When school holidays come along, there are plenty of cheap and cheerful things to do. Hanging out at home With some planning and creative thinking, there are ways to keep your kids busy at home. Art and craft Look around the house for things to use for art and craft activities. Anything from making sock … Read more
Risks of entering into a scheme An SMSF is a trust generally run for the sole purpose of providing retirement benefits to its members. Generally, it’s illegal for anyone to benefit from the SMSF outside this arrangement. Individuals are being targeted to start an SMSF for a range of inappropriate and illegal reasons, such as: … Read more
The federal government has announced updates to its plan to reduce tax concessions on superannuation investment earnings for Australians with balances over $3 million. While the proposal is yet to be legislated, several key changes have been introduced. What’s changing? The revised proposal excludes unrealised capital gains, meaning only realised gains including profits from the … Read more
Owning your home outright might feel like a far-off dream, especially if you’re grappling with cost-of-living increases – but with a few smart financial strategies, it could become a reality sooner than expected. Paying off your loan faster doesn’t have to mean overhauling your lifestyle or making huge sacrifices. In fact, many people make real … Read more
How much super should I have is a common question. But when it comes to how much super (or other savings) you’ll need for retirement there’s no single right number – because everyone’s retirement looks different. It depends what your big costs are likely to be, and what sort of lifestyle you want. No matter … Read more
Low interest rates have intensified the search for higher income returns Noted in a recent article, Australian households are now holding record amounts of cash. Reserve Bank data shows the weighted average interest rate being paid on term deposit amounts up to $10,000 held in authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADI) such as banks and credit unions … Read more
What the end to the deeming freeze means for Age Pensioners If you receive the Age Pension, changes that came into effect on 20 September could affect your payments. Deeming rates used by the government to estimate the income pensioners earn from savings and investments have been frozen since May 2020. But recently changed. These … Read more
When you think about the markets, do you see promise or peril? Are you the type to believe the glass is half-full, or do you focus on the half that is not there? Your investing outlook can shape your decisions, influence your risk tolerance, and impact your long-term results. But which approach truly works best? … Read more
Australians inherited an estimated $150 billion in 2024, an increase of more than 70 per cent in a decade, according to a JBWere report.i It’s a number that’s predicted to grow more rapidly over the coming 20 years to $5.4 trillion, the report finds. Managing this flow of wealth to family groups, often complicated by … Read more
How to keep your super safe The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has warned Australians to beware of high-pressure sales tactics aimed at getting people to switch superannuation providers. The regulator has warned that “clickbait” ads, comparison websites and promises of unrealistic returns are among the tactics being used to entice Australians into switching … Read more
Australia has seen a dramatic transformation of retirement over the past 20 years, with more Australians delaying retirement than ever before, reshaping expectations for later life. This shift matters because it marks a fundamental change in how people transition out of the workforce — with important implications for financial security in later life. The decision … Read more
Making plans to move in with your partner or share finances can be exciting. Knowing your financial and legal responsibilities, and where to get help if you need it, can make your life together run more smoothly. Talk about your finances The earlier you start talking about your finances with your partner, the better. Understand … Read more
