Several major central banks are set to hold monetary policy meetings this week, with investors anticipating potential interest rate adjustments in either direction. All eyes are on the Federal Reserve’s highly anticipated two-day meeting, starting on Tuesday, which is expected to take centre stage. The U.S. central bank is widely forecast to join other global banks in initiating a rate-cutting cycle. The main uncertainty now is how much the Fed will cut rates. Meanwhile, in the U.K., an interest rate cut from the Bank of England (BOE) on Thursday is considered unlikely. A Reuters poll published Friday revealed that all 65 economists surveyed expect the BOE to keep rates steady at 5%. The U.K. central bank implemented its first rate reduction in over four years at the start of August. In Australia, the pathway for rate cuts remains uncertain, with the Reserve Bank of Australia pressuring the government to reduce spending. Regardless, we’ve started to witness significant falls in longer-term fixed deposit rates, indicating that many banks are preparing for a rate-cutting cycle. From a stock perspective, 2024 has delivered significant growth for investors, which many sceptics have struggled to embrace as global indices climbed a wall of worry. The ASX200 closed on Monday only 0.3% below its all-time high and an impressive +20.3% above the low recorded in October 2023. What has become evident is that despite the prolonged period of elevated living costs, the domestic consumer remains resilient. We continue to see evidence of this in the results reported by major banks and discretionary retailers. Aggregate spending is being supported by elevated migration, additional spending by the older cohort, and the drawdown of savings over the past year. As property investment continues to be a popular wealth-building strategy in Australia, we frequently offer advice on optimal holding structures, tax considerations, and cash flow modeling. To enhance our services, we've joined forces with House Finder, experts in identifying discounted off-market properties across the country. Led by Simon Loo, a seasoned Expert Buyers Agent with an impressive personal portfolio, this partnership grants our clients access to exclusive investment opportunities, enabling us to deliver even more customised strategies. Closer to home, Jasmine, who’s worked closely with Shane over the past 18 months has recently commenced her Professional Year. This tailored program is designed to provide a range of advisory and support role experiences to prepare Jasmine for her transition towards becoming a Financial Adviser. In addition, the entire Synergy team will be moving to a new home. From the 1st of November, we’ll be located on Level 6, 55 Grenfell Street, Adelaide.