Make your money work harder – pitfalls to avoid
If there’s one rule of thumb for investors to bear in mind, it’s that “if it looks too good to be true, it probably is”. Be aware The expression “a fool and his money are …
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A guide to SMSF insurance and estate planning
Making a decision about life insurance is an essential part of your self managed super fund’s investment strategy and can provide a valuable benefit for members. Do your members need life insurance? Trustees are required …
Want to earn more and keep your Age Pension?
Many people continue, or even start, working once they’ve reached Age Pension age. This may be for social reasons, personal fulfilment or to maintain their standard of living. With the higher cost of living at …
The transfer balance cap – how does it work again?
In the 2016 Federal Budget, the Government introduced the transfer balance cap as part of a broader superannuation reform package. The transfer balance cap imposes a lifetime limit on the amount of superannuation that can …
Mortgage vs super: where should I put my extra money?
It’s a dilemma many of us face – are we better off directing extra money to our mortgage or super? As with most financial decisions, it’s not a one size fits all approach and here …
Falling inflation – what does it mean for investors?
Key points Inflation is in retreat thanks to improved supply and cooling demand. A further fall is likely this year. Australian inflation remains relatively high – but this mainly reflects lags rather than a more …
Economic and market overview
A rally in the second half of the month helped global share markets generate solid gains in January, extending the rally from November and December. The latest indicators suggest economic conditions are holding up quite …
Australian household wealth
Australian household wealth Is high Australian household wealth a source of support for consumers? Key points Australia ranked as having one of the lowest rates of disposable income growth per capita amongst OECD countries in …
As scams evolve, so can you
As scams continue to evolve, it’s important to stay on top of the latest information. Here are some tips for staying protected against some of the most common scams impacting Australians today and red flags …
5 tips for managing your SMSF
Setting up your SMSF is just the beginning. Make sure you’re aware of your obligations as an SMSF trustee and get the most out of your fund with this quick guide. While the list of …
What are the steps to investing?
Want to invest but don’t know where to start? Here are five basic steps for investing. Define your goals Taking the first step on your investment journey may feel daunting. However, setting clear goals with …
How to give your finances a health check
How healthy are your finances? Isn’t it time you put your own financial wellbeing front and centre? You can take control of your financial future quickly and easily, with a simple financial health check. Just …
Getting smart about savings
Saving money doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Some people are wired to save – for others it takes a bit more discipline. But developing good savings habits can do so much for both your financial …
How much super should you have at your age?
Your super balance will most likely play a big part in how comfortably you live in retirement. But depending on how far off retirement is for you, it might be difficult to gauge whether your …
50/30/20 budgeting strategy
Having a budget can help you stay on top of bills, pay off debt and save for long or short-term goals. There are many ways to go about it. One budgeting strategy is the 50/30/20 …
2023 saw the return of Goldilocks, but what’s in store for 2024 for investors?
Key points The five key themes for 2023 were: better than feared growth; disinflation; peak interest rates (probably in Australia too); lots of geopolitical threats but not as bad as feared; and AI hit the …
Five constraints on medium term investment returns
Introduction Starting in the early 1980s investment returns were spectacularly strong. Sure there were bumps along the way like the 1987 share crash, but Australian balanced growth superannuation funds returned an average 14.1% pa in …
Financial freedom: A comprehensive guide to achieving true financial independence
In a world where financial stability plays a crucial role in our wellbeing and future aspirations, the concept of financial freedom stands out as a beacon of empowerment. Financial freedom is the ability to make …
What’s the best age to retire?
There is no magic age at which to retire. But what’s important is to plan for a longer retirement than you may expect. This is in part because research shows we’re now living longer than …
A real cybercrime story
Australians lost over $3 billion to scams in 2022 alone. With investment scams being the most common, consider these insights so you can better protect yourself from online criminals. This is a story where scammers …
Understanding market volatility
Many investors become concerned when volatility occurs in global financial markets – particularly about the impact on their superannuation and other investments. In times like these, it’s important to understand the causes of market movements …
Three reasons to err on the side of optimism as an investor
Introduction The “news” as presented to us has always had a negative bend, but one could be forgiven for thinking that it’s become even more negative with constant stories of disasters, conflict, wrongdoing, grievance and …
The importance of rebalancing
Investing is more than choosing different assets. It also involves managing your portfolio on an ongoing basis to achieve personal goals. Your starting point In the initial stages of constructing a portfolio of diverse investments, …
Super fund performance and unlisted assets
Differences in the returns of various super funds have primarily been driven by whether the funds are invested in unlisted or listed assets. Super fund returns are always in the spotlight around the end of …
Should you fix your home loan?
Key takeaways An understanding of the benefits of fixing your home loan, including payment stability, protection from rate hikes and certainty over long term financial planning. The potential drawbacks to consider when choosing to fix, …
Seven key charts for investors to keep an eye on
Introduction At the start of this year, we thought shares would have reasonable returns albeit it wouldn’t be smooth sailing given ongoing issues around inflation, interest rates, the risk of recession and geopolitics. So far …
Factor Investing explained
Global markets are made up of dozens of asset classes and millions of individual securities, making it challenging to understand what really matters for your portfolio. But there are a few important drivers that can …
Economic update
October was another difficult month for financial markets, partly reflecting an acceptance among investors that interest rates are likely to remain high for longer than was previously anticipated. Geopolitical risk ramped up too, following conflict …
5 ways to do more with less money in your relationship
We all want to live a good life with our partner, but does that have to include fine dining every night and travelling to exotic destinations? Here are five tips for enjoying the best in …
Boosting confidence in retirement
Every retirement is unique. Maybe dining out isn’t your thing, but you couldn’t bear to give up your weekly exercise classes. Figuring out how much you can spend in retirement requires planning. And knowing what …