Planning to retire means considering the steps and decisions needed to get you to where you want to be. Think ahead to the kind of life you want to live and how you will support yourself when you’re no longer working. Work out how much you need to retire How much you need to retire … Read more
Two mental traps that could be affecting your investing Even the most experienced investors can fall prey to subtle psychological traps. These behavioural biases often operate under the surface, influencing decisions in ways that can undermine long-term investment success. Here are two of the most common behavioural biases that may be affecting your investment results … Read more
Take a sec to check Scammers aim to take advantage of weak security and plan on you being distracted with everyday life. To keep yourself safe: Stop – Don’t share your personal information such as your myGov sign in details, Tax File Number (TFN), or bank account details, with anyone unless you trust the person … Read more
Money sure can stir up a lot of emotions in relationships. From arguments over who spent too much on takeout to disagreements about saving for a house, finances can be a major stressor for couples. So, let’s dive into why money can be a relationship minefield and how you can navigate those financial trenches with … Read more
A simple ongoing investment strategy can deliver substantial returns over time Imagine planting a tree that not only grows fruit but also grows more branches, which grow even more fruit. That’s compound interest in motion, which is sometimes referred to as the “eighth wonder of the world”. It’s the financial phenomenon where your money earns … Read more
What is a retirement village There are so many options when it comes to moving into a retirement village. Here we explain what some of them are along with the contractual arrangements you may have for each accommodation. A retirement village is accommodation: intended for people who are 55 years or older that may be independent … Read more
The bad news for savers relying on income returns is set to continue Australia’s underlying level of inflation is continuing to fall, and which paved the way for another official interest rate cut when the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) board met earlier in the month. It was welcome news for borrowers, but not for … Read more
About SMSF investment restrictions SMSFs are complex, here we have outlined some of the restrictions to help you before you make any decisions on self-managed super fund (SMSF) investment. You must ensure you understand any restrictions on SMSF investments to avoid any penalties. There are some exceptions, however, generally your SMSF must not: lend or … Read more
The global rollercoaster ride of United States trade tariffs has now entered its latest phase. President Donald Trump’s April 2 “Liberation Day” announcement placed reciprocal tariffs on all countries. A week later, amid financial market turmoil, these tariffs were paused and replaced by a 10% baseline tariff on most goods. On July 31, however, the … Read more
Understand the latest indexed changes to the pension income and assets tests Receiving the full government Age Pension, or even a partial pension payment, can provide eligible retirees with a significant amount of income over time that can supplement income earned from other assets. Millions of Australians are eligible to receive Age Pension payments every … Read more
Maintaining diversification, managing risk, and enhancing long-term returns Multi-asset portfolios are designed to provide diversification by spreading investments across various asset classes to reduce risk. Over time, however, some asset classes may become overweighted (or underweighted), potentially reducing a portfolio’s overall diversification. For example, if equities perform exceptionally well, a portfolio that was initially well-diversified … Read more
Millions of Australians hold multiple super accounts — and it could be costing them Vanguard’s late founder, John C. Bogle, was known for championing the importance of reducing investment costs. It’s a principle that’s especially important for long-term investments like superannuation. For Australians, a common scenario is having multiple superannuation accounts, which can lead to … Read more
