Knowledge Library

Practical financial insight, curated across 16 fields. Guidance drawn from AMCO's professional research and decades of practice, so you can act on knowledge, not noise.

Madoff’s lessons on conflicts of interest
Financial Planning Industry & Global Trends2 Feb 2026

Madoff’s lessons on conflicts of interest

When searching for a wise and timeless quote to illustrate one of the two great lessons from the $490 million collapse of […]

So long, London – Russians buy digs at home
Property13 Feb 2025

So long, London – Russians buy digs at home

THREE years into the war with Ukraine, Russia’s wealthiest are increasingly bringing their money home, fuelling an unlikely rebound in high-end Moscow […]

Financial Planning Message – December 2024
Uncategorized20 Dec 2024

Financial Planning Message – December 2024

Following two remarkable years of global equity returns, it is understandable to approach 2025 with degree of trepidation. As the curtain draws […]

Are you really ready to retire?
Retirement & Centrelink25 Nov 2024

Are you really ready to retire?

People who have enjoyed highly rewarding and fulfilling careers often struggle with when to retire. They might feel they have enough money […]

America shares Australia’s housing pain
Property26 Jun 2024

America shares Australia’s housing pain

News feature Affordability, supply, interest rates and high immigration create a scenario in the US that is all too familiar, writes Matthew […]

Secret money trail of the tax commissioner
Tax Changes – Income Tax/Capital Gains Tax/GST/Land Tax etc.6 Jun 2024

Secret money trail of the tax commissioner

AFR investigation Chris Jordan’s ATO legacy risks being overshadowed by two controversies from his time at KPMG, writes Neil Chenoweth. It was […]

The treasurer is telling a big fib
Property17 May 2024

The treasurer is telling a big fib

Treasurer Jim Chalmers stood in front of 600 guests at his post-budget speech in Parliament House yesterday and repeated a big budget […]

HOW TO BUY OVER THE BORDER
Property7 May 2024

HOW TO BUY OVER THE BORDER

Property Investors from Sydney and Melbourne are increasingly looking further afield in the hunt for value. But how do you go about […]

Failing to achieve goals? Try this out
Financial Planning Industry & Global Trends16 Apr 2024

Failing to achieve goals? Try this out

Lifestyle Focus on identifying cues that will trigger the desired action, writes Amantha Imber. Can you recall the last time you set […]

Nobel winner’s tips for investors
Financial Planning Industry & Global Trends16 Apr 2024

Nobel winner’s tips for investors

Behavioural economics Daniel Kahneman transformed our thinking, writes Tim Mackay. Despite winning a Nobel Prize in economics, Daniel Kahneman was an unlikely economist. For […]

RBA won’t cut interest rates until 2025
Banking & Lending16 Apr 2024

RBA won’t cut interest rates until 2025

Australia is expected to be almost the last major advanced economy to deliver an interest rate cut, after hot US inflation caused […]

No quick fix for housing problems
Property8 Mar 2024

No quick fix for housing problems

If it wasn’t already very clear, yesterday’s big miss on building approvals is more evidence that the thorny problem of increased supply […]

Avenue prevails after APRA raised banking bar
Banking & Lending8 Mar 2024

Avenue prevails after APRA raised banking bar

Avenue Bank has been awarded an unrestricted banking licence by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority and will become the country’s first niche […]

Scandal-ridden finale for ATO boss Jordan
Tax Changes – Income Tax/Capital Gains Tax/GST/Land Tax etc.20 Feb 2024

Scandal-ridden finale for ATO boss Jordan

Taxing times PwC scandals and GST frauds are casting a long shadow, but the commissioner points to his successes, writes Jennifer Hewett. Chris Jordan […]

HOW TO NOT OUTLIVE YOUR SUPER
Retirement & Centrelink29 Jan 2024

HOW TO NOT OUTLIVE YOUR SUPER

Retirement Work out which of these five retiree types you are to guide your spending after you stop working, says Joanna Mather. […]

Investors warn on ‘unmoored’ global debt load
Banking & Lending11 Jan 2024

Investors warn on ‘unmoored’ global debt load

London | Investors are warning governments around the world over ‘‘unmoored’’ levels of public debt, saying excessive pre-election borrowing promises risk sparking a bond […]

This is why Asian students choose our universities
Financial Planning Industry & Global Trends22 Nov 2023

This is why Asian students choose our universities

International students The sector has rebounded to pre-2020 levels, with flexibility of course content key to attracting visitors, writes Michael Smith in Tokyo. Janine […]

Inflation rate highest of advanced economies
Financial Planning Industry & Global Trends21 Nov 2023

Inflation rate highest of advanced economies

Australia’s headline inflation rate is the highest among the world’s largest advanced economies, prompting economists to warn the Reserve Bank may need to deliver […]

Tribunal rejects bank statements as basis for deductions
Tax Changes – Income Tax/Capital Gains Tax/GST/Land Tax etc.26 Oct 2023

Tribunal rejects bank statements as basis for deductions

A businessman’s attempt to claim $48,000 in tax deductions for expenses including airfares, meals and overseas accommodation by relying on bank and […]

Tax change could stifle business travel, tourism
Tax Changes – Income Tax/Capital Gains Tax/GST/Land Tax etc.26 Oct 2023

Tax change could stifle business travel, tourism

Moves that could classify tourists and business travellers who spend more than 45 days in Australia as tax residents risk stifling economic […]

The myth of the mortgage ‘cliff’
Banking & Lending17 Oct 2023

The myth of the mortgage ‘cliff’

Monetary policy Much-hyped concerns that people rolling off cheap fixed-rate home loans could be caught up in a wave of defaults and […]

Mortgage pain set to get worse: RBA
Banking & Lending17 Oct 2023

Mortgage pain set to get worse: RBA

The already-record share of income households spend on mortgage repayments will increase even further, the Reserve Bank has warned, causing borrowers to dip into […]

THE PRICE OF RETIREMENT
Superannuation17 Oct 2023

THE PRICE OF RETIREMENT

Golden years Whether it’s overseas holidays with the family, or a more modest life closer to home, there are retirement plans to […]

House price rally not seen as sustainable
Property13 Oct 2023

House price rally not seen as sustainable

The recovery in property prices, led by surging population growth and a severe housing shortage, could prove short-lived if unemployment rises and […]

Poorer times loom without reform: RBA
Financial Planning Industry & Global Trends26 Sep 2023

Poorer times loom without reform: RBA

A further slowdown in global trade, the cost of the transition to net zero emissions and waning business dynamism could drive down […]

Tax, loan interest to take bigger bite of income
Tax Changes – Income Tax/Capital Gains Tax/GST/Land Tax etc.13 Sep 2023

Tax, loan interest to take bigger bite of income

Australians will devote almost one in every four dollars of their earnings to paying income tax and loan interest by the middle […]

Rate pain won’t hit households until 2024
Banking & Lending10 Jul 2023

Rate pain won’t hit households until 2024

Australian households are yet to feel the full impact from the Reserve Bank’s tightening cycle on mortgage repayments, with economists tipping the […]

How AI can help make us more productive
Financial Planning Industry & Global Trends14 Jun 2023

How AI can help make us more productive

While artificial intelligence (AI) is a constantly evolving technology, it is not new. It has been a focus at Amazon for over […]

Katoomba leads worst suburbs for arrears
Banking & Lending7 Jun 2023

Katoomba leads worst suburbs for arrears

Mortgage arrears are climbing as borrowers run down their savings and collide with a tighter refinancing market that has escalated financial stress, […]

RBA change is coming, like it or not
Uncategorized24 Apr 2023

RBA change is coming, like it or not

More people, more input, more cooks in the kitchen. That’s ultimately the price the Reserve Bank of Australia will pay for a […]

How wealthy are you compared with others?
Financial Planning Industry & Global Trends12 Apr 2023

How wealthy are you compared with others?

Income and assets Who counts as rich? ABS data holds the answer. At what point does someone earn so much money, they […]

Apartment rents up $11,000 in a year
Uncategorized15 Mar 2023

Apartment rents up $11,000 in a year

Apartment rents have surged over the past year, delivering income windfalls of up to $11,000 for investors across suburbs gaining the most. […]

Tug of war between heart and finances
Uncategorized14 Mar 2023

Tug of war between heart and finances

Downsizing Clinging on to the family home even though your finances are tight? This is what you should consider, writes Michael Hutton. […]

Investors pare back RBA rate path on slowdown
Uncategorized8 Mar 2023

Investors pare back RBA rate path on slowdown

Underwhelming gross domestic product and inflation figures prompted financial markets to temper their expectations of interest rate rises by the Reserve Bank […]

Off-the-plan sales falling through
Uncategorized8 Mar 2023

Off-the-plan sales falling through

Back-to-back interest rate rises have started to hit off-the-plan buyers, with some already moving to offload their unsettled property, according to industry […]

The worst of mortgage pain is yet to come
Banking & Lending9 Feb 2023

The worst of mortgage pain is yet to come

On the face of it, there’s nothing in higher-than-expected inflation data that should halt the rally that has helped the ASX 200 […]

How wealthy are you compared with others?
Financial Planning Industry & Global Trends9 Feb 2023

How wealthy are you compared with others?

Income and assets Who counts as rich? ABS data holds the answer. At what point does someone earn so much money, they […]

APRA ready if home loans choked
Banking & Lending9 Feb 2023

APRA ready if home loans choked

Australian Prudential Regulation Authority chairman John Lonsdale says he is open to changing bank rules on home loans if the economy deteriorates […]

Worst is yet to come for housing market
Property30 Aug 2022

Worst is yet to come for housing market

Property Talk about prices hitting bottom may be optimistic. Predictions that the housing market will soon bottom out are premature because the […]

Taxing homes would fill gap: OECD
Financial Planning Industry & Global Trends25 Jul 2022

Taxing homes would fill gap: OECD

Australia’s public purse missed out on $64 billion last year in tax revenue foregone due to the capital gains tax exemption on […]

Bond purchasing has cost the RBA $37b: Westpac
Uncategorized22 Jul 2022

Bond purchasing has cost the RBA $37b: Westpac

Westpac chief economist Bill Evans estimated the Reserve Bank’s balance sheet has suffered $37 billion in losses from its bond purchasing, but the toll would […]

Financial advisers question Hostplus returns
Superannuation22 Jul 2022

Financial advisers question Hostplus returns

Critics question why Hostplus was crowned Australia’s best balanced superannuation fund over one and 10 years, saying the rankings rely on unpublished […]

Small business pays the cost of rising wages
Financial Planning Industry & Global Trends22 Jul 2022

Small business pays the cost of rising wages

Average pay rates among small businesses have grown by more than 4 per cent this year off the back of the tightest labour market in […]

Distressed home listings jump
Property7 Jul 2022

Distressed home listings jump

The number of distressed residential listings jumped by more than 10 per cent across NSW in June over the previous month, as […]

Sydney eyes 10pc fall in prices
Property8 Jun 2022

Sydney eyes 10pc fall in prices

Sydney house prices have dropped by 1 per cent through May in the largest monthly decline since January 2019. The result was […]

What to do when your fixed rate ends?
Banking & Lending8 Jun 2022

What to do when your fixed rate ends?

Mortgages These five options show how you can save $35,000 over two years by making the right choice. Duncan Hughes reports. Carla Allen is […]

Soaring construction sector costs hit home
Banking & Lending8 Jun 2022

Soaring construction sector costs hit home

Property Supply chain shortages are creating headaches for builders. Building a home became a lot pricier for one Metricon customer when the […]

Old listings surge in sluggish times
Property8 Jun 2022

Old listings surge in sluggish times

Old listings rose sharply in Sydney and Melbourne last month as vendors struggled to find a buyer within a reasonable timeframe amid […]

Rate rise won’t dent blue chip confidence
Banking & Lending20 May 2022

Rate rise won’t dent blue chip confidence

At almost exactly the same time the Reserve Bank was pressing the button on its first interest rate rise in 11 years yesterday, Seven Group […]

These lenders will save you money
Banking & Lending17 May 2022

These lenders will save you money

Refinancing Home owners looking for a better rate should not overlook smaller outfits they’ve never heard of, writes Lucy Dean. Borrowers looking […]

Rising rents drive home buying
Property17 May 2022

Rising rents drive home buying

Rapidly rising rents could push some aspiring homeowners to pull the trigger on buying a home, despite higher mortgage rates and inflated […]

Ease the rate-rise squeeze
Banking & Lending13 May 2022

Ease the rate-rise squeeze

Home loans Whether you’re an owner-occupier or investor (even via your DIY super fund), you can use these strategies to help handle […]

WHY INTEREST RATES WILL KEEP RISING
Banking & Lending3 May 2022

WHY INTEREST RATES WILL KEEP RISING

Stormy waters Everyone, from the Reserve Bank to economic commentators, has reached a consensus that Australia is in for a sustained period […]

Low demand to eat into house prices
Property3 May 2022

Low demand to eat into house prices

Lower demand for housing as a result of higher interest rates and tighter lending is more likely to trigger faster and deeper […]

Fears of emerging markets debt crisis
Banking & Lending26 Apr 2022

Fears of emerging markets debt crisis

Emerging market funds are being hit with increased withdrawals as investors worry that soaring food and oil prices will fuel social and […]

Premium suburbs lead price growth
Property26 Apr 2022

Premium suburbs lead price growth

House prices in some suburbs on Sydney’s northern beaches and the Gold Coast have doubled every three to four years in the […]

Investors return as rents soar up to 20pc
Banking & Lending26 Apr 2022

Investors return as rents soar up to 20pc

Rebound Vacancies below 1 per cent and strong demand is driving renewed interest, writes Duncan Hughes. Residential rents rising as fast as […]

Tax Office teams delve into dealings of the super rich
Tax Changes – Income Tax/Capital Gains Tax/GST/Land Tax etc.26 Apr 2022

Tax Office teams delve into dealings of the super rich

Audits Experts believe asset stripping, offshore wealth transfers and governance are top of the hit lists for investigators, writes Duncan Hughes. About […]

The rental crisis is just beginning
Property26 Apr 2022

The rental crisis is just beginning

‘‘There’s a perception that rents are high now,’’ one of the country’s most highly regarded bankers tells me. ‘‘But rents are going […]

Investors return as rents soar up to 20pc
Property19 Apr 2022

Investors return as rents soar up to 20pc

Rebound Vacancies below 1 per cent and strong demand is driving renewed interest, writes Duncan Hughes. Residential rents rising as fast as […]

Premium suburbs lead price growth
Property19 Apr 2022

Premium suburbs lead price growth

House prices in some suburbs on Sydney’s northern beaches and the Gold Coast have doubled every three to four years in the […]

What It Means For Your Money
Uncategorized19 Apr 2022

What It Means For Your Money

There are numerous opportunities for astute investors and consumers to take advantage of. Aleks Vickovich and our expert writers break it down. […]

Deposit scheme ‘will make buying harder’
Uncategorized1 Apr 2022

Deposit scheme ‘will make buying harder’

The proposed extension of the Home Guarantee Scheme to regional areas could worsen housing affordability and fuel higher construction costs as the […]

SMSF scammers pounce during COVID-19
SMSF1 Apr 2022

SMSF scammers pounce during COVID-19

Fraudsters are setting up 250 fake self-managed superannuation funds each year, a number that is rising quickly, in order to steal the […]

Winners
Budgets – Federal Government1 Apr 2022

Winners

Road and rail users $18 billion for new road and rail projects. Defence industries $15 billion for an east coast submarine base, […]

Home market to ‘languish’ until election
Property1 Apr 2022

Home market to ‘languish’ until election

Not even a pick-up in Melbourne auction activity and successful sales could prevent a decline in the national residential property market this week as the preliminary […]

How COVID-19 changed the market
Property25 Mar 2022

How COVID-19 changed the market

The COVID-19 housing boom may have peaked in most parts of Australia but analyst CoreLogic has identified six ‘‘remarkable’’ shifts caused by […]

How hard do we hit Russia?
Financial Planning Industry & Global Trends25 Mar 2022

How hard do we hit Russia?

The West has yet to use its full arsenal of measures against the Russian economy. What is the most effective thing it […]

House prices set to fall as vendors rush to sell
Property11 Mar 2022

House prices set to fall as vendors rush to sell

A surge in listings across some of Melbourne’s inner suburbs could trigger faster-than-expected house price falls, as buyer demand eases amid higher mortgage rates, rising uncertainty […]

Housing market shows ‘fragility’
Property9 Feb 2022

Housing market shows ‘fragility’

AFR Article_ 09.02.2022 House prices bounced 1.1 per cent in January, boosted by small gains in Sydney and Melbourne, but the longer-term […]

Top property picks for 2022
Property3 Feb 2022

Top property picks for 2022

AFR Article 19 December 2021. Housing market With many suburbs already hitting record highs, investors need to conduct thorough research to avoid […]

IMF warns of rocketing house prices
Financial Planning Industry & Global Trends12 Oct 2021

IMF warns of rocketing house prices

AFR Article 25 September 2021 page 3 The International Monetary Fund has called on Australia to address the rising financial stability risks […]

Banks’ future prospects worry investors
Banking & Lending29 Jul 2021

Banks’ future prospects worry investors

Banks, it seems, are finding it increasingly difficult to live up to lofty investor expectations. After dazzling investors with their ability to […]

AUSTRALIA’S GREAT DEBT GAMBLE
Banking & Lending29 Jul 2021

AUSTRALIA’S GREAT DEBT GAMBLE

AFR Review 3-4 July 2021. Page13 Intergenerational report Policymakers are betting on low rates and solid growth, writes Ronald Mizen. Tony Abbott […]

Housing now worth four times GDP
Property2 Jul 2021

Housing now worth four times GDP

AFR Article: Wednesday 16 June 2021. Page 13 The average price of a residential property in NSW surpassed $1 million for the […]

Rental risk as Victoria investors sell
Property9 Jun 2021

Rental risk as Victoria investors sell

Australian Financial Review Thursday 3 June 2021 Victoria’s recent stamp duty hikes, higher land taxes and newly legislated minimum standards in market […]

House prices surge as listings slip
Property9 Jun 2021

House prices surge as listings slip

Australian Financial Review Wednesday 2 June 2021 Housing values have surged to record highs across all capitals except Perth and Darwin, with […]

Future Fund warns of rising inflation
Financial Planning Industry & Global Trends9 Jun 2021

Future Fund warns of rising inflation

Australian Financial Review Thursday 27 May 2021 John Kehoe Economics editor A potential significant increase in inflation is a risk for financial […]

FORTUNE TELLER OF THE ECONOMY
Budgets – Federal Government9 Jun 2021

FORTUNE TELLER OF THE ECONOMY

Australian Financial Review Tuesday 25 May 2021 ‘Projected rise in bond rate to 3 3/4 per cent on eve of loan council,’’ […]

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