With Coronavirus anxiety slowing the economy, stock market fear is rampant and it could still get worse. Eventually the mood will shift from fear of loss to something entirely different which is the fear of missing out on the eventual rebound. The bottom of the stock market when it arrives may not be apparent except in hindsight, possibly months later. Investors won’t be waiting for an official start to a recession, let alone a declaration of its end. They will be anticipating business conditions 6 to 9 months out and the market may be in recovery long before the pandemic is on the wane.
The strongest bull (rising) markets are not built on a foundation of good news, but on diminishing bad news. We must remember not to wait for the good news we should just wait until the pattern of bad news lets up.
Morningstar Investments who provide us with independent research have rated 70 Australian companies as ‘5 Stars’ many which are already held in our client portfolios, with current values below their intrinsic value and present enormous potential to grow your portfolio. They also stated that they don’t expect a prolonged recession and the recovery from past downturns has always been strong.
Coronavirus safety net expanded
In a rapidly evolving response to the spread of COVID-19, the Federal Government’s second support package announced over the weekend has flicked the switch to more income support for retirees and workers.
Between the first $17.6 billion package announced on March 12, and this latest $66.1 billion package, the emphasis has shifted from stimulus aimed at keeping businesses up and running, to support for individuals to get them through the crisis.
Importantly, casuals and sole traders along with employees who lose work due to the coronavirus shutdown will receive help.
Retirees affected by falling superannuation balances and deeming rates out of line with historically low interest rates have also been offered some reprieve.
Minimum pension drawdowns halved
Self-funded retirees will be relieved the Government has moved quickly to temporarily reduce the minimum drawdown rates for superannuation pensions.
Similar to the response in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis, minimum drawdown rates for account-based pensions and similar products will be halved for the 2020 and 2021 financial years.
This means retirees will be under less pressure to sell shares or other pension assets in a falling market to meet the minimum payments they are required to withdraw each financial year.
For example, a 75-year-old retiree will now be required to withdraw a minimum of 3 per cent of their super pension balance this financial year and in 2020-21, instead of the usual 6 per cent.
The new rates are in the table below:
Age of member | Minimum drawdown rate (for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 income years) |
Under 65 | 2% |
65-74 | 2.5% |
75-79 | 3% |
80-84 | 3.5% |
85-89 | 4.5% |
90-94 | 5.5% |
95+ | 7% |
Deeming rates cut again
In addition to the cut in pension deeming rates announced in the first stimulus package, the Government has cut deeming rates by a further 0.25 percentage points. This reflects the Reserve Banks latest cut in official interest rates to a new low of 0.25 per cent.
Deeming rates are the amount the Government ‘deems’ pensioners earn on their investments to determine eligibility for the Age Pension and other entitlements, even if that rate is lower than they actually earn.
This move will bring deeming rates closer in line with the interest rates pensioners are receiving on their bank deposits, especially those with lower balances.
From 1 May 2020, deeming rates will fall to 0.25 per cent on investments up to $51,800 for singles and $86,200 for couples. A rate of 2.25 per cent will apply to amounts above these thresholds (see table).
Singles | Couples | ||
Investment value | Deeming rate | Investment value | Deeming rate |
Up to $51,800 | 0.25% | Up to $86,200 | 0.25% |
Over $51,800 | 2.25% | Over $86,200 | 2.25% |
Early access to super
More controversially, the Government has also announced it will allow anyone made redundant because of the coronavirus, or had their hours cut by more than 20 per cent, to withdraw up to $10,000 from their super this financial year and a further $10,000 in 2020-21.
Sole traders who lose 20 per cent or more of their revenue due to the coronavirus will also be eligible.
The Treasurer said the process is designed to be frictionless, with eligible individuals able to apply online through MyGov rather than going to their super fund.
While this provides an additional safety net for individuals and families who face the loss of a job or a significant fall in income, we do urge our clients to consider accessing their super as a last resort.
Taking a chunk out of your retirement savings now, after a big market fall, would not only crystallise your recent losses but it also means you would have less money working for you when markets recover.
So before you do anything, speak to us and look at other income support measures.
Relief for those out of work
All workers, including casuals and sole traders, who lose their job or are stood down due to the coronavirus shutdown, will be eligible for a temporary expansion of Newstart (now called JobSeeker) payments to new and existing recipients.
Individuals who meet the income test will receive a coronavirus supplement of $550 a fortnight on top of their existing payment for the next six months. This means anyone eligible for JobSeeker payments will receive approximately $1100 a fortnight, effectively doubling the allowance.
This measure includes people on Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment, Farm Household Allowance and Special Benefit.
Importantly, the extra $550 will go to all recipients, including those who get much less than current maximum fortnightly payment because they have assets or have found a few hours of part-time work.
Support for pensioners
Pensioners have also received additional support. On top of the $750 payment announced on March 12, an additional $750 will be paid to any eligible recipients, as at 10 July 2020, receiving the Age Pension, Veterans Pension or eligible concession card holders.
This payment will be made automatically from 13 July 2020.
More support to come
This latest support package is unlikely to be the last as the Government responds to a rapidly evolving health crisis and progressive shutdown of all but essential economic activity.
If you have any questions about your investment strategy or entitlements to government payments, please don’t hesitate to call.
Information in this article has been sourced from https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/households
Retirement Planning Partners Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative of Madison Financial Group Pty Ltd Australian Financial Services Licence No. 246679. This advice may not be suitable to you because it contains general advice that has not been tailored to your personal circumstances. Please seek personal financial advice prior to acting on this information. Investment Performance: Past performance is not a reliable guide to future returns as future returns may differ from and be more or less volatile than past returns.