Monthly economic update — July 2026: oil surges, long bond yields hit multi-year highs, rates hold steady
Inflation eased in the US and Australia through June — but oil jumped 23% in a month, the US 30-year Treasury yield hit a 19-year high, and four live risks sit underneath the calm surface.
International shares for Australian retirees: why diversification beyond ASX matters
The ASX is only 2% of global markets — franking credits don't justify full concentration.
Markets just crashed — should I switch my super to cash? The downturn decision that can make or break your retirement
Panic-switching super to cash after a crash locks in losses and misses the rebound.
Whose name should the investments be in? A quiet but valuable retiree question
Whose name investments are held in can quietly save thousands in tax each year.
CGT event E4: tax-deferred distributions from managed funds and the cost base reduction trap
Tax-deferred trust distributions quietly erode your cost base until gains become immediate.
The small business CGT 15-year exemption: timing the sale of your business for retirement
Selling a 15-year-old business at 55+ in connection with retirement can mean zero CGT.
ETFs in retirement portfolios: low-cost diversification for Australian retirees
Index ETFs deliver broad market exposure at a fraction of actively managed fund costs.
Franking credits for retirees: why refundable imputation matters most for low-tax investors
Retirees in pension-phase super receive franking credits as cash refunds — boosting the effective yield.
Investment bonds for retirees: a tax-effective structure when super capacity is exhausted
Investment bonds offer a 30% tax rate for retirees whose super capacity is already exhausted.
Investment platform choice in retirement: super pension, wrap, broker, or SMSF?
Most retirees benefit from a combination of super pension, wrap, and broker accounts.
Hedged or unhedged international shares in retirement: the currency decision retirees rarely make deliberately
Most retirees never deliberately choose between hedged and unhedged international shares — but they should.
The pre-retirement glide path: how to derisk a portfolio without overreacting to age
Too aggressive before retirement risks a ruinous drawdown; too defensive sacrifices 25 years of growth.
Market volatility and the retired investor
When you’re drawing an income rather than earning one, market falls feel different. Here’s how to keep your head — and your plan.