According to some recent research by AXA and Monash University, family business and succession are not always a healthy mix – in Victoria alone of third or forth generation family businesses:

Some amazing numbers when you take the time to consider how this impacts on your business. So why do family business owners enable this to happen when our reserach shows overwhlemingly that having plans in place adds substantially to your overall business value?

Maybe it is time to work with your trusted advisors NOW to ensure that you achieve your optimal outcome both financially and emotionally.

GEN X advisers can help with the financial side along with your Accountant for structural advice. A business coach is also an essential ingredient in the mix to get your business fit and ready for succession as it can be a long road that sometimes feels more like a roller coaster ride!

If you are interested in finding out how business coaching can play a part in your overall business planning contact Tim Ryan from Shirlaws, who is based in Newcastle.

Pulling out the crystal ball is always fraught with danger… So I have closed my eyes and here we go: 

ARIES
Australian Shares
The Australian share market still provides a good medium term investment opportunity. Over the past year, companies have taken the opportunity to cut costs and wind back debt levels, which should support profit growth as the economy recovers.

TAURUS
Emerging Markets
Likely to be the key driver of any global economic recovery. It is anticipated that countries like China, India and Indonesia will record strong economic growth in 2010 and beyond.

GEMINI
Developed Markets
Developed economies like the US, Japan and Europe are likely to record positive growth in 2010 after contracting over the past 18 months. To date these countries’ share markets have underperformed developing or emerging markets, and with a return to growth, the company profit outlook should improve and attract investor inflows.

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Not all fund managers are the same. They have different philosophies that they invest by.

Whilst enjoying my family holiday in Newcastle I came across the following article that helps to explain the 2 most common styles as well as an insight as to how they perform at various times in the Economic Clock   …… http://genxadvisers.com.au/economic-time-clock/

AXA’s Chief Investment Officer Mark Dutton looks at how the two main contrasting  ‘styles’ of investing – growth and value – are positioned for the next phase of the recovery

To read the article Click  https://adviser.axa.com.au/idc/groups/public/documents/system/axa_006019.pdf

This means good news for Newcastle businesses. As a financial advisor I come across a lot of data, but this news of China’s continued growth is significant due to recent fears of a douple dip recession.

• (Reuters) – Chinese industrial output growth in November jumped to its strongest since June 2007, underlining the economy’s brisk recovery from the global downturn in response to massive fiscal and monetary stimulus. Consumer price inflation also turned positive in November in year-on-year terms after nine straight months in negative territory.

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