There isn’t a single person in the world who hasn’t been impacted by COVID-19. As new case numbers start to slow in Australia, so too is our economy. This time presents new challenges as everyone gets used to a “new normal” and figures out the best way to weather the coming months. This article provides an overview of different measures the Federal Government has announced to support individuals and businesses, current market performance and what you should be thinking about when it comes to your finances and continuing to build long-term wealth.
Government support for individuals and businesses
The Federal Government has announced two economic stimulus packages and the JobKeeper Payment to support individuals and businesses. An overview of the Federal Government’s measures announced to date is detailed below.
Support for individuals
The Federal Government has announced a range of measures to help individuals. Eligibility to access these measures is determined on criteria such as your employment status or loss of income due to COVID-19. Some of the key measures include:
Full details about the Federal Government’s measures to support individuals are available on the Treasury website.
Early release of superannuation
Eligible people will be able to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation in the 2019-20 financial year and a further $10,000 in the 2020-21 financial year. To access your super early, you need to meet one of the following five criteria:
If you are considering early release of your superannuation, you need to consider what the potential long-term impacts may be to the growth of your superannuation fund and retirement income. While $20,000 split across two $10,000 withdrawals may not seem like a lot of money now, it could have significant compounding value if it’s left in your fund. Understandably, people may not have any other choice to support themselves financially. Make sure you speak to a financial professional to understand your risks and if this is a suitable option for you. If you’re eligible, you can apply for early release of your superannuation directly with the ATO through the myGov website.
Temporarily reducing superannuation minimum drawdown rates
The temporary reduction in the minimum drawdown requirements for account-based pensions has been designed to reduce the need for retirees who have account-based pensions to sell their assets to fund their minimum drawdown requirements. The new minimum drawdown rates are outlined in the table below.
Support for businesses
The Federal Government has announced a range of measures to help businesses facing financial difficulty. Eligibility to access these measures depends on factors such as your turnover and how much your business’s revenue has decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of these measures include:
Full details about the Federal Government’s measures to support businesses and eligibility criteria are available on the Treasury website.
How the banks are approaching home loans
Banks have announced that homeowners experiencing financial difficulty can pause their mortgage repayments for between three and six months. It’s important to remember that, in most cases, interest will still be capitalised and added to your outstanding loan balance. When payments restart, your lender may require increased repayments, or the term of your loan may be increased. These are important factors you need to discuss with your lender. Here’s what the big four banks are offering customers:
What do past market crashes and corrections tell us about the current environment?
While the circumstances of the current crash are unique, it’s normal to have a market crash greater than 20% every decade. Based on the last eight market crashes, the average market decline is 40% from high to low. From the initial decline to recovery, the average crash duration is 41 months, and the market bottom usually occurs around seven months after the initial 20% decline. This means it can take roughly seven months for the market to hit bottom and the following 34 months to recover.
On February 20 this year, the S&P/ASX200 hit an all-time high of 7162 points. By 31 March, the ASX200 was down 36.5%.
What should you focus on when it comes to personal finance?
While it can be tempting to sell all your investments now as the market declines, this locks in your losses and puts your wealth in a weak position. If you haven’t already defensively positioned your investments, speak with a financial adviser about how to best adjust your investing over the coming months. You should also consider how to maximise your returns as the market recovers. As the author of the best-selling investment book The Intelligent Investor Ben Graham says, “Be the realist who buys from pessimists and sells to optimists”.
Investing and building wealth is a long-term game. As such, you should be investing with a long-term time horizon in mind.
How do you best look after your health during COVID-19?
Maintain good health by eating healthy foods and exercising regularly to make sure your immune system is as strong as possible. You also need to observe the Government’s social distancing rules and only leave home for essential activities such as going to the supermarket, pharmacy, work, or exercising.
What should I do next?
During this time, you may face some challenges in your finances. Your ability, however, to understand the options available to you and what the current period means on a long-term basis is key to getting through this challenging time productively. Further, making well thought out decisions now will give you the strong foundations you need in your health and wealth as the world recovers and embarks on a new period of growth.
Before you make any big changes to your financial situation, speak to your financial adviser and accountant to get personalised advice for your unique situation.
References:
https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/income-and-deductions/deductions-you-can-claim/home-office-expenses/. “Home office expenses” Australian Taxation Office (7 April 2020)
https://www.amazon.com.au/Intelligent-Investor-Benjamin-Graham/dp/0060555661 “The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham” Amazon.
https://www.ato.gov.au/general/JobKeeper-Payment/ “JobKeeper Payment” Australian Taxation Office (16 April 2020)
https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/businesses “Support for Businesses” Treasury (2020)
https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/households “Supporting Individuals and Households” Treasury (2020)
https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/business-investment “Supporting the Flow of Credit” Treasury (2020)
https://www.ratecity.com.au/home-loans/mortgage-news/banks-freezing-mortgages-covid-19 “Which banks are freezing mortgages for COVID-19?” RateCity (25 March 2020)
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