Select Finance

23/08/2026

Today's PERSPECTIVE : Today we consider the Sydney Swans DISASTER. From a business perspective, we comment on Brand Damage, and Service Contracts. All seem to agree this is a public relations disaster; created headlines that will stain the Swan's image for decades to come; headlines that will see Sponsors and Alliances withdrawing support and running for separation. Players putting themselves in this position (regardless of the findings) has damaged brand and culture that took decades to create. Then comes the issue of the 5.00am “Party Girls” (are they dancers, entertainers, st*****rs, prostitutes?). Our prediction is that any prosecution against the players will fail, … why? Because the women were commissioned and paid an agreed amount to provide products or services. For that transaction, there is formed a contract or agreement (be-it verbal or written). What remains unclear, and needs to be proven by the Police/Prosecutor, is what was “purchased” ?, was there stated boundaries/limitations in what was “purchased”, was it CLEAR? Prostitution and S*x work is legal in Victoria. It then follows that any legal action by the said women, will come under immense cross-examination (what is their job, work history, what is required, earnings history, their employers, services on offer, what was “agreed” between the parties etc); and as such, it seems unlikely this path will follow, unless a conviction is made. Just a perspective.

29/05/2026

Finance Fact Friday : Today's finance trick.... did you know that working "Percentages" is "reversible" . We can work the easy ones in our heads in the shopping aisle, but what about the tough ones ..... well try reversing it around. For example : 8% of 50 ...... equals 50% of 8 (ie. 4) simple.

21/05/2026

Sharemarkets around the world seem to be treading water okay in the new "War environment". Funny in times that our Super Funds would be preaching "go conservative, low risk, go top 200 company's shares", what about these recent results :
Commonwealth Bank - down 21%, CSL - down 45% , Cochlear - down 66%, Dominos Pizza - down 23%. - ouch ...... I think that's why we need to "diversify" our investment portfolios !!

15/05/2026

Australia is in UPROAR - Investment property Negative Gearing announced "abolished" by Albanese. ...... Friends, before panicking and distressing, let's look at this, ... especially when most investors don't fully understand what "negative gearing" is anyway. In its simplest form, it is claiming any "rental loss" against your salary earning, which reduces tax (ie. where your "property expenses" exceeded your "property income"). However, I'd say that in the current climate, with high rents, and low interest rates, that 65% of property investments are "positively geared" anyway. Remember... you will STILL be able to claim all of your relative expenses against the Rent received, no changes. Let's face it, you didn't buy the property for "negative gearing", you primarily bought it for "someone else" (the tenant) to pay off your 2nd house, whilst the house is going up in value by 6.5% per year, a long term investment plan.

08/05/2026

Todays FINANCE FACT : Imminent property crash coming (part 2) - following on from last week's post, let us add the following comments : WE Australians love property, we love to have an investment that we can drive past and make sure it's still there (unlike Crypto and Shares for example). We have enjoyed a historical growth of 6.56%pa, and we love the thought of "someone else paying off your house" (rent). A Crash or Correction IS coming, history shows. However we are reminded that residential property investment is a medium to long term investment. A 1-2 year make a fortune strategy will fail, just read up on the collapse of $20million property darling Cathy Jane Pearce. Invest/buy wisely, be patient, and the rewards will come.

07/05/2026

TODAY'S SELECT PERSPECTIVE : Another rate rise, when does this pain end? The Cost of living and inflationary pressures, along with rising interest rates is hurting Australians. The Goverment is failing us. The "one trick pony" government sees "using" the RBA's monetary policy (raising interest rates) as the sole means to quell demand as the holy grail. INSTEAD, the goverment needs to address fiscal policy, reign in government spending, Centrelink handouts and bailouts, NCIS and major projects that can wait, and implement meaningful taxation reform. A traditional "spending" Labor govenment massive national debt will take decades to get back under control.

01/05/2026

Select's FINANCE FACT FRIDAY : Thinking of selling your property, ... do it NOW... before the CRASH. Today's article explores what market conditions give rise to the "residential property value corrections" we have experienced over the last 100+ years. Have a read, you decide.

14/04/2026

07/04/2026

TODAY'S Select PERSPECTIVE : You can't have it both ways !!! What do we want..... Lower interest rates, Lower House prices, Higher House Prices, Higher Australian Dollar, Lower Unemployment, Higher Salaries, Less Taxes, Higher Sharemarket, Lower Petrol prices, Higher Dole and Disability payments, No HECS bills, More Bulk billing, More Rental properties, More Police on the street, Lower Inflation, Better Pensioner Deposit rates, Cheaper Groceries bills, ... and so on. BUT NONE of these are mutually exclusive. That is to say, you can NOT get one, without conversely impacting another. SO, what's it going to be, for example, will we accept lower wages (pay freeze) to achieve lower inflation/consumables prices ? Shall we go for lower interest rates, but then crash the Australian Dollar making overseas/imported goods more expensive, shall we increase the Unemployment benefits for the 700,000 unemployed even though we already can't entice these back into work to fill the 320,000 advertised jobs, ...... Yep, you can't have it both ways.