Nick Bruining

30/09/2025

In spite of being away with the Grandies up in GinGin, the show must go on! All set in the “temp“ studio (the caravan) Join me and Phil Clark on Nightlife tonight at 10:00pm AET, 8:00pm WST.
Call in with your questions 1300 800 222 or text, 0467922702.
Just a tip, in talk-back radio, live callers always get priority over texts… :)

18/09/2025

*** Breaking News***

ASIC issues DDO stop orders against La Trobe Australian Credit Fund

From ASIC this afternoon..

ASIC has made interim stop orders against the 12 Month Term Account and 2 Year Account products offered under the La Trobe Australian Credit Fund (Fund), a registered managed investment scheme operated by La Trobe Financial Asset Management Limited (La Trobe) due to deficiencies in the target market determination (TMD) for both products.

ASIC is concerned that target market for La Trobe’s 12 Month Term Account and 2 Year Account products:

suggest an inappropriate level of portfolio allocation given the risks of the Fund, and
do not include appropriate distribution conditions.
ASIC is taking this action to protect consumers and retail investors from acquiring products that may not be suitable for their financial objectives, situation or needs.

The interim orders prevent La Trobe from dealing in interests giving a product disclosure statement for, or providing general financial product advice to, retail clients recommending an investment in the 12 Month Term Account and 2 Year Account products. The orders are valid for 21 days unless revoked earlier.

This stop order referral arose from ASIC’s retail private credit surveillance which focused on fund transparency, governance, valuation practices, management of conflicts of interest and fair treatment of investors, conducted as part of its response to Australia's volving capital markets.

26/02/2025

Did you know?
Under Capital Gains Tax rules, you can only own 1 primary dwelling at the same time, with one exception. If you are in the process of changing homes, the ATO allow a 6 month change over period where in effect, you can have two primary dwellings. This can have far reaching effects on not only the possible Tax you might pay, but probably, your ability to dump money into super using the super downsizer rules. In today's podcast (Episode 23) we answer a question where someone owns an investment property and then decides to move into that property and sell their family home. Some tricks and tips for those contemplating this strategy on how to maximise the deductions from the start...

21/02/2025

I just realised this wasn't published.
If you missed our monthly session on ABC Local radio's Nightlife With Philip Clark ?

Here it is ! :)

A very busy session with questions ranging from Superannuation to Aged Care. Listen in, you're sure to learn something new.

21/02/2025

Just a heads-up and why you should subscribe to our free podcast series.

March will be a MASSIVE month for news affecting those in, or thinking about retirement. Early March will be the release of the new pension and allowance rates. This will impact all means tested pensioners and open up the possibility of a part-pension for thousands of seniors who currently miss out.
Mid March on Tuesday 18, will be the Federal Government's last budget (yes, it is 2 month "early") before the election AND the opposition's reply. There are a number of highly contentious issues, many surrounding super, that you will need to be aware of when you head for the polls.
Who knows, by then we will probably be in the midst of a federal election campaign. I will be installed in the federal budget lockup and recording a podcast that will air IMMEDIATELY after the budget lockup ends at 19:30 AEST.
March will also see increases to critical aged care numbers and the LAST Quarter relevant numbers will be released before the new Aged Care Act kicks in on July 1
IF you want to know about this stuff but more importantly how it affects you, subscribe to our free podcast. As soon as they are published, you'll be notified and I expect there will be several, all in a couple of days.
Just look up "Nick Netplan" wherever you get your podcasts or use the link below.

Podcast · Nick Bruining - Netplan · netplan.com.au is Australia's home for online retirement planning advice. Headed by one of Australia's leading independent and licensed financial advisers, Nick Bruining, with over 33 years of experience he's making it more cost effective and less confusing to r...

30/10/2024

Here's why today's inflation data means we won't be seeing an interest rate reduction by the RBA any time soon.
But in spite of that, good news may still be in the pipe-line thanks to what's happening overseas..
While CPI only rose 0.2 percent in the September 2024 quarter and 2.8 percent annually, trimmed mean inflation, which excluded the big drops in electricity (thanks to govt sweeteners) and petrol, rose by 0.8 percent in the same quarter to 3.5 percent annually.
The RBA's target range for CPI is between 2 and 3 percent.
Causing real concern, is the "Services" inflation number which rose from 4.5 percent to 4.6 percent annually.
Inflation is certainly not yet under control.
On the good news front, inflation overseas is looking good. That might see overseas rates drop which means Aussie Bank's cost of funding could reduce.
Competitive lending pressure might even see "out-of-cycle" reductions passed onto borrowers.
BUT! Hopefully, maybe, - We'll see.

23/10/2024

Out now.
Our latest podcast that talks about accessing your super. Hear how one person, discovered a $20,000 unexpected hit to his super when he accessed it before retirement.

One of the most common questions asked? How can I access my super ? What are the rules about getting hold of my super before I'm retired? In this episode, we talk to someone who accessed $67,000 to fix his teeth and the nasty surprise he discovered weeks later. Compassionate Grounds, Severe Financia...

22/10/2024

Did you know?
Early access to super is becoming big business with many medical professionals actively promoting "dipping into super" to pay for procedures that aren't covered by Medicare. What's not often explained is that accessing super before you turn 60 can trigger a number of unexpected financial consequences. None the least of which is almost always, a 22 percent tax on the amount accessed. Because it is taxable income, it can bu**er up other income tested things like: Family Tax benefit part A & B, Paid Parental leave, an extra 15 percent contributions tax on your super and extra child support payments.
A 25 year old who withdraws $20,000 now, would have about $300,000 less at retirement. THAT could mean the difference between retiring at 64 instead of having to work through until age 67.
And while the argument "its my money, I should be able to do what I like with it", might be compelling. The fact is, I know thousands of people who, if not for the inaccessibility of super, would be staring into retirement, living off the Age Pension alone. While that's not the end of the world, a lifestyle based on a total income of $572 a week (for singles) is tough.

15/10/2024

Did you know?
If you cease employment after reaching 60, you can access your super tax-free. Importantly, that rule does not require you to cease your main job. You could start and finish a part-time job and that would allow you to “tick-the-box”.
This is a great strategy for someone who has a mortgage or other non tax-deductible debt and wants to enter retirement debt free (as I would suggest 99.9 percent of the time).
By doing this as soon as possible, the money you were spending on your mortgage, can now be redirected to super. Indeed, you can do this and also get a tax deduction.
Gratuitous Plugs follow !
This is EXACTLY the kind of strategic stuff we talk about in Netplan Premium. Frank, straight-forward information and advice, not tainted by trying to flog you an investment or any other service.
Same too with our FREE Podcasts (supported by Ads), which you can find on all the usual places (Apple Podcasts, Spotify etc).

09/10/2024

Ok. Gratuitous plug time. and a bit of a "How to"
For those of you who are podcast fans, the final episode in our free series on how to locate and choose a GOOD financial adviser is out now.
This last episode deals with how much we think, is a reasonable amount to be paying, what services you should expect for the money you're paying and finally, what we think of Self Managed Super funds and why. For those with an adviser already, It will provide you with a "best-practice" benchmark.

For those that have never ventured into the world of podcasting... here's how.
Podcasts are like a mini radio show, some are often in a particular area of interest. (Indeed many radio programs are available after they go to air as a "podcast")
Go to your app-store or similar and look for a podcast player and install it. (if you are an apple iphone with apple music or have spotify installed, you already have a podcast player).
Then, Google or search for "Nick Bruining Retirement Podcast" . That will show up a link to our home page on both platforms (apple or spotify). You can subscribe for free - that means you get notified when we do a new episode or you can just listen to the topics that interest you. This one on choosing a financial adviser is a 3 part series, so start with Choosing a financial adviser, then go to Episode 2 and then Episode 3.
The more subscribers we get, the more we potentially get paid and hence - the incentive to do more :)
Thanks in advance.

08/10/2024

Did you know ?
When you arrange for your boss to make a payment to your super fund (usually a salary sacrificed amount), there is no obligation for that payment to be sent to your super fund until 28 days AFTER the end of the quarter concerned. Indeed, that also applies to the compulsory super payment. It means for example, the superannuation contribution(s) related to this week (October , 7 - 11) won't have to be paid to your super fund until January 28, 2025.
But things are changing.. Stay tuned for more.

03/10/2024

Tired of waiting on the phone for hours to talk to Centrelink? We can reveal that Centrelink now have a NEW appointment service in place.
People get frustrated when they are trying to notify Centrelink of changes. That's a legal requirement to do that if the value of your finances changes by $2,000 or more. You have 14 days to do the update.
Launched in the past couple of weeks, you can now make a 15 minute phone appointment or a 30 minute walk-in appointment where you can turn up with the shoe-box full of stuff to sort out!
In spite of the ability to make an appointment, the on-line system seems to work best with updates to bank balances and unitised investments. That service is available 24 hours a day.
Unitised investments include super funds, shares, and managed investment funds.
Updates are almost always processed more speedily if done online.
Other investments such as small companies, family trusts and real-estate need to be coded into the system manually by a Centrelink officer.
If you haven’t booked an appointment, you could physically take the information into a Centrelink office instead, or be a bit smart about when you call them.
If visiting your local office, try to avoid the busy days of Monday or Thursday if possible and avoid lunch-time, when many staff are on a break.
Calling at the end or start of a day, is usually the time that gives you the shortest wait - but it can still be considerable.

Simply head along to the Centrelink website to make an appointment or call your usual service number and follow the prompts. For seniors, that number is 132300.