Rising interest rates Before 2022, few of us gave much thought to rising interest rates. After all, they’d been falling steadily for 14 years. That changed when the Reserve Bank began lifting the official cash rate to combat inflation. Now most of us are only too aware of how much interest rates can change and … Read more
Good ways to budget In this article, we look beyond the basics and focus more on what it takes to stick to your budget. Here are five tips to help you stick to your budget. 1. Stocktake. Spending more than you earn? Subtract your total weekly expenses from your total weekly income. How’s it looking? … Read more
Take some of the guesswork out of planning for the future. Work out how much super you’ll have when you retire, and if it will be enough to fund the lifestyle you want. It’s never too soon to start planning for a better financial future. Estimate how much super you’ll have You probably know how … Read more
The ranks of Australians receiving the Age Pension are increasing. It’s important to understand who is eligible and its role in retirement planning. Just days before the 2023 Federal Budget was handed down on 9 May, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released a new report including data on the number of Australians receiving the Age … Read more
Think you have been scammed? These steps will help you take action quickly to stop the scammers and limit the damage. Know that you are not alone and you can recover from this. There is support available, if and when you need it. Act fast if you’ve been scammed If you’ve been scammed, follow these … Read more
As our superannuation balances grow larger, it makes more sense than ever to keep track of the many rules changes that have recently happened or are coming up soon. Australians are investing more in super – almost $151 billion dollars in the year ending March 2023, an increase of 11.3 per cent.i Those extra contributions, … Read more
If you need help in your home, or can no longer live independently, the Australian Government provides a range of aged care services. These services are subsidised, but you need to contribute to the cost if you can afford to. Where to start The first thing to do is think about what you need. You … Read more
The start of a new financial year is the perfect time to get your financial affairs in order. Whether it’s tidying up your paperwork, assessing your portfolio or dealing with outstanding issues, there are plenty of practical actions you can take. Here are some strategies for starting the new financial year on the right foot. … Read more
Before you retire If you’re planning to retire, you need to consider: your age including if you have reached your preservation age when you can access your super how much tax you will pay on amounts you receive if good leaver conditions apply if you are part of an Employee Share Scheme if the retirement capital … Read more
Many Australians now technically qualify to be certified as a sophisticated investor, but what are the benefits and risks? Sophisticated is a word that can have a wide range of connotations. In the subjective sense it may be used to describe people considered to be well educated, knowledgeable and experienced. But there is an entirely … Read more
How much tax you pay on your super contributions and withdrawals depends on: your total super amount your age the type of contribution or withdrawal you make If you inherit someone’s super after they die, the person’s super fund pays you a super death benefit. You may have to pay tax on some of this … Read more
The rising cost of living is grabbing all the attention right now as people struggle to pay the increasing prices. But in the meantime, our collective wealth has been growing steadily and is being transferred to the next generation at increasing rates. In fact, the value of inheritances as well as gifts to family and … Read more