After a rocky start to 2026, global shares staged a notable recovery through April — and understanding what's driving that matters for every investor.

A few things are worth keeping on your radar right now. Technology stocks have been a standout performer, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq recently touching fresh peaks. Meanwhile, sectors like energy have faced more headwinds, reminding us that not everything moves together.One wildcard I'm watching closely: the geopolitical situation around the Strait of Hormuz. A prolonged closure would create real winners and losers across the market. Energy exporters outside the Middle East — think Australia, the US, and parts of Africa — could benefit from supply disruptions pushing prices higher. On the losing side, energy-importing nations and industries heavily dependent on oil shipping routes would feel the squeeze. Freight costs, inflation, and supply chain pressures would all come back into focus fast.Closer to home, the Australian market has had a more mixed ride, with financial stocks in particular seeing some sharp single-day swings recently.The key takeaway? Recoveries don't mean smooth sailing. Staying diversified and keeping a clear head when volatility returns is what tends to separate good outcomes from stressful ones.If you'd like to talk through how any of this fits your own situation, feel free to reach out — happy to chat.Anthony | Intertek Financial Planning*General information only. Not personal financial advice.* ... See MoreSee Less

Property investing in Australia might be about to look very different — and a lot of people have questions.

There's been a lot of noise lately about potential changes to capital gains tax (CGT) concessions and negative gearing rules. The premise from the government's side is straightforward: reduce the tax advantages that property investors currently enjoy, and housing becomes more affordable for everyday Australians trying to get into the market. It's a well-intentioned goal, and I think most of us would agree that housing affordability genuinely is a serious problem worth solving.But here's where it gets complicated — and where I think it's worth slowing down and thinking critically.The theory is that if you make property investment less attractive to investors, they'll step back, prices will soften, and first home buyers will have a better shot. Logical on the surface. The reality, though, is that property markets are complex, and there's genuine debate among economists, investors, and housing researchers about whether removing these incentives actually delivers on that promise.Here's what concerns a lot of people. A significant portion of Australia's rental housing is provided by private landlords — everyday mums and dads, not corporate giants. If the investment equation changes materially, some of those landlords may choose to sell up or simply not buy in the first place. Fewer rental properties available, combined with population growth and supply constraints that haven't gone away, could actually push rents higher — which hits renters hardest, often the very people the policy is trying to help.It's also worth noting that CGT discounts and negative gearing don't exist in isolation — they interact with how people plan their finances, particularly around retirement. Changes here can ripple through long-term wealth strategies in ways that aren't always obvious until you sit down and actually model them out.None of this is to say the current settings are perfect, or that change is necessarily wrong. It's to say that the impact on you — whether you're an existing property investor, someone thinking about buying an investment property, or a renter — depends heavily on the detail of any changes and your personal circumstances.This is genuinely one of those moments where getting clear, independent advice matters. Not just reacting to headlines, but actually understanding what a shift in policy could mean for your situation.If you're wondering how any of this might affect your financial position or plans, I'm happy to have that conversation.Anthony | Intertek Financial Planning*This post contains general information only and does not constitute personal financial advice.*#propertyinvesting #financialplanning ... See MoreSee Less

Big week ahead if you're an Australian investor or taxpayer — and it's worth paying attention.

First up, if you're lodging your tax return through a registered tax agent, the deadline is 15 May. That's this Friday. If you haven't already been in touch with your accountant or adviser, now is the time. Missing that date can mean penalties, so don't leave it to the last minute.Then tomorrow night, the Federal Budget lands — and from what we're seeing flagged ahead of time, there's plenty that could affect everyday Australians, particularly investors and those with money in superannuation.**What's in the Budget spotlight?**One of the bigger conversations heading into tonight's Budget is around the cost of investing. There have been ongoing discussions about how investment income — including earnings on assets held inside and outside of super — might be taxed differently going forward. The direction of travel from government has been toward asking wealthier Australians and larger super balances to contribute a little more. Whether that lands in a meaningful way tonight remains to be seen, but it's worth watching closely.For those with significant assets in super or building toward retirement, even relatively small changes to tax treatment or contribution rules can have a real impact on long-term outcomes. The rules around how much you can contribute each year — both from your pre-tax income and after-tax savings — are worth revisiting with your adviser, especially if you're in a position to top up before the end of the financial year. (Your adviser can confirm the current caps that apply to your situation, or you can check ato.gov.au for the latest figures.)**What should you actually do right now?**1. **Check your tax lodgement situation** — if you're with a tax agent, confirm your return is on track before 15 May.2. **Watch the Budget** — or at least catch the summary tomorrow. Changes to tax and super rules can affect your plans.3. **Don't react too quickly** — Budget announcements often look different once the detail is released and legislation actually passes. It's easy to panic or make a move based on a headline that never actually becomes law.4. **Talk to someone** — if you're unsure what tonight's Budget means for your investments or retirement strategy, that's exactly what we're here for.It's a busy few days in the world of Australian personal finance. If you'd like to talk through how any of this affects your situation, feel free to reach out — no pressure, just a conversation.Anthony Wolfenden*This is general information only and does not constitute personal financial advice.* ... See MoreSee Less

Interest rates are back in the headlines — and understanding *why* they move matters more than most people realise.

When central banks raise rates, the idea is straightforward: make borrowing more expensive, slow spending, and bring inflation down. It works well when inflation is being driven by people spending too much — what economists call demand-driven inflation. But history tells a more complicated story.Think back to the 1970s oil shocks. When OPEC cut supply, energy prices surged globally, and inflation followed — not because households were flush with cash and spending freely, but because it simply cost more to produce and move everything. Central banks raised rates aggressively anyway. The result? Stagflation — rising prices *and* rising unemployment at the same time. A painful combination that took years to unwind.We saw echoes of this again after 2022, when the energy price shock triggered by the Ukraine conflict pushed inflation higher across much of the world. Raising rates can't make oil cheaper or fix a supply chain — it just makes mortgages harder to service.That distinction — demand-driven versus supply-driven inflation — really matters when central banks are deciding their next move, and it matters for your household budget and investment decisions too.If you'd like to talk through what the current rate environment means for your situation, feel free to reach out. Always happy to chat.Anthony | Intertek Financial Planning*This is general information only and does not constitute personal financial advice.* ... See MoreSee Less

With the 2025–26 Budget just around the corner, everyone's asking the same question — what's actually going to change?

While nothing's been officially confirmed yet, the speculation is running hot. And if you follow the betting markets at all, you'll know they've already started placing their chips on a few key areas: capital gains tax, negative gearing, and the treatment of trusts.So what are people expecting? The chatter suggests potential tweaks to how capital gains are taxed — particularly around the discount available on investment assets. Negative gearing is another perennial favourite for reform rumours, with some expecting limits or changes to how property investors can offset losses against other income. And trusts — always a politically loaded topic — are apparently attracting attention again, with murmurs around how distributions are taxed.Now, to be clear — these are market whispers, not policy. Budgets have a way of surprising everyone, and what the bookies back isn't always what ends up in the papers the next morning.But if any of these areas touch your financial situation — whether you hold investment property, have money in a trust structure, or own assets with built-up gains — it's worth having a conversation now, before anything is locked in.Feel free to reach out if you'd like to talk through what might be relevant for you.Anthony | Intertek Financial Planning ... See MoreSee Less