Diamond Blue Financial Services September 2016 Newsletter

Spring is here, time to put your winter woollies away for another year and get

into the great outdoors.

All eyes on global financial markets were trained on the annual meeting of

central bankers at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, hoping for guidance about the

direction of US interest rates. In a much anticipated speech, US Federal

Reserve chair Janet Yellen said ‘the case for an increase in the federal funds

rate has strengthened in recent months’. She cited the solid performance of

the US labour market and the outlook for economic activity and inflation.

In Australia, rates moved in the opposite direction. The Reserve Bank of

Australia cut the cash rate to a record low of 1.5 per cent in August. While

noting that ‘prospects for growth in economic activity are positive’, the RBA

board believes ‘there is room for stronger growth’. This view was reinforced

by the company profit reporting season just ended. If BHP Billiton’s large loss

is excluded, an analysis by CommSec found that profits of the top 200

companies rose a solid 8.5 per cent in the year to June 30, while 92 per cent

paid a dividend. After a year of cost-cutting and restructuring, the outlook for

the corporate sector in 2017 is improving. With inflation running at an annual

rate of 1 per cent, the RBA has room to cut rates further if needed.

EFDB Pty Ltd

Level 13

23 Hunter Street

Sydney NSW 2000

P 02 9223 0911

F 02 9223 0922

E clientsupport@dbfs.com.au

W www.dbfs.com.au

EFDB Pty Ltd ABN 64 112 871 922, AFSL 311720 trading as Diamond Blue Financial Services.

This advice may not be suitable to you because it contains general advice that has not been tailored to your personal circumstances. Please seek personal

financial advice prior to acting on this information. Investment Performance: Past performance is not a reliable guide to future returns as future returns may

differ from and be more or less volatile than past returns.

Reference: Advant Plus

The Government has announced significant changes to the proposed superannuation reforms that were originally outlined in the 2016 Federal Budget in May, providing clarity and certainty for financial planners and clients around Superannuation. We have provided below a table summarising the proposed changes to the initial budget announced in May this year. These changes have been proposed, but are yet to be legislated. Perhaps the most important proposed change for retirees is the introduction of the $1.6 m super cap and the reductions in the amount of money you can put into your super. We have sourced the following table from the AFR as a quick reference guide to these new changes.

We are constantly monitoring the development and we will advise our clients accordingly as further details become available. If you would like to speak to your adviser about how these changes may impact your personal situation, please feel free to pick up the phone and call us on 02 9223 0911. One of our friendly staff will put you straight through to one of our professional advisors, Ben, Jack, Jeremy, Vikram, Stuart or Elise.

Diamond Blue Office Fitbit Challenge

We have seen a significant change in staff’s attitude to health and wellness. They are more empowered and inspired to lead healthier, more active lives while engaging in fun competition. Thanks to fitness device trackers (i.e. Fitbit) which allow Diamond Blue employees share and compete with fellow colleagues and clients on the number of steps made each week. If you want to know more about possibly decreasing your risk insurance premiums while increasing wellness, please feel free to pick up the phone and call us on 02 9223 0911. One of our friendly staff will put you straight through to our risk specialist, Dianna Pecherczyk.

Reference: Advant Plus

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Reference: Advant Plus