Making a commitment to share your life with another person is a significant milestone and there is a lot you can do to manage your money as a couple. The earlier you start having conversations …
Elder financial abuse can happen to anyone at any time. Learn how to recognise the signs and equip yourself with the knowledge to minimise the risk of it happening to you. What is elder financial …
Wills aren’t just for later in life and you should really have one when you start earning. And as money and family matters can be complex, it makes sense to get help. Who needs a …
Did you know from age 55, you may be eligible to make a super contribution of up to $300,000 using the proceeds from the sale of your home? Downsizing your home in retirement could have …
Having a solid budget is crucial to building financial resilience and as rising rates continue to put pressure on household finances, it could help to look at ways to save more and spend less. With …
With the life expectancy of Australians increasing over the years, most of us can assume we’re going to live longer than previous generations. But are our expectations on the money, or way off the mark? …
There are a number of considerations when it comes to gearing, the investment assets you may choose to gear and the way you structure your debt. A gearing strategy can be set at three levels: …
Investing is full of jargon and technical terms that can make getting started or managing your investments seem intimidating. Here are some of the key terms to help you better understand the different options available …
Some recent questions on Australian inflation Key points The Australian inflation rate peaked in the December quarter but has been slower to decline than some global peers. While interest rate rises are helping to reduce …
You may be eligible to make concessional contributions that are greater than the annual cap if you haven’t fully used your concessional cap in an earlier year. This could help you to save even more …
Earning interest on interest: learn how the power of compounding can send your savings rocketing. Key takeaways Compound interest enables you to earn interest on interest which is accumulated over time. The effect of compound …
There are special rules for granny flat arrangements that may prevent the deprivation rules from applying. However they must satisfy a range of requirements. Retirees wanting to downsize their home may consider the option of …
July was a relatively uneventful month in financial markets and volatility remained low. Generally speaking, risk assets continued to perform well despite a sharp increase in the oil price. In fact July was the best …
If you receive the Age Pension, recent changes to means testing for retirees could put more money in your pocket. These changes impact the assessment of certain lifetime income streams that began on or after …
When you’re just starting out in the workforce, it’s easy to see superannuation as money that’s not quite yours. After all, if you’re focused on funding your lifestyle and saving for short term goals, retirement …
Compulsory super contributions paid by employers went up in July. Here are 8 things you should know, including what it could mean for your take home pay. Super contributions employers are required to make increased …
We all want to make the most of our tax return each year. Did you know, other than claiming the usual work related expenses, certain super contributions may also be tax deductible? If you’re looking …
Shop around We often shop around to get the best deal when it comes to consumer items but the same should always apply to services we get. It’s a highly competitive world out there and …
Key points – After the rough ride of 2021-22, 2022-23 turned out to be a good one for investors as shares rebounded thanks to falling inflation and hopes rates are near the top. – Shares …
When will you be ready to retire? There are two important ages you need to consider when thinking about retirement – preservation age when you are eligible to start drawing on your super and Age …
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 …
Dating and romance scams are very destructive – both financially and emotionally. Don’t let them break your heart or wallet. Stay one step ahead of romance scams with these tips. Unfortunately, romance scams are on …
If you’re over 55 and looking to boost your retirement savings, you may be eligible to make a super contribution of up to $300,000 from the sale proceeds of your primary residence. On 1 January …
Smart super strategies for this EOFY Want to help boost your retirement savings while potentially saving on tax? Here are five smart super strategies to consider before the end of the financial year. Add to …
Many of us turn a bit of a blind eye to super. We know it’s there and we know it’s ours. We just hope, or think, it’ll be enough when the time comes. If it …
If you’ve got people in your life who you love and assets you’d like to be distributed in a certain way, you might be at a point where you’re thinking an estate plan would probably …
Budgets without the boredom Say the word budget. Maybe it makes you want to blush about your credit card balance or gives you an overwhelming urge to yawn. Even when you know a budget is …
Key points A progress report on inflation: Inflation appears to have peaked, led by improvements in core goods prices and rate sensitive sectors like housing. The policy focus has shifted to labour market normalisation where …
Economic update May 2023 Investment markets were relatively calm in April, following a period of heightened volatility in March when banking failures in the US and Europe had shaken confidence. Most major share markets closed …
Many Australians were fortunate to lock in record low interest rates but this may be drawing to an end. A large portion of mortgages will be approaching the end of their fixed term, leaving many …