“If you want something done right, you’ve got to do it yourself” Not necessarily! The appeal of doing it yourself is understandable. There is a great feeling that comes with doing something that challenges you and with being resourceful and learning a new skill. However, there can be pitfalls to DIY and there are benefits … Read more
Stay up to date with what’s happened in markets and the Australian economy over the past month. Despite some signs of a weakening economy with stalling growth and a softening labour market, persistently high inflation is acting as a roadblock to the RBA’s possible rate cuts. Markets have now priced in a risk that the … Read more
Gold fever is in the air and it’s not just the prospect of medals at the upcoming Paris Olympics. Gold prices have been climbing strongly in 2024 as investors, jittery about the effects of wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, buy up the asset because of its reputation as a safe haven. The spot … Read more
Managing your financial situation always involves tension between how you live your life now and preparing for your future – whatever that looks like. The worry about not getting the balance right and making unnecessary sacrifices now – or not having enough money for the things you want to do in the future is a … Read more
Loud budgeting is a trend that may have started as a joke but is being embraced by those who want to share their financial goals and priorities and in doing so, also improve their chances of achieving them. It was comedian and writer Lukas Battle who bought the term “loud budgeting” to the world in … Read more
With less than a month to go before the end of the financial year (EOFY) rolls around, some important tasks need to be completed for family trusts. Discretionary trusts (often called family trusts) are the most common trust used in Australia and are generally created to hold and protect family or business assets. Trustees of … Read more
With property remaining a high-priced asset, it’s more important than ever for investors to ensure their property investments are a financial success. The latest data demonstrates property’s popularity. One-in-five households (21%) owns a home in addition to their usual residence.i Maximising taxation benefits is one key element but the ATO recently found 9 out of … Read more
Investing success can mean different things to different people. Being clear on what success means for you is key to mapping out your plan. Although investing can seem perplexing and complex, success is largely within your control. Having a tailored investment strategy can go a long way to reducing the stress and noise associated with … Read more
After accumulating superannuation savings over multiple decades, many retirees are fearful of spending too much. When it comes to life in retirement, many Australians are probably being more frugal than they need to be. And that’s largely built around a fear of running out of their retirement savings before they die – an outcome that’s … Read more
Cost of living pressures coupled with rate rises have made it more difficult to save for a home deposit and afford the lifestyle you’ve either become accustomed to or are dreaming of. Budget Direct’s Cost of Living Survey & Statistics 2023 found that despite the living cost index for employee households recording its largest quarterly … Read more
Understanding financial health Financial health is an important part of our lives. When we take care of our financial health we can better manage financial stress and achieve our financial goals. Financial health is made up of three components: the ability to meet everyday commitments like paying your bills and making loan repayments the resilience … Read more
Give me the main points The most important reason to consider taking out life insurance is to protect your family if you die or become unable to work. There’s a good case for anyone with dependants or people who plan to have dependants to take out life insurance. Life insurance policies can be bought through … Read more