Making the most of your retirement finances
You’ve waited a long time to reach retirement, so how do you make sure your hard earned savings go the distance with you? There are a range of steps you …
How old is too old for insurance?
Protecting your income during your working years makes sense. But once you – or your parents – grow older, is life insurance still important? We take a look. Life insurance …
How do Aussie women’s finances stack up?
Planning for retirement is a daunting task and many Australian women lack confidence in financial decision making. Fortunately, there are some small steps women can take today to make a …
Get 2024/25 off to a great start
The beginning of the financial year is a great opportunity to review your financial situation, to make sure you’re on track and on top of changes happening across tax and …
Contributions, when are they made?
Thanks to the evolving rules and additional tests, the world of superannuation contributions continues to be a source of confusion, resulting in misunderstandings and genuine errors. Whether it’s the work …
There remain five reasons to expect the $A to rise
Back in November we saw five reasons to expect a higher $A. These largely remain valid and the $A seems to be perking up again. Source: AMP Firstly, from a …
Mortgage versus super – a common dilemma
Conventional wisdom used to dictate Australians were better paying off their home loans, and then, once debt free turning their attention to building up their super. But with interest rates …
Is it worth salary sacrificing into super?
Let’s explore the ins and outs of salary sacrificing into your super and help you determine if it’s worth considering as part of your financial strategy. We’re all familiar with …
How to determine asset allocation
Asset allocation is the process of dividing funds between different asset classes including cash, bonds, property and shares. This takes place as spreading resources across different asset classes can help …
Economic and market overview
Australian shares fared well in July, buoyed by suggestions that no further interest rate hikes will be necessary. With inflation coming off the boil, there was optimism that borrowing costs …
Decoding cognitive biases: what every investor needs to be aware of
Common human biases that investors should understand when it comes to investing is extremely important. These biases are ingrained in human nature, leading to tendencies to oversimplify, rely on quick …
Artificial Intelligence (AI): what does it mean for investing?
AI is revolutionising the world of investing in ways previously unimaginable. Technological advancements have continuously reshaped the way we invest and manage our money. One such example that has been …
A guide to active and passive investing
Investment funds can be broadly split into two categories – active and passive. And while both options play a part in an investment portfolio, it’s important to understand how each …
Will I pay tax on my super when I retire?
Tax is often the last thing on our minds when we’re planning for retirement but it’s important to understand how your retirement income will be taxed, so you can make …
Why you need insurance and what are your options
We don’t need insurance until we do. Protecting your wellbeing and your wallet “Do I really need this insurance?” It’s probably a question you’ve asked at some point when deciding …
What are some investment options outside of super?
When it comes to investing, you have two options – inside or outside of super. Super, being a longer term investment designed to fund your retirement, comes with a number …
Tax time checklist for property investors
In Australia, investing in real estate isn’t the preserve of a wealthy elite. The nation’s 2.24 million property investors, owning a collective 3.25 million homes1, are everyday Australians – skilled …
How to protect yourself from super scams
Super and investment scams target your personal wealth by convincing you to invest in fake schemes and companies. A super scam is when someone tries to access your super and …
2023-24 saw strong investment returns again – but can it continue?
Key points – 2023-24 provided another year of strong returns for investors as shares were boosted by falling inflation, central banks pivoting towards rate cuts (although the RBA is lagging) …
Super and tax – what’s changing on 1 July 2024
They say nothing is certain in life except two things – death and taxes. Australians can probably add a third – the knowledge that come the end of financial year, …