby $40
Netflix: $10
Skype: $10
Food $170
Travel $384
Household $15
Personal $90
Au pair $140
Baby accessories: $50
Diapers: $50
Car: $850
Gifts: $50

Grand Total: $3144

So a car costs you $850 a f/n and an Au pair $140?  Cars don't have to cost a lot.  Get a 6 grand Corolla and just put Petrol and oil in it.  Mine costs me per fortnight probably $150.

I don’t have a car and looked up what the average cost was and it said $425/week in Sydney, which seemed extreme but I have no idea. That’s not even buying the car, that’s maintenance, gas, Insurance’s, rego.  What do your car budgets look like?

That average cost of a car would likely be a new car with all of its scheduled services and costs.  You don't have to buy one of those to have a car.  My car expenses are roughly

Petrol $80 f/n
Servicing (done myself) $6 f/n?
Rego $27 f/n
Insurance $15 f/n

That's $128 f/n.  Occasionally other things might come up.  I'll need new tyres soon.  Brakes I'll do when they are wearing out, other repairs if/when they come up.

Well that’s much better. I couldn’t do the servicing so I could factor $200 a fortnight to cover service and extras?

Notch

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4296 on: January 04, 2019, 12:31:16 AM »
Hey Aussies, need some help here. I’m considering having a kid and working on the budget so I can figure out how that impacts what I have to invest and FIRE.  I’m looking at the numbers going, that can’t be right, how could Aussie families survive? I don’t have a car but when I added it in (I think you need a car if you have a baby), the numbers have skyrocketed. And that’s me using an au pair instead of childcare. I’d love to know what a typical budget should be from you folks or any advice on mine?

Grand Total: $3144

So a car costs you $850 a f/n and an Au pair $140?  Cars don't have to cost a lot.  Get a 6 grand Corolla and just put Petrol and oil in it.  Mine costs me per fortnight probably $150.

I don’t have a car and looked up what the average cost was and it said $425/week in Sydney, which seemed extreme but I have no idea. That’s not even buying the car, that’s maintenance, gas, Insurance’s, rego.  What do your car budgets look like?

That average cost of a car would likely be a new car with all of its scheduled services and costs.  You don't have to buy one of those to have a car.  My car expenses are roughly

Petrol $80 f/n
Servicing (done myself) $6 f/n?
Rego $27 f/n
Insurance $15 f/n

That's $128 f/n.  Occasionally other things might come up.  I'll need new tyres soon.  Brakes I'll do when they are wearing out, other repairs if/when they come up.

Well that’s much better. I couldn’t do the servicing so I could factor $200 a fortnight to cover service and extras?

My all-in vehicle operating costs for a 2006 Kia Rio and a Yamaha 250 dirtbike over the past 4.5 years of tracking is $176 per month :)

This includes everything bar depreciation.  So registration for both, maintenance (mostly done by me), tyres, 3rd party prop insurance for car, licence renewal, motorbike training and gear (2nd hand), tolls and fuel.


MrThatsDifferent

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4297 on: January 04, 2019, 03:17:43 PM »
Hey Aussies, need some help here. I’m considering having a kid and working on the budget so I can figure out how that impacts what I have to invest and FIRE.  I’m looking at the numbers going, that can’t be right, how could Aussie families survive? I don’t have a car but when I added it in (I think you need a car if you have a baby), the numbers have skyrocketed. And that’s me using an au pair instead of childcare. I’d love to know what a typical budget should be from you folks or any advice on mine?

Grand Total: $3144

So a car costs you $850 a f/n and an Au pair $140?  Cars don't have to cost a lot.  Get a 6 grand Corolla and just put Petrol and oil in it.  Mine costs me per fortnight probably $150.

I don’t have a car and looked up what the average cost was and it said $425/week in Sydney, which seemed extreme but I have no idea. That’s not even buying the car, that’s maintenance, gas, Insurance’s, rego.  What do your car budgets look like?

That average cost of a car would likely be a new car with all of its scheduled services and costs.  You don't have to buy one of those to have a car.  My car expenses are roughly

Petrol $80 f/n
Servicing (done myself) $6 f/n?
Rego $27 f/n
Insurance $15 f/n

That's $128 f/n.  Occasionally other things might come up.  I'll need new tyres soon.  Brakes I'll do when they are wearing out, other repairs if/when they come up.

Well that’s much better. I couldn’t do the servicing so I could factor $200 a fortnight to cover service and extras?

My all-in vehicle operating costs for a 2006 Kia Rio and a Yamaha 250 dirtbike over the past 4.5 years of tracking is $176 per month :)

This includes everything bar depreciation.  So registration for both, maintenance (mostly done by me), tyres, 3rd party prop insurance for car, licence renewal, motorbike training and gear (2nd hand), tolls and fuel.

So $200 is reasonable as I can’t do maintenance myself.

deborah

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4298 on: January 04, 2019, 03:26:55 PM »
Most of the estimates include depreciation of the car.

FFF

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Re: Australian Investing Thread
« Reply #4299 on: January 04, 2019, 07:37:09 PM »
Hey Aussies, need some help here. I’m considering having a kid and working on the budget so I can figure out how that impacts what I have to invest and FIRE.  I’m looking at the numbers going, that can’t be right, how could Aussie families survive? I don’t have a car but when I added it in (I think you need a car if you have a baby), the numbers have skyrocketed. And that’s me using an au pair instead of childcare. I’d love to know what a typical budget should be from you folks or any advice on mine?

This is for a fortnight:
 Baby budget

Rent $1100
Electric/gas $20
Optus $65 (phone & Internet)
Health $100
Hobby $40
Netflix: $10
Skype: $10
Food $170
Travel $384
Household $15
Personal $90
Au pair $140
Baby accessories: $50
Diapers: $50
Car: $850
Gifts: $50

Grand Total: $3144

Hi, I'd add a couple of points here. Agree with the estimates of about $200 on car depending on car you buy. On a 20 year old Corolla we spent approx $140, which includes all petrol (about 12000km driven), servicing (including $700 replacing something with the clutch), rego and insurance.

I'd say your estimates on nappies are pretty high too. Aldi do nappies at about 20c a nappy, so you're budgeting 250 nappies a fortnight which is almost 18 a day. I don't know anyone that's used that much! We probably use a low end number of nappies but our best benchmark year was last year and we spent $350 total for our daughter who is now 18months. I reckon you can at least halve your number to $25 a fortnight.

Baby accessories also is hard to say and hard to track what we spent as there is a lot of second hand recycling we have done and hand-me-downs from older kids. I would say though, don't get sucked into the hype with a lot of the baby specific stuff - think long and hard about whether you need/want additional stuff in your house beyond the basics of cot, car seat, bassinet, change mat, high chair. Most of it is just marketing that preys on you while you are sleep deprived! If you want any more specifics on kid stuff, send me a message as I think we have done things pretty frugally with our 2 (18 months and 4 currently). In fact, if you're in Melbourne you can have some free/cheap stuff in the not too distant future!

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!