If you are trying to get ahead financially, it can sometimes feel harder than it should be. You budget, you plan, and you do your best, yet real progress in paying down debt and building significant savings can feel painfully slow. While managing expenses is important, there is another side of the equation that often … Read more
Superannuation tax rules are changing again and there are implications for those with very large balances as well as those on lower incomes. In a nutshell, the new plans include: more targeted tax rules for people with very large super balances extra support for low-income earners who contribute to super indexation (automatic increases) to make … Read more
When the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) board voted unanimously to lift the cash rate to 3.85% in February, the decision was driven by one overriding concern. It wants to stop the rising cost of living from becoming entrenched. For some, like self-funded retirees, the rate rise was good news. Higher interest means their savings … Read more
Tax Office data shows fewer people used its super scheme in 2024-25 Introduced in 2018, the home downsizer scheme allows eligible Australians aged 55 and older to contribute up to $300,000 from the sale of their home into superannuation, outside of normal annual contribution caps. The idea was simple: improve retirement incomes while freeing up … Read more
How investors are being duped by unscrupulous operators In late December the Australian Securities & Investments Commission issued a warning to investors on so-called ‘pump and dump’ operators – unscrupulous actors who start rumours about small cap securities to inflate the share price in the hope of making a quick profit. ASIC noted there had … Read more
In lifting its official cash rate by 0.25% back to 3.85% in February, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) sent a clear signal that Australian borrowers should expect higher interest rates for longer. The simple reason: inflationary pressures have accelerated materially over recent months, and the inflation rate is likely to remain above the central … Read more
New research shows grief in aged care begins long before death, starting at the moment a loved one enters residential care. Families describe a long, evolving journey shaped by loss of role, communication, and meaningful rituals – pointing to the need for grief support across the entire aged care experience. Grief in aged care doesn’t … Read more
The best time to start planning for retirement is yesterday. But the second-best time? Today. About two-thirds of Australians retire earlier than they anticipated because of unexpected events such as job loss or redundancy, they need to care for a family member, have a sudden illness or injury, problems at work or a partner’s decision … Read more
Running your own self-managed super fund (SMSF) comes with many responsibilities and lodging an annual return is one of the most important. While paperwork may not be anyone’s favourite task, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) takes the SMSF Annual Return (SAR) very seriously. As of February 2025, around 85,000 SMSFs had not lodged their SAR … Read more
Stopping work is a big shift – especially when you haven’t planned for it. Why you might face a sudden retirement Only one-third of Australians retire because they’ve reached retirement age. For many, retirement happens earlier than they expect due to events outside their control. These can include: Job loss or redundancy: some people are … Read more
The start of 2026 has seen gold and silver surge to record highs. So what’s behind those surges and falls? And what should everyday investors know about the risks of investing in precious metals right now? Why gold has been hitting new highs Gold is the classic safe haven: an asset people buy to protect … Read more
Your mortgage, your super or your investments It’s tempting to pay off your mortgage as quickly as possible. But what about investing? Building your wealth by paying off your mortgage, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t also consider other investment opportunities. With Australia’s residential mortgage interest rates at historic lows you can pay off your mortgage sooner. … Read more
