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Flower tycoon pays $76 million in CASH for epic mansion

A Sydney businessman and flower mogul has expanded his real estate portfolio, snapping up one of NSW's most prestigious properties. Leo Lynch and his wife Christina have bought a Federation mansion in Sydney's Bellevue Hill, with the eight-bedroom eight-bathroom property boasting impressive views of Sydney Harbour. The mansion, which was built in the 1890s, also showcases a pool, tennis court, and endless luxury amenities for the well-off buyers. "Designed by architect Walter Vernon," read the listing for the property, "the home is considered his most significant residence. Other heritage buildings designed by Vernon include the Australian Museum, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and Central Railway Station. A truly rare offering to earn a piece of Australian history." While securing the house seems like a huge feat in itself, the Lynch's decided to take the purchase to the next level, buying the home for $76 million in cold hard cash. Despite paying the whopping eight-figure for the mansion, the home needs work and is set to undergo renovations. The purchase of the property, named Leura, comes just after the Lynch's sold their former home for $52.4million more than he bought it. The same night he made the enormous purchase for the Leura estate, he sold his mystery home, just blocks away, for $61.5 million after rebuilding the property he had bought for just $9.05 million in 2014. Leo Lynch, 60, is a third generation of the wholesale flower family's company, founded in 1915 and for which private equity group Next Capital took a majority interest in 2015, before it was publicly listed in 2021. Image credits: Domain

Real Estate

Jennifer Hawkins builds opulent home for mystery client

Former Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins and her husband Jake Wall are building a mega mansion in the exclusive suburb of Whale Beach - but it’s not for them. The couple, who own design and construction firm J-Group, are reportedly building the large home for a mystery client who bought it for just under $30 million, per <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/news/pictures-show-epic-scale-of-jennifer-hawkins-30m-whale-beach-mansion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">realestate.com.au</a>. A 1950s home that sat on the 3200-square-metre lot was knocked down last year, with plans already approved by the local council for a three-storey, five-bedroom house with a gym, yoga room, theatre, half-basketball court, sauna and a four-car garage, to take its place. Before the celebrity couple had plans for it, the sprawling block already had a taste of fame, with the double block once belonging to the soprano singer Joan Sutherland. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChRJd4Xpw7N/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChRJd4Xpw7N/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by J GROUP PROJECTS (@jgroupprojects)</a> </div> </blockquote> Back in February, the couple’s company shared a rendered image of what the Whale Beach home would look like, complete with views of the waters of Dolphin Point. Wall and Hawkins have been active in the property world, having purchased a $6 million ‘knockdown’ in Terrigal, on the NSW Central Coast. In 2020, the couple offloaded a Newport property for an eye-watering $24.5 million to Mike Cannon Brookes, the co-CEO and co-founder of Atlassian. Image: Instagram

Real Estate

The hidden dangers of investing in property

When it comes to investing in property, there are several things that can jeopardise the perfect sale to add to your portfolio. While it's important to be aware of the risks, there are also a few hidden “dangers” that each buyer needs to feel out on an individual basis. In order to make the best decisions, keep a lookout for these secret dangers in investing in property and how to properly manage them. Buying in your local neighbourhood Despite emotional attachment, investing in the neighbourhood you live in may not be the best idea for long-term capital growth. If there are over 10,000 real estate markets across Australia, statistically speaking the odds are very low that the property for sale right next door is your best choice. In order to make the best choices, it’s best to analyse and compare markets from all over the country to make the perfect pick and to minimise risk. Relying on “friendly” real estate agents While a lot of agents are there to guide you through the selling and buying process, it's easy to fall for a real estate agent’s charm. Just remember, they are working for the vendor, and their best interest is maximum profit for their client. The same goes for non-independent buyer’s agents who effectively are just sales agents for developers. Do your own research and comparisons on any investment, or seek the help of a truly independent buyer’s agent to assist you in the process. Not considering the risks in investment Buying property is a risky game, as vacancy, bad tenants or even interest rate rises can throw a spanner in the works. Engaging with professionals can help mitigate the risks, and help you be more aware of the harsh reality of investing. It’s important to embrace these risks and learn how to reduce them, not shy away from them. Short term vs. long term Buyers, investors and estate agents can tend to be reactive to what is happening in the market right now, and focusing on short term gains. The key to success in property is to take a long-term approach and ignore all the short-term noise. Starting with a plan first, then actively seeking out properties that suit your investment criteria will move you away from just being another property speculator to a true investor. Image credits: Getty Images

Real Estate

How the right property strategy can help you retire with peace of mind

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we need to have a backup plan in place when it comes to our financial situation. In the early days of the lockdowns, people were unable to work and just how financially vulnerable most people are was laid bare for all to see. While this might have been exceptional circumstances, what we do know is that 56 per cent of Australians do not have enough money to retire. For most people, retirement is not a shock. We know it’s coming and approximately when. The issue is that people simply don’t put enough focus on it early enough and end up without enough money put away. For that reason, it might be worth looking at an asset like property to help accelerate your journey to financial security. Here’s how. Invest wisely The most important realisation that most people need to make is that trading time for money is not going to get you where you need to go. While saving diligently and sticking to a budget are critical components of wealth building, ultimately it’s where you put that money to work which is the most critical element. The traditional retirement model involves putting away a portion of your weekly income and investing that into a balanced portfolio of stocks and bonds through a superannuation fund. While this is a good thing to do and we know that stocks, in particular, have increased in value over time, it’s missing one of the most powerful elements that can really help your investments grow - that’s leverage. The great thing about property is that you can typically put down a relatively small amount of money and control a much larger asset. Typically that would be a 10-20 per cent deposit not including other costs such as stamp duty and closing costs. What this effectively does is increase the return on your money thanks to the power of leverage. While a stock portfolio might increase in value over time, you still have to invest 100 per cent of the funds. By using debt in an intelligent way, you’re able to borrow from the banks to help accelerate your wealth building. For example, if your property increases in value by 5 per cent and you put down a 20 per cent deposit, your cash has actually grown by 25 per cent. Strategy is key You don’t typically go out and try to purchase one property and then retire. For most average income earners, this is going to be a process that takes place over time. It’s vital that you look to invest in property in the correct way with a strategy that is going to allow you to reach your financial goals over time. In the early stages of building your portfolio, you are doing everything in your power to acquire properties. This will involve both working and saving to help fund the early deposits and you’ll also be working within the limitations of what a bank will allow you to borrow. Depending on how risk-averse you might be, you will look to purchase properties more or less aggressively. During this stage, you will normally be buying multiple lower-priced properties to capitalise on the higher yields combined with growth. You are able to use the increased equity from your early purchases to continue to buy more properties and expand your portfolio. During this stage, getting the overall balance right between growth and cash flow is critical as you will need capital growth to continue buying and enough rental income to be able to maintain your serviceability and pay the costs of holding the properties. Having a diversified portfolio spread across the country also helps to reduce risk and can improve the odds of growth. Once you’ve built up a solid base of properties and you’ve seen your portfolio appreciate in value to where you’ve hit your goal, you can then begin the process of deleveraging and paying down your outstanding debt by selling some of the properties in the portfolio. Why most people fail The main reason 90 per cent of property investors fail to build a property portfolio that is able to provide a passive income that they can live off, is because they undertook the wrong strategy to begin with. Most people are typically able to purchase 1-2 properties before they run into borrowing capacity issues or a lack of capital growth. This keeps them stuck at this level unless they can increase their income - which was the very issue they were trying to avoid in the first place. Serious property investors treat property as a business and do not just purchase any old property and hope for the best. They build out a detailed plan about how they are going to reach their financial goals and what the steps are they are required to take. Additionally, they target certain locations that provide a combination of strong growth potential and cash flow and build a portfolio that always considers both factors. They also don’t do everything by themselves. They look to surround themselves with a team of professionals who can help them in all areas of their journey. This normally includes a mortgage broker, lawyer, accountant, financial advisor and buyers agent. If you’re going to be one of the 1 per cent of people who are able to retire financially free thanks to property - you can. You simply need to forget about speculating on property and start treating it like a business and work with a strategy that is going to get you there. Rasti Vaibhav is the author of The Property Wealth Blueprint (RRP $39.95) and CEO of Get RARE Properties, a bespoke independent buyers’ agency that has been helping hundreds of clients across Australia secure their financial freedom through property. For more information visit <a href="http://www.getrare.com.au">www.getrare.com.au</a> Image credits: Getty Images

Real Estate

Ellen DeGeneres’ multimillion-dollar property portfolio REVEALED

Ellen DeGeneres and her partner Portia de Rossi have a well-known passion for property, and have made a reputation as some of the most prolific buyers and sellers of South Californian homes. During DeGeneres’ 17-year run on The Ellen Show, the duo have built a portfolio of properties <a rel="noopener" href="https://nypost.com/article/a-look-inside-all-of-ellen-degeneres-homes/" target="_blank">reportedly</a> worth $630 million or $NZD 670 million ($USD 450 million) that has been separate from her TV earnings. Currently, DeGeneres and de Rossi own the Rancho San Leandro and Dennis Miller homes, both in Santa Barbara, California, and worth a total $90 million ($NZD 96 million). Here is a run-down of the pair’s <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/a-timeline-of-ellen-degeneres-and-portia-de-rossis-600-million-property-portfolio-1114593/" target="_blank">extensive</a> property portfolio, past and present. Current: Rancho San Leandro <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7847122/ellen1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/62e5da2f557b4e40900739d2e958d091" /> Image: Zillow After initially buying the Montecito home for $US 7.2 million in 2017 and selling it for $USD 11 million a year later, the pair eventually bought it back for a whopping $AU 20 or $NZ 21 million ($US 14.3 million) - almost double what they first bought it for. The property, which dates back to the 1800s, features two homes - one of which is one of the oldest and most authentic adobe homes in California. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7847121/ellen2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/84b0747e696d437a8a1b4f1eef64d89c" /> Image: Zillow The adobe home has a single master bedroom with its own ensuite, as well as two bathrooms, a kitchen, breakfast room, and subterranean wine cellar. The second ‘Monterrey’ house is slightly larger with three bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, a dining area, formal library, gym, and terrace with a fireplace. Current: Dennis Miller’s Cape Dutch compound If you thought $20 million was a lot for a house, the $AU 70 or $NZ 74 million ($US 49 million) Ellen dropped on this private compound will leave you gobsmacked. <img style="width: 0px; height:0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7847120/ellen3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/72815ea69d334591bb78208ee7834462" /> Image: Slim Paley (Instagram) Though the number of bedrooms and bathrooms on the 4.3-acre estate is unknown due to its private listing, we do know that it features a guest house, infinity pool, pool house and a barn. According to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dirt.com/entertainers/performers/dennis-miller-house-montecito-1203349300/" target="_blank">Dirt</a>, a 9,000-square-foot mansion also sits on the property, and has been built in the South African Cape Dutch architectural style. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7847119/ellen4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c96d19fe59f24363a2bbadab4c08cce7" /> Image: Slim Paley (Instagram) Outside, the buildings surround a lily pond complete with fish and a rowboat, and there are walkways, organic vegetable gardens, and hidden outdoor seating areas the couple is sure to enjoy. Sold 2021: Adam Levine’s former Beverly Hills home <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7847118/ellen5.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f0cf3d21553a40e3b66cdd6279b448a8" /> Image: Mansion Global DeGeneres and de Rossi sold the 1930s home, formerly belonging to popstar Adam Levine, in early 2021 for $AUD 66 or $NZD 70 million ($US 47 million). <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7847117/ellen6.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f44deb50ddb94b42899035edd8d6f414" /> Image: Mansion Global Despite selling it for $US 6.5 million below their initial asking price, the couple still made a tidy $US 2 million profit on the two-storey, five bedroom, five bathroom home. Sold 2020: Ariana Grande’s English Tudor mansion Originally two barns built in Surrey in the 1770s and brought to the US in the 1980s, the home is a legitimate English Tudor property that the couple intended to flip for a profit. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7847116/ellen7.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ef239d4f762a44dcbf575092550a6590" /> Image: Realtor.com According to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.mansionglobal.com/articles/ellen-degeneres-and-portia-de-rossi-flipping-montecito-california-home-214527" target="_blank">Mansion Global</a>, this home was the first they bought with the intention of renovating and selling without living in it. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7847115/ellen8.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c590d8ade7814bdcb0ffa55e3d4dc309" /> Image: Realtor.com After their handiwork was complete, the pair sold the home to Ariana Grande for $AU 9.5 million or $NZ 10.1 million ($US 6.75 million) in 2020, making a $US 3.15 million profit. Image: @portiaderossi (Instagram)

Real Estate

See inside Adele’s $41.5 million property portfolio

Pop icon Adele has shared an inside look into her property portfolio, revealing that she has invested millions in Los Angeles real estate but can’t quite afford London’s hefty prices. The 33-year-old, who has a reported net worth of $USD 200 million, has snapped up three properties in the last five years in the exclusive neighbourhood of Hidden Valley. “The kind of house I have in LA I could never afford in London. Ever,” the British singer told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/adele-british-vogue-interview" target="_blank">Vogue</a>. Her most recent purchase, a 513-square-metre, four bedroom home, was from her friend and next-door neighbour Nicole Richie, which she paid USD $10 million for earlier this year. The pop star bought her first home in Beverly Hills for $USD 9.5 million, before going on to purchase a second home for $USD 10.5 million shortly after splitting from husband Simon Konecki in 2019. It’s widely believed that Konecki lives in the home, which is across the street from Adele’s other two properties, so that the pair can raise their eight-year-old son close together. The exclusive community - located inside a gated enclave - is aso home to fellow A-listers Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lawrence and Katy Perry. Take a look inside the singer’s deluxe portfolio and everything they offer. #1 Hidden Valley Road (2016) The four-bedroom home designed by Scott Mitchell opens with a two-storey foyer, and comes with a library on the second floor. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845901/adele1-0.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/58a89ca9577944859c9d12230ed9f73c" /> Image: Realtor Features of the home include two formal living rooms - one with a fireplace and the other with floor-to-ceiling windows - as well as a chef’s kitchen, an expansive family room and breakfast area, and a bonus room usually reserved as a gym. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845899/adele1-3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/df02202242a3420b84d9119a988556a1" /> Image: Realtor <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845898/adele1-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b10f8c08b7a947e7a17bb1e5075797ea" /> Image: Realtor Outside, the property includes a treehouse, an outdoor train set, a pool, and a dog run. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845900/adele1-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e041985bcfd64b37b8138b2a6784ab1b" /> Image: Realtor #2 Hidden Valley Road (2019) Dubbed an “art collector’s paradise”, the contemporary home features high ceilings and plenty of natural light. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845896/adele2-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8c7973ecd0974be486a3a1bdecc93cfd" /> Image: Realtor The home boasts a sunken living room, a 2000-book library, custom-made furniture, and a jacuzzi in the main bedroom’s ensuite, as well as a private balcony and custom walk-in wardrobe. Sitting on more than 3000 square metres, the house is surrounded by expansive lawns, fruit trees, a solar-heated pool, and a large driveway <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845897/adele2-0.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/87973c84ae13448b83fc354838829ad2" /> Image: Realtor #3 Lime Orchard Road (2021) The mini-mansion wraps around a park-like backyard, with a large lawn accented with stone pavers that lead to a stone patio with an inset pool and separate spa. Other features include a basketball court and a large hedge offering maximum privacy. But, photos of the home are hard to find since Adele bought the home from Richie and her husband, Joel Madden, in an off-market deal. Madden and Richie made a tidy profit on the property after purchasing it for $USD 6.7 million back in 2015. Image: @adele (Instagram)

Real Estate

Ellen DeGeneres adds Beverly Hills mansion to $94.5 million portfolio

Ellen DeGeneres has dropped $11.5 million on a brilliantly curated Beverly Hills home. The embattled talk show host has built a $94.5 million property portfolio. DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossie have bought and sold $450 million in property over the past 17 years. The new five-bedroom home is centred in the Hidden Valley Estates and was built in 1961 by famed architect Robert Skinner. Since its construction, the property has been completely restored by architect John Bertram with the designer Sarah Shetter. The abode is as dreamy as it sounds, with glass walls, Douglas fir cabinets, Calcutta Gold and salt marble countertops, and a state-of-the-art chef’s kitchen. The new house can be found by going past Adele’s new $US9.95m home, which formerly belonged to Nicole Richie. Katy Perry also owns a $7.47m house at the end of the street, real estate records show.

Real Estate

Cate Blanchett adds haunted English manor to real estate portfolio

After letting go of all of her Sydney properties, Cate Blanchett has added a sprawling English manor to her real estate property. The Australia actress, along with her playwright-director husband Andrew Upton, purchased the Highwell House in the UK for $6.25 million. However, the home comes with its own dark history and sordid past and is revealed to have been a famous haunted house that also was a drug den, a meeting place for pagans and a notorious hide-out for criminals on the run. The Victorian manor was built on the estate in 1890 and began to fall into disrepair in the early 2000s before it was refurbished in 2015. While the home today carries an airy, luxurious yet subtle charm, the property was labelled as Britain’s 13th most creepy abandoned house in 2015. A Facebook page dedicated to Highwell Estate, which was previously named Potters Manor House, is said to feature pictures from people who visited the home and claimed to have captured images of ghosts or spirits. Reports say local residents are overjoyed to have Cate, Andrew, and their four children moving into the home as they believe it has made the home safer. Scroll through the gallery to see the sprawling property in all its Victorian-style glory.

Real Estate

How to build a share portfolio to suit yourself

There is nothing like a global pandemic and the economic fallout to shake up one’s share portfolio. What worked in the past may now have to be put under the microscope. Unprecedented Central Bank interventions, record low interest rates and the highest unemployment rates since the great Depression, are a challenging backdrop to stock selection for the medium to long-term. It is reasonable to assume that share price volatility will remain as economies adjust to the post-Covid world. Whilst share prices have rallied, the same cannot be said of the dividends. The payout of total dividends from the ASX200 expected to fall by over 20 per cent this year. But you know that already, as a stream of companies have either cancelled, deferred or reduced their 2020 dividends. It shouldn’t come as a huge shock as the Australian dividend payout ratio has been consistently higher (circa 70-80 per cent) than the rest of the world (sub 60 per cent), post GFC. As cashflows contract companies have no choice but to reduce the dividend payout. So, what do you when the dividend favourites and the stalwarts of the last 20 years pose a real threat to your income? Firstly, don’t panic as it is not all doom and gloom; however, it may mean you need to restructure your share portfolio. As every share portfolio is different and everyone has been invested for varying periods and have different aims and goals, it is not possible to say categorically what you should do. But here are some tips to help you through the process, so that you can construct the optimal portfolio of shares for you! <ol> <li>How much do you need? Establish how much income you need and whether part of that income can be swapped for a capital gain. Assess your share market returns in a total sense (capital gain and income).</li> <li>Assess the shareholdings you have; it took 10 years for the total Australian dividend payout to return to the pre-GFC levels. This does not necessarily mean this will the case going forward. But you do need to assess whether you can accept lower dividends from your incumbent shares and use capital instead, until the economy picks up and the flow on effects are felt in corporate profits and higher dividends.</li> <li>Add some growth. Shares that are able to grow their dividend over time are the winners. As a rule of thumb these shares have a lower dividend yield, think healthcare shares versus the banks, but they have delivered a higher total return (capital gain and dividend income). It is probably prudent to add some growth to your portfolio, which can usually be found in shares that yield around 2-3 per cent but have the capacity to grow dividends over the next 10 years.</li> <li>Add some defensive shares. In a post covid world, some defensive shares are probably prudent. I know the big rotation is on into the bombed-out cyclicals. However in the absence of a vaccine or improved cures, we are faced with a world that needs to accept the virus remains. Returning to a pre-covid economy and the way we work, rest and play is developing but business as usual remains a way off. The share market will be very sensitive to any covid outbreaks like we are witnessing in Beijing and parts of the USA (not to mention the continued growth in the emerging markets).</li> <li>Lower for Longer. The head of the Federal Reserve, J. Powell made it very clear at the last Fed meeting, rates will stay low in the US until 2022. Whether this transpires, remains to be seen. But it is prudent to assume we will continue to a lower for longer interest rate environment, meaning a 2-4 per cent dividend yield on non-financial shares is a reasonable expectation.</li> <li>High dividend yields may be a trap. Any shares that offer a high dividend yield, excluding the iron ore producers who are raking in the cash from $100 plus iron ore prices, should be treated with caution. This means there is the potential for dividend disappointment and possible capital erosion. The four large banks are a case in point.</li> </ol> I like to mix up my share portfolio with some growth, some defensive shares and maybe even a quality bank, like Commonwealth. In these uncertain times, quality shares, with strong balance sheets, good corporate governance and identifiable earnings streams will offer older investors comfort. Of course, a vaccine would change everything overnight, so if you are feeling bullish about human ingenuity then you could add some deep cyclicals like an airline or travel company. Danielle Ecuyer has been involved in share investing in Australia and internationally for over three decades, both professionally and personally. Her experience and knowledge has been combined to help new or existing investors with long term wealth creation and income generation in her first book <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.shareplicity.com.au" target="_blank">Shareplicity: A simple approach to share investing</a> (Major Street Publishing $29.95).

Retirement Income

Property guru: Inside Hugh Jackman's incredible real estate portfolio

He’s one of Australia’s favourite superstars and he’s racked up quite a few beautiful properties over the years. Hugh Jackman and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness have numerous properties all over the world in their real estate portfolio, and they are all unique and stunning in their own way. Scroll through the gallery above to see all the homes Hugh and Deborra-Lee have amassed over the years.

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Property gurus: Inside Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's incredible real estate portfolio

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have sealed themselves as Hollywood royalty over the span of their successful careers and maintained a loving audience all the way from Australia. Their affection for Aussies and the beautiful land down under is shown through their impressive real estate collection – that shows no signs of slowing down. The impressive properties the married pair share are scattered all around the globe and quite a few are right in the heart of Australia. From a Southern Highlands country home to a sky-high Milsons Point penthouse overlooking Sydney harbour, this Hollywood couple is spoilt for choice when choosing which house to stay in when they're back on Aussie soil. Swipe through the gallery above to see the incredible homes Nicole and Keith's own all around the world. Which one is your favourite property owned by Nicole and Keith? Let us know in the comments below.

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Property guru: Inside Hugh Jackman's incredible real estate portfolio

Property gurus: Inside Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's incredible real estate portfolio

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