Stepping stones to reach your goals

The calendar turns over to a fresh, brand new year, full of promise, so how do we keep those promises we make to ourselves and get to the end of the year with our resolutions intact and goals realised? We all start out with good intentions when we set our objectives for the year to … Read more

Prepare for successful buying in 2023

If you’re planning to take advantage of lower property prices and buy in 2023, now’s the time to get organised. Whether you’re looking to buy your first home, move to a different house or invest, you’ll still face competition to secure your dream home, so being ready to move quickly is paramount. A big part … Read more

Environmental Social Governance (ESG) investing

Find out what ESG investing is and how it works. So you can choose investments that match your goals and values. What ESG means ESG investing is when a fund considers sustainability (including environmental, social and governance factors) to inform their investment strategy. There is a growing demand for ESG investing, also known as sustainable … Read more

Recovering from a natural disaster

If you’ve lost your home or business after a natural disaster, you don’t have to go it alone. Follow these steps to start your recovery. Important: Government help for natural disasters Call Services Australia on 180 22 66 or visit serviceaustralia.gov.au/disaster. Get help to make a recovery plan Recovering from a natural disaster will take time. There are … Read more

Making the most of your super limits

Getting more money into superannuation is a proven way of building wealth to spend in retirement. Ongoing contributions from your employer over the course of your working life, and potentially extra contributions made by you, can make a huge difference to your super balance over the long term as your account balance continues to grow. … Read more

Market volatility: defined and explained

What is volatility? Volatility is an investment term that describes when a market or security experiences periods of unpredictable, and sometimes sharp, price movements. People often think about volatility only when prices fall, however volatility can also refer to sudden price rises too. How is volatility calculated? Volatility measures price movements over a specified period. … Read more

How is my insurance taxed?

With the cost of living on the rise, it’s more important than ever to have a financial safety net that protects you and your family in case the unexpected happens. Most Australian employees have some form of life insurance, often through their superannuation fund, but many of us tend to ‘set and forget’. To make … Read more

Banking and credit scams

If someone you don’t know asks for your personal details or offers you a loan, it could be a scam. Scammers can use your personal information to steal your money and run up debts in your name. If someone contacts you about an investment that you think could be a scam, see investment scams. If you … Read more

Volatility is here to stay

Volatility is part and parcel of investing so it’s important to put it into perspective and look at the full picture when thinking about your wealth, rather than focus on day-to-day market swings. If there was to be a single investing lesson that emerged from the events of the last two years, it is that … Read more

Flexing your financial fitness

It’s a challenging time for household finances right now. Interest rates are rising as the Reserve Bank of Australia increases the cash rate to put the brakes on inflation, and flat wage growth means household incomes have not been keeping pace with cost-of-living increases. The best way to deal with uncertain times, is to be … Read more

11 tips for reducing costs in small business

Small businesses across the country will be looking for ways to reduce costs amid cost of living and rising price pressures. Economic challenges are expected to continue into the 2024 financial year, from inflation and supply chain lags to higher interest rates and reduced consumer spending. Businesses will need to keep a close eye on … Read more