Investing on behalf of your children can give them a great financial head start in life. And the earlier you can begin, the higher the potential financial rewards for them in the longer term. The combination of regular ongoing contributions and compounding investment returns can add up to a decent chunk of money for buying … Read more
A good estate plan will help make sure your wishes are carried out when you die. It can also help if you become unable to make your own decisions. Estate plans An estate plan records what you want done with your assets after your death. It can include documents such as: your will a testamentary … Read more
In the past, most people who took out a mortgage doggedly continued with it until they had paid it off. These days, people refinance their mortgage much more frequently. Here we look at some of the reasons people in Australia refinance their home loan. To get a lower rate The most common reason for people … Read more
A capital gain or loss is the difference between what you paid for an asset and what you sold it for. This takes into account any incidental costs on the purchase and sale. So, if you sell an asset for more than you paid for it, that’s a capital gain. And if you sell it … Read more
While it’s difficult to be the best investor in the world, we can all actively avoid being a ‘bad investor’ by learning from history and staying the course. Extended periods of market volatility regularly spark discussions around great investors and the traits that qualify folks to be included in that category. This is probably because, … Read more
Elder abuse was already an issue across the world, however, the pandemic has exacerbated the issue – with more and more people feeling a financial and emotional burden over the last three years. It is estimated that one in six older people have experienced some form of elder abuse over the last 12 months and financial abuse … Read more
While you may be putting more focus into self-care pursuits that boost your physical and mental health, have you thought about a little self-care for your finances? Financial educator, Melissa Browne, shares her three top tips to boost your financial wellness. The global wellness economy is worth a whopping $4.4 trillion, which means you’re probably … Read more
Purchasing an investment property that already has a tenant means you collect rent from day one, with no vacant period and no lease fees to find a new tenant. The lease just carries on as it did before you purchased the property. There are plenty of upsides to buying an investment property that already has a … Read more
Staying the course, and not being distracted by short-term market events, is just as important in retirement as it is at any other time. Retiring from work shouldn’t necessarily equate to retiring from managing your investment portfolio. In fact, taking an active role in your investments during retirement will ensure you have the best chance … Read more
With interest rates increasing after a lengthy period of historical lows, it’s a good time to think about how your money is working for you and whether your investing style and strategy is still in line with your goals. Higher interest rates don’t just send a ripple through the economy, aside from the obvious impact … Read more
As we get older, most of us want to remain independent and in our own home for as long as possible, but this can be challenging without some help with household tasks and personal care. Recognising this, the government runs a Home Care Packages program where approved aged care service providers work with individuals to … Read more
Budgeting for a holiday or saving for a deposit? Even the best budget can unravel if the right tools are not in place. 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. … Read more