Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Most of our super contributions have taken a battering recently!

Most have gone backwards this year.

Late babyboomers in particular have seen projected retirement funds devastated by the global economy downturn.

Many funds allow you to tailor investment strategy on-line, immediately.

I know of some people that are converting to cash .. rather than balanced innvestement strategy for example..

I find al this stuff very difficult ...

Any advice?

Don't put money into super, its a rort.
If you want to retire, pay off your house first.
If the gov wants to match the money you put in up to a certain value. Just put in that amount. And make sure its in something that can't go backwards.
And when you reach retirement age don't be surprised that the gov has moved the finish line a few more years.

IMHO, instead of relying on super as an investment for your retirement, learn how to invest "directly" yourself. I have never considered super as a retirement plan. I have set up super to a high growth plan many years ago, never monitor the growth, and never did check what I have left after the crash. To me, it is considered money lost until I am old enough to withdraw the super and depending on when the retirement age is then, it is additional bonus for me when I do "live" long enough to withdraw the money.

It is like AP, to get ahead and know what you are doing, you must do it yourself. Learn how to invest yourself. You cannot get ahead with your "investment" (in this case, AP) if you do not read, learn and get your hands dirty with AP. I think you know what I am getting at. Unfortunately, the sad part is when it comes to investing for our retirement, many people take the passenger seat and assume that the funds (ie. super, managed funds, etc) will get us there. Quite unlikely as you have just stated, babyboomers have seen their retirement incomes in the super gone overnight. Possibly also a similar fate for those investing in shares based on hear-say rather than evaluating the shares themselves for their true value.

Personally I like property, particularly in Australia since we get good tax benefits from owning properties. I have read and learnt how to invest in positive cashflow properties. And as you might see on the market, well selected properties are still holding their value pretty well in these economic times.

I am with you Ivan

The old saying is never put all your eggs in one basket. Same is especially true with your retirement. I agree with Ivan on property, Land, Realestate. Land is one commodity that they are not making any more of! But they are making more people! Rentals work well if you plan to keep them, as with stock there is capital gain taxes. My plan is to have half my present employment salary matched by rental income. 4 rentals should acheive that. And as a retirement strategy you do not have to turn much profit until you retire so length of mortgage length is set so its paid off by retirement date and you can write off mortgage interest while you are still employed. This works well because the rents are relitive to the economy. I'm not a big gambler so I missed all the gains of the tech stocks of the 90's and just kept in solid stocks of major oil and S&P 500 funds. Including all the dips my 20 year average is about 14% on stocks and the properties on average double in value every 15 years. Cheveron stock is hard to beat because of it being solid and pays high dividends. Also roll dividend back into stock unless you really need the money. Another good adder is after tax retirement accounts. They can allow you to retire early and not touch the before tax money so you are not discounted so much by not being officially retired until the proper age.

Salary sacrifice..
Nup would prefer to use it, than let some turkey peck at it til it has bugger all gain
I think property has done better over here.
In 20 years the same house has gone from 140k to 1000k
several others have gone from mid 60k to 750k in the same 20 years.

WOW double every 6-7 years. Certain areas in the US has done well most average double in 10 years. I'm not in a good area!
Just me I still wouldn't put all my eggs in one basket.

Hmmm... I might be in a good area.... depends on the time of the year.
Holiday season isn't much fun,
Lucky we can hibernate.

Reading the above has me in stitch's ,, but asking Aquaponics experts about investments the replies are to be expected ,, try asking an Accountant about AP ??? ROFLMAO

One good piece of advice was setting up your own retirement plan ,, but that is only viable for those with larger amounts of money because it costs a fair few dollars to set it up and manage it.

Over time a well balanced super / share market investment has out performed all others by a significant amount. I say stick with that ,, a BALANCED investment plan with a fund that has a proven track record.
Ignore the scare mongers and "stay the course"

So according to you, we should pay no attention to what you say either then Chappo, or are you an accountant...

Well Chappo, I think you are stereotyping here. AP can be a great hobby to an accountant. And for that matter, to any person, professional, skilled and just about anyone. So it is not fair to say that you should not listen to an accountant (or anyone other person) taking about a subject that they are not "deemed" to be not familiar with.

Well I can tell you I am not an accountant, but I can tell you that not all accountants know the various tax laws. There are some accountants good at personal tax, some are good at investment tax, and so on. In fact, my advise if know the tax law as well as your accountants. I nearly missed out on $1000 tax back because the accountant who did my tax return is not as good at personal/family tax as investment tax.

What really puzzles me is many people go to financial planners and get them to setup a investment/retirement plan, but have we actually ask them (the financial planners) how their investment plans are going for themselves personally? They probably are not better off, else they will not be working 8-5pm, meeting clients to get them signed up.

I would assume you heard of Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki. Regardless of what you might think about them, they are rich, bloody rich. Check out their book "Why we want you to be rich" and see what they say about your balanced investment plan. Personally I am not scared with the path I have chosen, I am actually scared or concerned about those people who hand over their hard-earned money for others to play around with.

Enough said, with an mind, it is actually good that there are people who play it "safe", more opportunties and less competition for the "risk-takers".

I too, am not interested in someone else looking after my money or investments
As you say Ivan, why would you trust, as many ppl have and lost heaps following the financial advisers lead.
The FA is not going to miss out as they will be getting their pound of flesh in fees.
Also kickbacks, and anyhoo they don't look after you unless you have way heaps and can
make them more fees.
Not an accountant either but have been doing my tax since I was 25, this was because the accountant
charge me 3000skins for his junior to look after my affairs of tax...
Then when I noticed that the accountant had neglected my tax and forgot to include 3 vehicles for 3 years,
and then charged me a further 1600 for the amendment to reclaim 6000.
Not ever again.

Good point earthbouind ,, When it comes to investment I recieve all my info from my father,, UMM yes he was an accountant , CPA , registered auditor etc etc ,, Topped the accountancy exams for NSW. I recon he's advice is worthy of listening to ,, but ask him about a car ??? he still doesn't know were the spark plugs are ,,LOL
But he knows a good idea when he see's one ,, It was him that purchased the BYAP book and CD's for me a few years back after seeing it on ABC TV.
Opinions on investments are usually un-educated guessing ,, or regurgitated crud from someone trying to make a dollar FROM your dollar.

For me I'm very happy with my super investments ..... I look forward to an indexed pension of 50% of my wages ( including shift penalties) INDEXED to inflation for the rest of my life. That in today's money is a pension of $40,000 per year indexed. When I am finally chopped up for fish food in my aquaponics system that will be in today's money $30,000 per year for my wife , indexed to inflation for the rest of her life.
The lump sum predictions are always guess's , but I do know even with the latest "CRASH" , I have nearly $200,000 invested through super into top 200 Aus companies , some into the Asian markets and some in retail property.
Even with all that I believe and my father tells me , I am under invested in the share market ,, I am working on that slowly ..... picking up Westpac shares and looking for the odd bargain such as AMP / Com bank ..... etc.

I'll be thinking of you guys in my fully funded retirement , travelling and enjoying:)

Sounds like you blew it...
Rio at $14 bhp at $6.5 fmg at $1
I think your Dad was correct you could be under gunned...
But your kids are right though eh?

Yep , the kid's are my number one priority and they will be well taken care of.
As for me ,, LOL , I am a realist ,, reality suggests I won't make it to 65,, that's just the way it is. But i will be at peace in my LONG sleep knowing I have done all I can for my babies:) They will be EXPERTS in AP before I go , know at least 3 languages , most likely 4 ,, know the value of doing good and the value of fighting against bad.
And if the whole world economy go's belly up , there is security of 5 acres of fish-farm in Thailand for them.