How old is too old for insurance?
As you age and your health starts to deteriorate, having a financial safety net and protecting your nearest and dearest may become even more important. So, how old is too …
Impacts from Falling Home Prices: The Wealth Effect
The impacts of interest rate hikes on consumers are well known; higher interest means that mortgage debt servicing costs will go up which is negative for consumer spending. Rate hikes …
Alternative Thinking: Diversifying Beyond Traditional Asset Classes
Once a staple investment allocation, the traditional balanced portfolio of shares and bonds has had some challenges in delivering positive returns in today’s market environment. Institutional investors, such as superannuation …
Why staying invested matters when markets fall
It’s natural to feel nervous when markets fall. News about inflation and rising interest rates may prompt you to make an emotional investment decision. But history tells us that markets …
Booms, busts and investor psychology: Why investors need to be aware of the psychology of investing
Up until the 1980s the dominant theory was that financial markets were efficient. In other words, all relevant information was reflected in asset prices in a rational manner. While some …
Economic and market overview
Pleasingly, global share markets fared well in October and recovered most of their lost ground from September. Locally, the S&P/ASX 200 Index re- turned 6.0%. The sharp reversal in sentiment …
3 things to consider if your Super balance falls
From time to time, market movements may cause your super balance to fall. While this can be alarming, you’ll find that it usually recovers in due course. However, if you …
Your biggest investing problem may be you
The human brain is an incredibly powerful processing unit. Every day we make numerous judgements and decisions – hundreds if not thousands if you conclude everything we do is an …
Tips for Managing Money in Retirement
Aussies are living longer than ever before, with men expected to live until age 80 and women until age 85. However, an increased life expectancy also means Australians may spend …
Investment fundamentals to consider in volatile times
Sharp share market falls are stressful for investors as no one likes to see their investments fall in value. But at times like these, there are number of key things …
Five Questions to ask before Plunging into an ETF
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) have been available on the ASX for over 2 decades, but in recent years, this category’s variety and representation within Australian portfolios have grown rapidly. By …
Economic and market overview
Equity and bond markets bounced back hard from disappointing returns in June, amid suggestions that rising interest rates in key regions will help bring inflation under control. Australian shares registered …
Did you know gifting can impact your Age Pension?
Gifting, or financially assisting family or friends by giving away some of your assets or accumulated retirement savings, can be a great way to help out younger family members or …
Australians are losing more money to investment scams
Australians are being urged to be extra diligent when it comes to investment opportunities that look too good to be true. According to Scamwatch, Australians lost over $205 million to …
Active versus Passive Investing – What’s the difference and what’s the best?
Investing in shares is a popular way of helping people to achieve their long-term financial goals. These investments can generate favourable returns over time as companies grow and improve their …
Key things for investors to keep in mind during times of market turmoil
Key points Share markets have fallen sharply in recent weeks continuing the plunge that started early this year due to worries about inflation, monetary tightening, recession and geopolitical issues including …
Can infrastructure protect from inflation?
It’s an important question as prices rise around the world fuelled by soaring energy and commodity costs, supply chain constraints and a geopolitical retreat from globalisation. In Australia, headline inflation …
All about Wills and Probate
Probate is the legal process that occurs when dealing with a loved one’s will after their death. It can be difficult to know what’s involved with the process and the …
Volatility Bites: How Retirees can manage Jumpy Markets
The big issue for investors in or close to retirement, is risk. The 2020 COVID-19 share sell off and recent equity market volatility shows just how quickly share prices can …
New opportunities to grow your Super from 1 July 2022
Both older and younger Australians, as well as low-income earners, are set to benefit from some upcoming super opportunities. From 1 July 2022, there will be some changes made to …